Llanilar Incident (1983)

In UFO research, the Llanilar incident of January 1983 stands out as a remarkable case, not only for the unusual nature of the event itself but also for the rare opportunity it presented for private collection and analysis of purported UFO materials. Nestled in the small village of Llanilar on the West Coast of South Wales, near Aberystwyth, UK, the incident began with a discovery by a local farmer, Eurwel Evans. One morning, he found his field inexplicably covered in mysterious metallic debris, which at first glance resembled crumpled foil. This discovery set in motion a series of events that would intrigue and baffle investigators, including the involvement of UFO researcher Gary Rowe.

In January 1983, a mysterious incident occurred in the small village of Llanilar on the West Coast of South Wales, near Aberystwyth, UK. A farmer, Eurwel Evans, woke up to find his field covered with strange metallic debris, initially resembling crumpled foil. Mistaking it for a plane crash, he contacted the authorities. The Royal Air Force (RAF) sent an investigation team, but they couldn’t identify the material, which had a unique green-gray, honeycombed appearance. They confirmed no military aircraft were missing, and the material did not match any known aircraft​​.

Following the RAF team, a second group arrived, including both uniformed and plainclothes personnel, some claiming to be from the Ministry of Defence (MoD). This team was more thorough, setting up a cordon and floodlights, and collecting every piece of debris, large and small.

The MoD later stated that no military or private aircraft were missing in the area and that the material was unidentified. There was no radar evidence of any aircraft near the site on the night of the incident. This lack of follow-up and ambiguous information left many questions unanswered​​.

UFO researcher Gary Rowe learned of the incident and visited the farm with a team. They found pieces of debris that the MoD team had missed. Samples were sent for testing, revealing the material had properties similar to duralumin, a lightweight but strong material used in aircraft manufacturing. However, the green-gray paint-like substance on the material remained unidentified​​.

Duralumin is an alloy, a combination of metals, primarily composed of aluminum (around 90-95%) and a mixture of other elements such as copper (around 4%), manganese, and magnesium. This alloy was developed by German metallurgist Alfred Wilm in 1903. It’s known for its lightweight yet high-strength characteristics, which make it particularly useful in applications where reducing weight is critical without sacrificing structural integrity.

The duralumin found in the Llanilar incident, as described by Gary Rowe, was noteworthy for several reasons that set it apart from typical duralumin:

1. Unique Properties: The material was similar to duralumin but had unique properties that were not identical to any known material on Earth. This suggests that while it shared some characteristics with duralumin, such as potentially being lightweight and strong, it also possessed distinct features that were not recognized in conventional alloys.
2. Unidentified Green-Gray Substance: The material was covered in a green-gray, paint-like substance that remained unidentified. This aspect was particularly unusual as it didn’t conform to known surface treatments or coatings typically used on duralumin or other aluminum alloys.
3. Honeycomb Pattern: The material had a honeycomb pattern, which is not a standard feature of duralumin. Honeycomb structures are known for their strength and lightweight properties and are used in some advanced aerospace applications, but their presence in this context was unexpected and unusual.
4. Resilience and Strength: Despite its thinness and lightweight nature, the material demonstrated exceptional strength and resilience. Some pieces could be bent with force and then return to their original shape. This level of elasticity and strength is atypical for standard duralumin, which, while strong, does not typically exhibit such elastic properties.
5. Resistance to Crushing and Shattering: The foil-like material, despite appearing delicate, could not be easily crushed or shattered, even when significant force was applied. This resistance to deformation is not a common characteristic of standard duralumin, which can be machined and shaped under force.

These properties suggest that the material found in the Llanilar incident, while similar to duralumin in some respects, possessed a combination of characteristics that were not typical of any known alloy at the time.

Gary Rowe described the materials he found at the Llanilar incident site in detail. He mentioned discovering various pieces of debris, some of which were as large as six feet across, and hundreds of smaller fragments. The debris included unusual foil spread over a great distance and pieces that looked like shattered glass but were actually metal. He noted that one of the fields was bounded by a wood copse, where the tops of the trees had been sheared off, indicating something had passed through.

Rowe described the material as having honeycomb patterns and being sandwiched between pieces of metal. Despite its thinness and lightweight nature, the material was extremely strong and resilient. Some of it could bend with force and then spring back into shape. The foil-like material, despite appearing delicate, couldn’t be easily crushed even when stood upon.

Rowe and his team took some of the recovered pieces for analysis. The testing revealed that the material was similar to duralumin, a lightweight but strong material used in aircraft, but with unique properties not identical to any known material on Earth. The greenish paint-like substance on the material remained unidentified.

These descriptions provide a fascinating insight into the nature of the debris found at Llanilar, underscoring the mystery and uniqueness of the incident. The characteristics of the materials, particularly their strength, lightweight nature, and unusual composition, contributed to the ongoing speculation and interest in the case.

Rowe’s further investigation attempts were hampered. The Forestry Commission controlled the area and replaced the soil, citing storm damage as the reason, which Rowe found suspicious. When he pressed for an explanation, he was told that this unusual activity was what they were instructed to say​​.

Rowe also reported visits from mysterious men demanding the recovered materials, which he had distributed to various contacts for safety.

Despite similarities to the famous Roswell incident of 1947, this event in Llanilar remains largely unknown. The minimal media coverage and the subsequent actions by the authorities have fueled speculation and conspiracy theories. The incident’s proximity to “The Night of the Triangles,” another major UFO sighting, adds to the intrigue, suggesting a possible connection between these events. The secrecy and the unexplained nature of the recovered materials continue to raise questions about the true nature of what happened in Llanilar in January 1983.

The Llanilar incident is notable for the direct involvement of a private investigator in collecting and analyzing potential extraterrestrial materials. Gary Rowe’s efforts in gathering, preserving, and examining the debris from Llanilar have provided an invaluable contribution to the study of UFO phenomena. His meticulous work stands as a testament to the dedication of independent researchers in pursuing answers to the mysteries surrounding unidentified flying objects.