Investigation of Flying Saucers - Policy

This file contains correspondence and policy documents from the Australian Department of Defence regarding the investigation of Unidentified Aerial Sightings (UAS), formerly referred to as UFOs. The documents span from 1972 to 1981 and detail the RAAF's evolving policy on handling public reports. The RAAF maintained a responsibility to investigate these sightings to ensure national security, but consistently concluded that no threat existed. By 1981, senior officers, including Squadron Leader I.S. Frame and Group Captain G.A. Perske, argued that the administrative burden of investigating these reports was difficult to justify in the current economic climate. They noted that investigations required significant time from specialist branches like Meteorology and Air Traffic Control, which were already undermanned. The RAAF frequently cited the USAF 'Condon Report' (1968) to validate their stance that UFO studies did not contribute to scientific knowledge. The file includes various internal memoranda, lecture texts for public dissemination, and summaries of sightings from 1974 to 1977, which were often attributed to satellites, space debris, aircraft, or celestial bodies like Venus. The RAAF's approach was to provide a 'service' to the public while minimizing the resources dedicated to these investigations, often by referring enquirers to civilian organizations or providing standard explanations for common phenomena.