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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.
“UFO Files”38 pages
Copy to: Mr- 1. In the early hours of Vednesday 31 March an unidentified object was seen over several parts of the UK. Most of the sightings were in Devon and Cornwall, South Vales and Shropshire, although reports were received from other locations. Ve are aware of at least 30 or 40 people who witnessed something, although this number is growing. 2. Aside from the fact that so many people reported seeing something strange, a number of other factors combine to make these sightings highly unusual; firstly, there is some commonality in the description of the object, and considerable commonality in the times of the sightings (around 1.10am). Secondly, none of the usual explanations for UFOs seem applicable, and thirdly, the reliability of the witnesses, most of whom were police officers, and some of whom were military and civil aviation personnel. I have attached the report made by a Corporal at RAF Cosford, together with three of the many other reports, as illustrations. 3. As far as can be ascertained, no military aircraft of any kind were operating in UK airspace at the time, as confirmed by both HQ MATO at RAF Uxbridge, and RAF Vest Drayton. 4. Sector Operations Centre (South) at RAF Neatishead have told D Air Def's staff that nothing was detected on Air Defence radar. London Air Traffic Control Centre (Military) confirmed that nothing was detected on Air Traffic Control radar. 5. RAF Fylingdales told me that a Russian rocket re-entering the atmosphere at 12.10am would have been visible from the UK, but this time does not match the majority of the sightings; furthermore, the descriptions from witnesses are not consistent with this explanation. The Royal Observatory at Greenwich were aware of no meteorite showers or similar occurrences. 6. DI55c have been consulted, but have not as yet been able to come to any conclusions about the sightings. 7. Some of the reports state that the object was moving at a very high speed (one estimate, based on timing the object over a known distance, was of 1100 mph), while some reported that the object hovered, moved slowly, and then flew off at high speed. This, together with some of the other descriptions given, suggests Aurora. Notwithstanding the US denials, these sightings might prompt renewed speculation. 8. The UK's two main UFO groups are well aware of this wave of sightings, and have told me that they have received many reports themselves. At least one local newspaper has reported the sightings. Although we have not received any press enquiries yet, there is always a possibility that questions will be asked, and it might be difficult to maintain our ·usual line that no further action was being taken as the sightings had been looked at, and were judged to be of no defence significance. UNCL~SSfPfED
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