The Rendlesham Enigma: Book 1: Timeline

by James W. Penniston, Gary Osborn

The Rendlesham Forest Incident of December 1980, is considered by far the most significant event in UFO history. It was also a unique military-related event, having taken place in Rendlesham Forest just outside the twin bases of RAF Bentwaters and RAF Woodbridge in Suffolk, England – both of which had been transferred to the United States Air Force in 1951 by the British MOD (Ministry of Defence), becoming one of the largest and most important NATO complexes in Europe during the Cold War. The account given in this book is that of James W. Penniston, a Staff Sergeant at the time of the incident, who was the primary witness who led the investigation in the beginning and had ‘Top-Secret clearance’ – one of only eight people with Top-Secret clearance working Security at the twin bases. His credibility and honesty were highly respected throughout his years in the USAF. Jim Penniston has teamed-up with author Gary Osborn to present the definitive account of the Rendlesham Incident and the aftermath of events, just as he witnessed and experienced them from the incident itself, which began during the early morning hours of Boxing Day, December 26, 1980 up to April 2014.

702 pages, Paperback

Published July 22, 2019

Reviews

[Peter Mueller · Rating 4 out of 5]

I have read every book on the Rendlesham incident and seen just about every documentary, and I can see why this book was written : Penniston has seen the need to set the record straight and tell it just as it happened, and in extremely detailed fashion.

The first 65-odd pages or so are, quite simply, the most gripping and fascinating of any I have read in any book on the topic of UFO's. It is brilliantly written, absolutely enthralling, and written in the perspective that really puts you there, experiencing what Jim is. This alone was worthy of the book's purchase. From then on though, it becomes somewhat grueling as Jim ticks off every T, ensuring every fact is righted and it was something of a slog to get through. His constant gripes and put-downs of former writing partner Jim Burroughs is just plain annoying, you get the idea after the first 10 or so snipes but it pervades the book. The theories put forth about the 'enigma' was almost impenetrable to me, and in the realm of tea-leaf reading in some aspects but who knows, perhaps the second volume will make things clearer.

As I mentioned, the first part is absolutely gripping, and I think the book could well have served to have been reduced by some 200 or so pages, but as an extensive chronology of the event, at least seen through Penniston's eyes, he certainly has bestowed on us a favour by putting out such a complete tome, he really has decided to put everything he possibly could down and leave no stone unturned.

[Michael Muxworthy · Rating 1 out of 5]

I'm nearly 100 pages in. It's seems a bit like grass growing ... it moves so slowly that you're so easily distracted that you miss the important bits.

Tedious, boring, unnecessary detail. It reminds me very much of an endlessly long and boring legal contract that hides the catch in the fine print. If you were trying to con someone, this is how you would bury it.

I can't read this garbage. What a frigging waste of money.

[Jim Sturgill · Rating 5 out of 5]

Intriguing

Truly an enjoyable and thought provoking look at the events around the RFI and Penniston's experiences during and since. Well written and researched!

[Wesley · Rating 2 out of 5]

Don't normally write reviews but wanted to make an exception for this one. Struggling to even think of anything adequate to write about this book. Was hoping for great things but it turned into a strange hybrid of Close Encounters meets TOWIE meets Jerry Springer meets a MENSA entry exam! Some great nuggets and snippets of info, which did answer some minor questions that had been bugging me about this case over the years. But overall quite a self-aggrandizing, bitter and isolating work. And the last sections about the coordinates?! Need a PhD in Maths to even scratch the surface here!

Seems like a lot of diva's in this field, Jim proving himself, unfortunately, to be among them too (despite his best efforts to appear above it all). Such a shame as this case had (and has) real promise - nowadays just seems to be a bit of a car-crash. And conspiracy buffs out there will shout 'Ha, just what 'they' wanted'. When in reality it seems like good old fashioned human bickering and ego clashes have muddied the waters on this one; no sinister plot by 'backroom government entities'. Not needed - just let everyone fight among themselves and make a farce of the event! Don't think I will be jumping on board the next installment.

[Paul Vecchiet · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book presents detailed testimony by the leading expert and experiencer related to this monumental event. Penniston covers the complex incident like an attorney who has developed the case with carefully vetted evidence. In fact, to bolster his mission to leave the reader without doubt, Penniston adds detailed notes at the end of each chapter, like a researcher would on a scientific paper offering hypothesis. In this case there is no need for a thesis. His story is tight and there is no possible way anyone could counter with alternate facts.
A chapter where the author describes regressive therapy to help stop recurring nightmares is written in a way only Penniston can do it. That chapter is one of the most captivating ones in the book because he brings out the actual dialogue between himself and his analyst.
Jim leaves nothing on the table about the people that were less than honorable with him. He goes beyond the incident, illustrating the flaws of key individuals and why they behaved the way they did.
The book is a must for someone that is looking for intelligent and detailed writing about contact with high technology.

[Doug · Rating 3 out of 5]

Fascinating reading at times, but the book is hampered by terrible organization and the noting of discrepancies of testimonies of other supposed witnesses to the point that the story is diminished.

Only read this this as a physical book and treated as a reference manual due to the numerous citations that only make sense when read in context. You need the ability to easily flip back and forth. An ebook version just isn’t up to the task.

[Virginia Tilly · Rating 4 out of 5]

Clarification

I found this book to be very informative. It clears up for me some of the misinformation I've previously been exposed to. This was truly a remarkable event(s) with extensive implications.