Ministry of Defence Correspondence File: Unidentified Flying Objects (D/Sec(AS)12/3)

This document is a collection of correspondence and internal memoranda from the Ministry of Defence (MOD) in the United Kingdom, primarily dated 1988. The file documents the MOD's interactions with members of the public, UFO research groups (such as BUFORA and the Manchester UFO Research Association), and other government bodies regarding reports of Unidentified Flying Objects (UFOs). The correspondence reveals a consistent policy: the MOD does not conduct in-depth investigations into UFO sightings unless there is a clear threat to the security and defence of the United Kingdom. The MOD maintains that it has no specialist department dedicated to UFO research and that most reports can be explained by conventional phenomena, such as aircraft, weather balloons, or astronomical objects. The file includes inquiries from the public about specific sightings, including the 1980 Rendlesham Forest incident, and requests for information on American and Canadian reporting procedures (JANAP 146). The MOD consistently reiterates that it does not possess evidence of extraterrestrial craft and that its resources are limited, preventing general searches of old files. The document also contains internal discussions regarding how to handle persistent inquiries and the potential for public concern regarding low-flying military aircraft, which are sometimes misidentified as UFOs.