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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 …head of S4(Air), with contributions from RAF Ops (GE)2 and DI55 for reference by…
  • p. 7 Copies of report made by RAF Fylingdales, North Yorkshire, of unidentified objects tracked by the BMEWS…
  • p. 41 …encourage informal links between, for example, the RAF and the very worthy groups who believe differently…
  • p. 48 …last week, one of our particularly important RAF stations had anything: to say about them. this…
  • p. 68 …1969, was we do know that an RAF Vulcan bomber very substantial and detailed and it…
  • p. 74 …Y ..... ~ .... ."..:.:!....!.)::•.. ;~ . --~-- -M2 APS/US of S(RAF) L. The Foreign Office might have given us some…
  • p. 84 …DOCUME' ............... ~.................-:.. ···~-~~;; ~ , ·' . ·-.,.,_~ Jg . :'~U --- ~-- - -~-- APS/US of S(RAF) .,. The Foreign Office might have given us some…
  • p. 106 '--) PS/USofS(RAF)(Through DUS(Air) As stated in the Background Note to the Earl of…
  • p. 130 …chboa~d) Group Captain Yctn:.a.n (RAF) Air J>.ttncho Britich Embaosy }5o Rue du…
  • p. 133 …F~rguson) Parliamentary Clerk 218 6312 (!;; .{~~· ---~-\ , ·-... -x~ \ '~ ( \ US of S (RAF)'s ~ \'::::::.\4 .' __) PRIVAT~ OFH.:c…
  • p. 136 …The official transcript has been provided by the RAF Air Attache ill Paris, who has also…
  • p. 152 !REDACTION ON ORIGINAL DOCUMENT I .S/USofS(RAF)(Through DUS(Air) , As stated in the Background…
  • p. 182 …official transcript has been provided by the RAF Air Attache · >:·1 ';:~ ill' Paris who has also…
  • p. 186 …ACS(G)(RAF) UFOs - DEBATE IN THE LORDS I enclose a first draft of a proposed…
  • p. 189 …bu·t we do know that an RAF Vulcan bomber on ~ low flying mission passed the…
  • p. 195 ~· --,------ DRAFT • •• M - PSLUSofS(RAF) through DUS(Air) and PS/USofS(?AF) Copies to: PS/CS{RAF…
  • p. 197 …PS/CS(RAF) ACS(G)(RAF) DI55 -.Mr Asteraki Ops(GE)2b(RAF) Head of. S4…
  • p. 199 …and the draft speech to D?.R(RAF) with the request that he pass his copy…
  • p. 202 …PS/US of S (RAF) PSICS(RAF) PSIDUS(Alr) ACS (G) ( RAF) --7=' DI 55 (Mr…
  • p. 203 …minute and the draft speech to DPR(RAF) with // the request that he pass his copy…
  • p. 205 …6 & M . !REDACTION ()11:1 ORIGINAL DOCUMENT I DRAFT PS.{p:s_C!.f'S ( RAF…
  • p. 207 …PS/CS(RAF) ACS(G)(RAF. DI55 - I"'r Ops( GE)2b( . Head of. S4(Air…
  • p. 208 …ACS(G)(RAF) !REDACTION ON ORIGINAL DOCUMENT I UFOs - DEBATE IN THE LORDS I enclose a…
  • p. 211 …bu·t we do know that an RAF Vulcan bomber on ~ low flying mission passed the…
  • p. 222 …TO \.JHOM REPORTED None RAF Ba.JlMER, RAF STAXTON WOLDl UK R.A:OO, AN ·n…
  • p. 225 …c· 1 DG Ops(QE)(RAF),... .-. ·.r ·1 DI 55B(SIC)....., ~· . . cr.. '1 2 DSTI c…
  • p. 226 …DO O;jS(~E)(RAF) DI 55B(SIC) CST 1 1 DSC (AFDO)· ) f (· ( lfir1 ~11\: ( ( ( ( ( (
  • p. 231 …INFO RAF LEUCHARS HODUK_ "- HODUK AIR HQSTC- UKRAOC ' U-N C L A S S. I…
  • p. 232 …1 DO Ops(GE)(RAF) 1 D I 55 8 ( S I C·) 2 DSTI 1…
  • p. 241 …ACS(P) eYe 1 DG Ops(~E)(RAF) ("'It 1.f v ... ·1 DI 55B(SIC…
  • p. 242 …CXJ J4CS(P) DO O;:,s(~E)(RAF) D I 5 58 ( S 1C) CSTI 1…
  • p. 244 …FROi'l RAF BIN2P.OO!< 1\.1 l'iODUK A 1 Fl. U· ··: C L A…
  • p. 247 …IN REPLY) FOR THE ATTENTION OF AFOR(RAF) UFO REPORT A. 26 SEP-0030 'HOURS-5…
  • p. 248 …1 · ACS( P) - 1 DO Ops(qE)(RAF) 1 DI 55B(SIC-) 2 DSTI 1 D…
  • p. 251 : j ·,~. --:r OC RAF Police F1t Sir, PoSSIBLE. UFO SIGHTINGS UNCLASSIFIED POLICE IN CONFIDENCE RAF Police…
  • p. 252 …At 0142 hours, I informed RAF West Drayton, Lt Cdr incident, and he confirmed that there…
  • p. 253 . .. e RAF POLICE SITUATION REPORT.30-31 MAR 93. DOBNO 10211193 DATEi TiME 31M~93 0115…
  • p. 273 . ·.-···· CWD148 31/0959 090C1185 FOR CAB ROUTINE 310720Z MAR 93 FROM RAF WEST DRAYTON TO MODUK…
  • p. 275 CWD153 01/1325 091C1129 FOR CAB ROUTINE 010850Z APR 93 FROM RAF WEST DRAYTON TO I…
  • p. 276 ' •' .,.·.""''"'I::..;:/, ::..... .• -·~·~, ·~·-~~··.,,:..~ ....... ·~.:.,-:.:- .':!t.""f""...,....,~~""~""'·~"-~'~~. • \ CAB123 31/1257 090C2197 FOR Cf.iB ROUTINE 311220Z MAR 93 FROM RAF…
  • p. 277 CWD203 31/1158 090C1975 FOR CAB ROUTINE 311050Z MAR 93 FROM RAF WEST DRAYTON TO I…
  • p. 278 CWD151 31/1002 090C1243 FOR CAB ROUTINE 310730Z MAR 93 FROM RAF WEST DRAYTON U N…
  • p. 279 CAB092 31/1001 090C1238 FOF< CAB ROUTINE 310725Z MAR 93 FROM RAF WEST DRAYTON TO 1…
