During the latter period of the Cold War, American military personnel who were stationed in the United Kingdom were involved in a series of disturbing incidents, during which they reported mysterious interactions with unidentified

flying objects. Now as we approach the 40th anniversary of the most infamous of these

events we take a look at the Rendelsham Forest incident. So, So, At the outset of the 1980s, the Cold War had been in full swing for over 30 years, but was now entering a frightening new phase.

The recent invasion of Afghanistan by Soviet forces

had raised tensions between the world's superpowers, taking them to breaking point.

It had also been a primary factor in the election of President Ronald Reagan,

who had campaigned on a platform which promised to take more direct action against the perceived

warmongering of the Soviet Union.

At the time of his election victory, Reagan viewed existing US foreign policy with open contempt.

The incoming president believed that the detente which the two main powers had agreed upon

was the main reason that the conflict had yet to be decidedly resolved.

He was determined to break the will of his opponent by aggressively escalating the funding and deployment of America's armed forces.

Reagan's strategy was bold and had been conceived around the central concept that the already failing

Soviet economy would not be able to survive an arms race to match his planned increases in military

investment.

Its inevitable collapse would hopefully result in the country's population taking to the streets,

revolting against their government, and forcing political change to take place across the USSR. Such an undertaking was music to the ears of

British Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher who held equally dismissive views of the

policies and agreements that her predecessors had put in place.

Thatcher was quick to offer her American counterpart carte Blanche to move whatever

military resources he deemed necessary across the Atlantic and into mainland Britain,

in readiness for a future strike across the English Channel and onto the European continent.

...