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This MoD file, titled UFOs - Persistent Correspondence - Dr David Clarke, holds Dr David Clarke's Freedom of Information requests and emails to the Directorate of Air Staff from 2005 to 2008. Clarke asked for the DI55 report on Unidentified Aerial Phenomena in the UK Air Defence Region and for Rendlesham papers. He also sought records about Nick Pope. Other items include an internal review that released redacted passages on plasmas, the MoD's statement that it had no report of the 2008 South Wales police helicopter sighting, and a 2009 disposal form.
“RAF”42 pages
commission a study into the reports that had been received. The study was carried out during the period December 1996 to March 2000 by a contractor, who was employed in DIST and the report was completed in December 2000. Although this was only one of several tasks in which the contractor was engaged, he produced a very comprehensive report (three volumes and an Executive Summary). The conclusion was that there was no evidence of threats to UK airspace and no new technologies which may have been of defence interest. Most aerial phenomena could be easily explained. It was then decided that DI55 would cease to receive UAP sighting reports. Since December 2000, these reports have not been forwarded to DIS. 6. It is understood that this is the most detailed study that has been undertaken by the Ministry of Defence into unidentified aerial phenomena in UK air space. As it is a unique report and in view of the continuing high profile of the 'UFO' phenomenon, it is expected that the release of the report into the public domain will create media and public interest. 7. The contractor wrote the first two volumes of the report with a view to their release, but the third volume was classified SECRET UK Eyes Only because it contained sensitive information concerning the UK Air Defence Region. The report has been scrutinised by the subject matter experts in DIST, DI BCR, CT&UK Ops and DAS and it is considered that the report can be downgraded to UNCLASSIFIED. However, several sections of the report have been withheld in accordance with Sections of the FOIA. These are as follows; S.26 - Defence - Information which may be likely to compromise the defence of the British Isles. S.27 - International Relations - Information which would prejudice relations with other States. S.40 - Personal Information - Personal data were living individuals can be identified from the information. Also covered by the Data Protection Act 1998. 8. The information withheld relates to UK air defence radar performance, UAP studies in other countries, potential military use of UAPs and personal details of the report's author and contributors and members of the public who have submitted 'sighting' reports. It should also be noted that the report contains reference to unexplained RAF aircraft accidents and although some information has been withheld, it has been determined that under the FOIA, there are no justifiable grounds to withhold the information in total. This section is also likely to attract media and public interest. ## PRESENTATIONAL ISSUES 9. In anticipation of the expected reaction of the release of the report, suitable press lines have been prepared and these are attached for attention of the MOD Press Office. 10. The report is to be released to the requesters in hard copy but, in view of the anticipated level of interest and number of new requests for copies, the
Document, cited by the archive. The PDF is mirrored here; the original link is under it. The text was read from the page images by an OCR model; expect the odd misread word. 160 pages are in the text index: search them above, or from the library's search.