Ministry of Defence File: Unidentified Flying Objects (UFOs) - Correspondence

This document is a compilation of correspondence and internal minutes from the British Ministry of Defence (MoD) spanning from 1990 to 1991, filed under the reference D/Sec(AS)12/3. The file primarily documents the MoD's interactions with members of the public, UFO research groups, and other government bodies regarding reports of Unidentified Flying Objects (UFOs) and crop circles. The correspondence reveals a consistent MoD policy: the department does not conduct systematic research or investigations into UFO phenomena. Instead, it maintains that its involvement is strictly limited to assessing whether reported sightings pose a threat to the security and defence of the United Kingdom. When reports are received, they are typically passed to relevant departments for air defence assessment, but the MoD explicitly states it does not possess positive evidence of alien spacecraft. The file includes numerous letters from individuals and organizations such as the Centre for Crop Circle Studies and the British UFO Research Association (BUFORA), seeking information or government collaboration. The MoD consistently declines these requests, citing a lack of resources and interest. Internal minutes show the MoD's internal debate regarding how to handle these inquiries, including discussions on whether to blacklist certain 'nuisance' correspondents. Additionally, the file contains correspondence regarding specific incidents, such as an alleged near-miss between an Alitalia passenger airliner and an unidentified object over Kent in April 1991, and sightings of lights over the North Sea. The MoD's responses to these specific reports often suggest alternative explanations, such as weather balloons, satellite re-entry, or routine military training exercises. The document also includes a manuscript titled 'The Mystery of Iniquity Exposed: Or, The Reality of the Serpent Race and the Subterrain Origin of UFO's' by 'Branton', which presents fringe theories about subterranean alien bases and reptilian entities. This manuscript is included as part of the correspondence received by the MoD. The file serves as a record of the MoD's administrative handling of public interest in UFOs during this period, emphasizing the department's desire to minimize its involvement in what it considers non-defence matters.