Alan Godfrey facts for kids

Alan Godfrey, born on June 30, 1947, used to be a police officer in West Yorkshire, England. He became well-known in 1980 for saying he saw a UFO, which stands for Unidentified Flying Object.

About Alan Godfrey's Early Life

Alan Godfrey grew up with his older brother, Colin. He also had twin younger brothers, Ian and Stuart, who were born in 1950. In the early 1970s, Alan lived on Adelaide Street. He often went to a local pub called the Weavers Arms. For a short time around 1970, he also worked in south London.

Alan Godfrey's UFO Sighting

On the night of November 28, 1980, Police Constable Godfrey was working. He was responding to calls about cows that were loose in a neighborhood in Todmorden, West Yorkshire.

What Alan Godfrey Saw

Godfrey says that during his patrol, he saw a very bright light. It was floating above the road. He described it as a diamond-shaped object that was spinning. He thought it was about 20 feet (6 meters) tall and 14 feet (4.3 meters) wide.

He tried to use his police radio to call for help, but it stopped working. Suddenly, the object disappeared. Godfrey then found himself about 30 yards (27 meters) further down the road. He could not remember what happened for about 30 minutes. He also noticed his boot was split, and he had a red, itchy mark on his foot.

Later Memories and Beliefs

Later, during a special type of therapy called hypnotic regression, Godfrey remembered more details. He recalled a bright beam of light that made him pass out. He then woke up inside a room. In this room, small beings and a humanoid (a creature that looks like a human) were examining him.

Godfrey believes that this event caused him to retire early from the police force. However, in 2018, he said that the abduction he spoke about under hypnosis was probably a dream. He clearly stated that he "never said [he] was abducted by aliens."

The Zigmund Adamski Mystery

Six months before Godfrey's UFO sighting, in June 1980, he was involved in another strange case. He investigated the death of a 56-year-old man named Zigmund Adamski.

The Discovery of Adamski's Body

Adamski went missing on June 6. His body was found three days later on top of a 10-foot (3-meter) high coal pile in Todmorden. This was about 20 miles (32 km) from his home in Tingley. He was wearing a suit, but his shirt was missing. His clothes were fastened "improperly," and his hair had been cut very short in a "roughly cut" way.

Theories About the Case

Godfrey told reporters that he thought it was possible Adamski might have been abducted by aliens. He suggested Adamski could have been placed on the coal pile "by someone or something." Godfrey said he was "open-minded" about what happened.

Other ideas about Adamski's death included theories that he was killed by KGB agents. Another idea was that he was hit by ball lightning, became confused, and then wandered to the coal pile where he died. Adamski's wife, Lottie, first thought her husband had been kidnapped.

Alan Godfrey has written a book called Who or What Were They?. In his book, he shares his thoughts about his own UFO sighting, the Adamski case, and other abduction claims like the one by Travis Walton.

Alan Godfrey's Personal Life

Alan Godfrey got married on February 28, 1970. His daughter, Julie-Ann, was born in August 1970. He remarried in September 1995.