The night after Christmas, 1980, was the last time Airman First Class John Burroughs would ever lead a normal life.
He was on patrol at an American-operated Woodbridge Air Force base in southern England. Woodbridge and nearby Bentwaters - called the Twin Bases were rumored to possess nuclear materials. This was the middle of the Cold War, and tensions were high.
The threat of nuclear attack, global escalation, and more, sat heavy on the shoulders of Burroughs and his fellow servicemen. But their job was simple: keep themselves, their nation, and their allies safe.
So, Burroughs conducted his nightly rounds, checking the perimeter for anything that threatened the peace.
Suddenly, a bright light descended from the sky. Then another. Burroughs watched as the lights fell into the forest surrounding the base.
When he and his team arrived to inspect the crash site, they were worried it was a Soviet incursion. But, what they found was far more terrifying than anything the Soviets could think of.
--- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/thewhyfiles/support