By Steve Bagnall
Witnesses are being sought to shed light on one of North Wales greatest mysteries.
A new documentary is in the pipeline investigating the Berwyn Mountains incident in 1974 and investigator Russ Kellett is asking if anybody who was there to come forward.
Dubbed the Welsh Roswell, at about 8.30pm on January 23, in 1974, people reported hearing a huge bang, earth tremors were felt amid claims of a brilliant light in the sky above the mountain range.
The Berwyn Mountains
At the time families in the villages of Llandderfel and Llandrillo were settling down to watch TV when an explosion was heard and the ground shook which measured 3.5 on the Richter scale.
Police received reports and arrived in the area and a RAF search and rescue team was scrambled from Anglesey.
In the 44 years since there has been a huge debate as to what exactly happened that night, with TV documentaries made and books written on the subject.
Some researchers have claimed a UFO landed or crashed, with further claims “bodies” were retrieved and taken away by soldiers.
Other theories suggest it was a meteor shower combined with an earthquake – the epicentre of which was at Bala Lake – and the misconception of poachers on the hillside carrying lamps.
Documents seen by the Daily Post in 2008 showed many reports were coming into Gwynedd police that night that something out of the ordinary was occurring.
They included:
A witness who saw an object on the hillside said in a statement: “Saw bright red light, like coal fire red. Large perfect circle. Like a big bonfire. Could see lights above and to the right and white lights moving to bottom. Light changed colour to yellowish white and back again.” A message in a police log said: “There’s been a large explosion in the area and there is a large fire in the mountainside. I can see the fire where I am.”
Telex message to chief constable Gwynedd constabulary. 22.00pm approx 23/1/74: Saw bright green lights, object with tail – travelling west. Saw about Bangor direction – dropped down.
At approx 10pm on 23/1/74: Saw a circular light in the sky at an estimated height of 1,500 feet. This object exploded and pieces fell to the ground. Mr ...... estimates the pieces would have fallen into the sea between Rhyl and Liverpool.
Russ Kellett
Russ who has investigated the incident for years, said: “I have been investigating this for 25 years.
“I have been approached by a company in America to make a documentary, the Americans are fascinated by this.
“If there is anybody who may have witnessed what happened at the time or may have seen military or anything else, could they please get in touch with me.”
Witnesses can contact Russ on 07368 417871.
