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UFO files reveal behind the scenes of the UFO desk

The National Archives · 3 pages · text from the file's own layer

This National Archives press release announces the release of 25 Ministry of Defence UFO files containing over 6,700 pages that document the work of the MoD's UFO Desk, which closed in November 2009. The files include a job description for the Desk Officer, a 1995 intelligence briefing on possible alien motives, a 1979 briefing questioning alien visits, and a briefing on UFO policy for Tony Blair's office. They also include individual reports such as a Spalding 'men in black' visit and a sighting at Chelsea Football Club.

For further information, interviews or images please contact The National Archives
Press Office: t.020 8392 5277 or e-mail: press@nationalarchives.gsi.gov.uk
Notes to editors:
* The UFO Desk comprised of Officers from the Air Staff Secretariat and DI55 – a
branch of the Defence Intelligence Staff responsible for assessing UFO reports for
information of intelligence interest. In 2000 the Air Staff Secretariat was replaced by
DAS (Directorate Air Space) as the secretariat responsible for UFO reports. From 2000
UFO reports were no longer copied to DI55 and the UFO desk was closed in November
2009
The UFO files - The inside story of real-life sightings by Dr Clarke is available from The
National Archives online bookshop.
Images
Images from this release can be used to illustrate a story up until 11 August 2012
without charge. After this date and for all commercial use, it is your responsibility to get
a reproduction licence from our Image Library as well as any other necessary licence
from the copyright owner. The material must not be stored, copied, sold on or otherwise
exploited at any time. Contact details for the Image Library are:
image-library@nationalarchives.gov.uk t: 020 8392 5225.
The National Archives
For the record, for good…The National Archives is a government department and an
executive agency of the Ministry of Justice (MoJ). As the official archive of the UK
government and England and Wales, we look after and make available to the public a
collection of historical records dating back over 1,000 years, including records as
diverse as Domesday Book and MI5 files.
Our 21st-century role is to collect and secure the future of the record, both digital and
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