  • p. 304 …To his knowledge there had not been any flyovers by RAF, NATO or other aircraft and…
  • p. 307 …Bentwaters Air Base jointly manned by the RAF and USAF. Around the time of the alleged…
  • p. 313 …I have attached the report made by a Corporal at RAF Cosford, together with three of…
  • p. 319 ... ~~ . ') COS/87/2/Sy !REDACTION ON ORIGINAL DOCUMENT I AAF Police Flight RAF Cosford Wolverhampton West…
  • p. 320 …At 0142 hours, I informed RAF West Drayton, lt Cdr- ~f the incident, and he confirmed…
  • p. 336 •.· ;;. '~' . .:; ······ ·e..-,-----------.-1------~-~:.,,:-:-.__ :,~:,...~..~\:;-.. :~,.".,"~:~-r,,·,,.:· I K. !;e~~o=t~)ported (Police, m~lit~ry, I (~~.tkJ RAF…
  • p. 341 …FOR CAB ROUTINE 310720Z MAR 93 FROM RAF WEST DRAYTON TO MODUK AIR U N C…
  • p. 343 …FOR CAB ROUTINE 010850Z APR 93 FROM RAF WEST DRAYTON TO MODUK AIR U N C…
  • p. 344 …REPORTED 1·0 RAF CHIVENOR OPERATIONS ALSO SEEN Bi POLICE PAfROL PASSING BURROWS IN CAR PAGE…
  • p. 345 …FOR CAB ROUTINE 311050Z MAR 93 FROM RAF WEST DRAYTON TO MODUK AIR U N C…
  • p. 346 …FOR CAB ROUTINE 310730Z MAR 93 FROM RAF WEST DRAYTON TO MODUK AIR U N C…
  • p. 372 …To his knowledge there had not been any flyovers by RAF, NATO or other ·. t aircraft…
  • p. 375 …Bentwaters Air Base jointly manned by the RAF and USAF. Around the time of tfre alleged…
  • p. 381 …I have attached the report made by a Corporal at RAF Cosford, together with three of…
  • p. 394 …The lights observed from Skegness were captured on video which is being sent to RAF Neatishead…
  • p. 397 …The MRCC, unaware of any maritime activity, asked the Air Rescue Coordination centre (ARCC) at RAF…
  • p. 398 …scramble a Quick Reaction Alert aircraft from RAF Leuchars to investigate either the permanent echo or…
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9. Expert Opinion. The observations were examined by the Royal
Greenwich Observatory and a report of its findings is at Annex D.
The report acknowledged the uncertainties in the estimates of
azimuth and elevation of the observations and could only provide a
best guess of the likely light source(s) as summarized below.
a. The Boston Police may have been looking at the planet
Venus which was exceptionally bright in the early morning sky
on 5 Oct, rising at 0209Z on a bearing slightly north of
east; this is consistent with the first Boston observation.
b. Based on measurements obtained from the police video,
the Skegness observations could also have been Venus. The
Observatory notes that when a bright star or planet is low in
the sky, even to elevation 200, it is quite common for it to
appear to show colours which are often described as flashing
or rotating. These characteristics and the report of the
first Skegness observer tend to favour the Venus theory.
c. The Observatory can offer no likely celestial
explanation for either sets of lights observed from the MV
CONOCOAST.
SUMMARY
10. Following extensive investigation, it can be concluded that
the radar plot observed in a position at Boston was a permanent
radar echo; it was correctly assessed as such by CRC Neatishead at
the time and no further air defence related action taken. The
bright stationary lights observed from Boston and Skegness were
probably due to light from the planet Venus which began rising at
the time of the first observation; it was particularly bright and
could have appeared multicoloured and flashing to some observers.
No explanation can be offered for the two sets of lights observed
from MV CONOCOAST.
11. For completeness and further reference, various notes are
attached at Annex E, together with a list of organizations and
persons consulted in the course of this investigation. In
addition, abbreviated comment on the detail contained in Mr
Redmond's letter to SofS are at Annex F. A copy of the video of
the Skegness lights, copied by Lincolnshire Police HQ, is
attached.
12. This report is the result of almost full time, painstaking
investigation over a period of 8 working days and, although all
the light phenomenae have not been conclusively explained,
research has not revealed evidence or admissions that alarming or
extraordinary events were being witnessed. It is likely that
similar detailed investigation into light phenomenae would produce

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.