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MOD file DEFE 24/2032/1

The Black Vault · 492 pages · text from the file's own layer

This Ministry of Defence file, released through The National Archives and published by The Black Vault, holds the MOD's 2002 handling of Dr David Clarke's requests for UFO documents under the Code of Practice on Access to Government Information. It includes the MOD's 9 December 2002 reply, which covered reports from 1976, 1980, 1993 and 1996 and charged £260. It also contains internal emails and file requisitions, plus Foreign Office and United Nations papers from 1978 on Grenada's proposal for UFO research.

  • p. 6 …Copy of the file relating to a UFO report made by-nd- near Winchester, Hampshire on…
  • p. 7 …Files D/DS8/75/2/5 Part B (UFO Reports-August to November 1980) and D…
  • p. 9 …ofLords Debate on UFOs, on 18 January 1979. On examining our files we have discovered a…
  • p. 17 …SPfCIFIC ACTION ON UFO'S AND PRECLUDES THE INSCRIPTJOr OF A SETARATE UFO ITEM ON NEXT…
  • p. 18 …Ol<Ell ~-~i;Js"-7.-zlL- ... ! FILES F:~-~-~.:~:i ~:; ., '· .~::-~· :·:J. ~, ·) -.llJ'JD ES & SD N…
  • p. 35 …Our files contain reports and Nick Pope's letters to Dl55 and notes about D Air…
  • p. 69 …Galley had said that UFOs were real but that he, the Minister, did not know where…
  • p. 70 …It cfo!lows UFOs, the truth is simple. There really that the files must remain closed…
  • p. 134 …We may be in for a long hau1 on UFOs. The reply to the Earl will…
  • p. 185 …Copies of enclosures 1/1, 1/2,1/3,1/4 from file Dl55/1 08…
  • p. 190 …We have rio reason to believe that the so-called UFOs are attributed to anything but…
  • p. 212 …We have rio reason to believe that the so-called UFOs are attributed to anything but…
  • p. 303 …I received a non Ufo report from a gentleman (name on file) who is a recently…
  • p. 371 …I received a non Ufo report from a gentleman (name on file) who is a recently…
  • p. 451 DR CLARKE- REQUEST FOR INFORMATION Request 1 Copy of the file relating to a UFO report…
  • p. 453 …1977) on the UN debate on UFOs. (Unclassified) 18. File note dated 16 Dec 1977 seying…
  • p. 454 …French handling of UFO reports. (Unclassified) 29. Draft reply, background note and file minutes concerning Lord…
  • p. 455 …There is one file D/Sec(AS)12/7- Unidentified Flying Objects (UFOs)- Alleged UFO incident…
  • p. 456 …The file contains no real conclusion to these events and Mr Pope was eventually told by…
  • p. 460 …I am currently making - for access to UFO files currently 'closed' under the 30 year rule…
  • p. 462 …UFO report made by Winchester, Hampshire on 14 November 1976. • and I have now received file…
  • p. 463 …UFO report files that we have recalled from archives show that UFO reports were once filed…
  • p. 464 I am sorry we are unable to locate the file(s) you requested on the information…
  • p. 466 …Lords debate on UFOs, on 18 January 1979. We had two files on this, but these…
  • p. 467 …Lords debate on UFOs, on 18 January 1979. We had two files on this, but these…
  • p. 468 REQUISITION FOR A REGISTERED FILE To:-DR2a2 File Nos: (1) D/DS8/75/3 UFOs- Parliamentary…
  • p. 470 …Ifthe UFO reports y, \.j.tf' '\,....,.~V'tt contains are filed in chronologie~! order as is…
  • p. 471 …The file reference D/Sec(AS)1217 UFOs, alleged UFO incident, 31st March 1993, appears 0…
  • p. 472 …Does your branch retain a list of UFO files that have been destroyed, and the reasons…
  • p. 474 …DAO ADGE1 Subject: UFO Importance: Low Sir Unfortunately, Neatishead destroyed their files (and therefore any transcript…
  • p. 476 …Copy of the file relating to a UFO report made and -near Winchester, Hampshire, on 14…
  • p. 477 …file which may contain relevant information. D/Sec(AS)12/7- Unidentified Flying Objects (UFOs)- Alleged…
  • p. 478 …The files concerned are: D/DSS/75/2/2 Part L (1980) UFO Reports: Edited D…
  • p. 480 …This was produced because it was believed that some UFO files might have been over looked…
  • p. 482 . . ~·. MOD Form 262E REQUISITION FORA REGISTERED FILE To:-DR2a2 File Nos: 1) D/DS8/7517 PtA…
  • p. 486 …We have a file on these events, but I know DIS also have a file D…
  • p. 487 …The file I need is PRO reference AIR 2/18977 UFO Reports- due for release in…
  • p. 489 …Copy of the file relating to a UFO report made by near Winch~ster, ~am~s…
BACKGROUND NOTE
MOD interests in UFO investigation is solely to establish
whether report have any bearing on defence. Investigations of
individual reports over a number of years have produced no
evidence that UFOs represent a threat to defence. As might be
expected, simple explanations have been found for most UFO
reports, the most common single source of sightings being air-
craft or the ligh~or aircraft seen under unusual meteorological
conditions. There is nothing to justify the expenditure of Defence
funds on setting up a section to investigate the reports.
2. We sometimes take the line: 'The :r;roD does not dismiss the
possibility that intelligent life could exist in outer space, but
reports that have reached the Department to date contain no
~vidence to support the view that these alleged phenoThena are of
an extra-terrestrial origin'. However, that response is more likely
toi~tate the dedicated enthusiasts than to convince them, so it is
customary to p1ay a dead bat.
3. During 1976, the statement said to have been made by the French
~linister of Defence in 1974 was brought to the Department's notice
in correspondence from the public. Attempts by DPR(R.U')- to verify
the state~ent through the ~·ench Embassy were unsuccessful, since
it was virtually impossible to check back on a radio programme
broadcast two years earlier. Neither -v;as the British .A.ir Attache's
staff in Paris able to produce information on the broadcast. It is
understood, ho"'rever, that the French Defence Ninistry also study
the ~alitary implications and consider any scientific aspect that
may have a bearing on military affajrs. The reports are also con-
sidered by French scientists at a Government organisation knO\m as
the Centre Nationale D'Etude 'spatial. The British Air Attache in

Cases discussed

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Document, cited by the archive. The PDF is mirrored here; the original link is under it. 492 pages are in the text index: search them above, or from the library's search.