Hello and welcome to the History Hour podcast from the BBC World Service with me Max Pearson,

the past brought to life by those who were there.

This week from 1950 how Scottish nationalists stole the stone of destiny.

Westminster Abbey, which since William the Conqueror has seen the coronation of all but one

British sovereign, is without the coronation stone.

Also from the 1980s, the Soviet Union's bitter military experience in Afghanistan.

We've got the invention of an early electronic instrument and how Britain honours its furry and feathered fighters.

This pigeon is Boomerang Bertie, who doesn't only carry one-way messages but comes back with a reply.

And this is scruffy.

Yes, she certainly looks it, but so would you have been slung out of an aircraft several times.

Indeed, that's coming up. Later in the podcast, though.

But we begin with a striking example of something which has fascinated humankind for centuries and that is the question of whether we are alone in the universe

or are the multiple supposed sightings of UFOs in fact visitations by alien life forms.

But we begin with a striking example of something which has fascinated humankind for centuries,

and that is the question of whether we are alone in the universe, or are the multiple supposed

sightings of UFOs, in fact visitations by alien life forms.

In late December 1980, there were mysterious multiple sightings of unexplained lights over the biggest

airbase in Western Europe.

The Rendelsham Forest incident, as it became known, is considered one of the most significant UFO sightings ever recorded.

Rebecca Kessby has been speaking to the senior military officer who saw them.

It was Christmas time. The night of the 25th into the 26th of December 1980,

and all was quiet in the Leafy English county of Suffolk,

...