Department of Air File 114/1/197: Reports on Flying Saucers and Other Aerial Objects

This document is a compilation of correspondence, minute sheets, and reports maintained by the Australian Department of Air (File 114/1/197) regarding Unidentified Aerial Phenomena (UAP) or 'flying saucers' between 1953 and 1955. The file documents the Australian government's administrative handling of public reports, inquiries from the Australian Flying Saucer Bureau, and internal military assessments of sightings. Key themes include the RAAF's efforts to identify sightings as conventional aircraft, meteorological phenomena (such as Venus or fireballs), or misidentified astronomical events. The file contains specific reports from witnesses across Australia, including sightings near Perth, Ballarat, and Port Moresby. It also highlights the government's cautious approach to public disclosure and its reluctance to engage in formal, long-term research, often deferring to existing meteorological or civil aviation authorities. The correspondence reveals a tension between public interest groups, such as the Australian Flying Saucer Bureau, and the military's desire to maintain security and avoid public alarm. Several instances involve the RAAF investigating reports of 'flying saucers' only to conclude they were likely jet aircraft, planets, or meteorological balloons. The file also includes internal discussions regarding the handling of photographic evidence, specifically a film taken by a Mr. T.C. Drury in Port Moresby, which was sent to the United States for analysis.