Farnborough pranksters behind UFO hoax relive memories 50 years on - Get Surrey

Masterminds of a national alien hoax cooked up in Farnborough in 1967 are holding a reunion on the eve of its 50th anniversary.

A band of mischievous trainee engineers from the MoD’s ( Ministry of Defence ) Royal Aircraft Establishment (RAE) in Farnborough were behind the audacious prank.

The ringleaders, aged just 21 at the time, came up with the idea to raise money for charity as part of the college’s Rag Week.

They also wanted to see how the authorities would react if there was an alien invasion, and to find out just how prepared Britain was.

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The RAE Rag Week committee agreed to the plan in January of 1967, but it was not until September that the invasion was launched.

The students built six oval objects, moulded from fibreglass and laced with artist’s graphite to give them an eerie sheen.

The extra-terrestrial crafts were filled with “alien goo” made from boiled bread dough.

Each saucer contained a small loudspeaker, programmed to emit an unearthly wailing noise if the UFO was disturbed.

The authorities tried to keep the hoax a secret but it was exposed by a journalist
The authorities tried to keep the hoax a secret but it was exposed by a journalist (Image: www.sify.com)

The saucers caused widespread alarm when they were discovered on September 4 on a golf course near Bromley, fields scattered across southern England and a hill in Somerset.

The authorities tried to keep the discoveries a secret, but the hoaxers’ cover was blown by a newspaper reporter who knew the RAE students were renowned for pranks.

As a result of all the publicity, the students raised around £2,000 for charity.

Some of the people involved in the hoax will share their memories of it at a reunion of RAE employees to be held in Farnborough on Thursday August 31.

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The free gathering will take place in the Cody Pavilion at the FAST (Farnborough Air Sciences Trust) Museum in Farnborough Road, from 1.30pm-4.30pm.

It is open to all apprentices who trained at RAE and its outstations and other related establishments such as NGTE Pyestock, plus their partners.

Geoff Hiscott, who has helped to arrange the event, said: “The apprenticeship scheme has a proud heritage.

"It has trained thousands who have made important contributions to the world’s technical and scientific innovation and progress.

Student engineers at Farnborough's Royal Aircraft Establishment working on a Hawker Tempest in 1946
Student engineers at Farnborough's Royal Aircraft Establishment working on a Hawker Tempest in 1946 (Image: FAST Museum)

“Just as important, of course, are the personal friendships formed among apprentices from the age of 16, often for life.

“While some will come from afar, I really hope we get a big attendance from the many hundreds of ex apprentices still living in our local area.

“They might have been reluctant to attend the expensive formal dinners previously held. This is simply a chance to meet some old pals.”

For more information about the reunion, contact Geoff Hiscott on 01252 715558 or email topaz49@talk21.com.

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