MOD UFO files [part one of Three]

The National Archives, Kew, London. (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

There is a wealth of information out there on the UFO Files from the MOD, some good and some less so, including videos,audio and great articles on them. I have decided to put them into three part’s.

There were ten batches of files released to the public by the MOD.

David Clarke has a wealth of information on his site

UFO File Release 2008

National Archives UFO Files #1

The first release covers UFO reports, policy and public correspondence between 1978 and 1987. Four of the eight files originate with the MoD Air Staff secretariats DS8 and Sec(AS). These have become well known to UFO researchers and the media as the MoD’s ‘UFO desk’. (released may 2008)

National Archives UFO Files #2

On 20 October 2008 the UK National Archives opened a second collection of UFO files covering seven years of sightings reported to the Ministry of Defence. Covering the years 1986 through to 1992 this tranche contains some 4,500 pages of material, spread across 19 separate files. (released october 2008).

National Archives UFO Files #3

This tranche consists of seven files containing more than 2,000 pages of material. Six of the files contain UFO reports copied to the MoD’s secretive Defence Intelligence branch DI55, between November 1987 and April 1993. During this period 1200 individual sightings were reported to the authorities.(released march 2009).

National Archives UFO files #4

Well, the collection includes a hefty correspondence file (DEFE 24/1970) containing letters to MoD from MPs and a number of well-known UFOlogists between 1985 and 1995. There are complete dossiers on classic cases such as Rendlesham, the ‘Cosford incident’ and the Belgian UFO flap, along with six whole files packed with UFO sighting reports.(released August 2009).

National Archives UFO files #5

There are 24 files in this tranche containing more than 6,000 pages of documents spanning 1994-2000. The correspondence files span the period 1994-99 and the UFO report files begin in August 1996 and end in September 2000. (released February 2010).

National Archives UFO files #6

The release includes 18 files containing 5000 pages of correspondence and Parliamentary briefings created by the Ministry of Defence between 1995 and 2000. The documents provide a unique historical snapshot of the extraordinary beliefs, legends and rumours that were held and spread by UFOlogists around the time of the 50^th anniversary of the birth of the subject in 1997. (released August 2010).

ufo file release august 2010

National Archives UFO files #7

A number of papers in this tranche of files reveal the MoD destroyed whole collections of UFO files as recently as 1990 for reasons they could not explain  They were reluctant to publicly admit they had destroyed files as they feared this might add fuel to allegations they were involved in a cover-up. They were right! (released march 2011).

ufo file released march 2011

National Archives UFO Files #8

On 11 August 2011 The National Archives opened 34 formerly secret Ministry of Defence UFO files…..[..].. In my opinion these papers provide the most detailed and revealing insight into British government UFO policy in the decade before the closure of the MoD’s UFO desk in 2009. (released August 2011).

National Archives UFO Files #9 

The ninth collection of UFO files were released by the UK Government on 12 July 2012….[..].Possibly the most revealing document was written by the last incumbent of the MoD’s UFO desk, and can be found at the end of UFO policy file DEFE 24/2087/1, p5-7. (released July 2012).

National Archives UFO files #10

This fully revised and expanded edition is the first comprehensive history of the MoD’s UFO investigation unit.  Although official investigations began in the 1950s when Winston Churchill demanded to know ‘the truth’ about UFOs, this book reveals official interest stretched back to before the First World War. (released September 2012).

The video can be seen here

I start with the references to David Clarke, mainly because without him, the files probably would not have been released.

The Clarke references above link to the National Archives, and you will now have to pay to download them.[in part 3 i will try and indicate were they can be downloaded for free on the internet-hopefully i can find them all].

Definately worth a look, as it describes all that are in the files and is a wealth of information.

In Part 2, i will be putting up the many BBC articles on the UFO files and other refences to the UFO files from media sources.

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