The Clearing - Question for John Burroughs

[Robert McLean]

Hello John

I would be most grateful if you could shed some light on a puzzling aspect of this case.

There has been a lot of debate over the years about exactly where the landing site was. What people tend to overlook was that on the first night, after you stopped the jeep when it couldn't get any further and went out on foot, you, Penniston and Cabansag were either in a clearing, or were just about to enter a clearing when you were confronted with the lights that you saw, on the other side of the clearing in amongst the trees.

Not all the statements have been consistent on this point however, so please correct me if I am wrong.

Others have said you knew that part of the forest pretty well, certainly better than Col Halt, and I am sure that you must have gone back in the daytime in the days following the incident to try to make some sense of what had happened.

Did you go back out there in the following days? Can you describe the clearing from which you saw the lights - for example its size, and any other details you remember such as the vegetation, any bushes, etc?

I realize from personal experience how difficult it can be to remember details like this of places a seen a long time ago, but any recollections you have would be very welcome. Thank you very much.

Robert

[Observer]

Robert
I think John has gone on his hols, not sure of the dates but you may have some time to wait for his answer.
Obs