Ministry of Defence Correspondence File: Unidentified Flying Objects (1991-1992)

This document is a collection of correspondence from the Ministry of Defence (MOD) Secretariat (Air Staff) 2a, covering the period between 1991 and 1992. The file documents the MOD's standard administrative response to public inquiries regarding Unidentified Flying Objects (UFOs). The correspondence consistently reflects the official position of the Ministry of Defence: that it does not conduct in-depth scientific studies into the UFO phenomenon, as its primary responsibility is the security of the United Kingdom. The MOD maintains that it possesses no evidence of extraterrestrial life or visits to Earth by alien spacecraft. When members of the public report sightings, the MOD typically provides a standard response suggesting that most phenomena can be explained by rational causes, such as aircraft, satellites, weather balloons, or atmospheric effects. The MOD frequently refers inquirers to civilian UFO research organizations, such as the British UFO Research Association (BUFORA), Quest International, and Contact International (UK), noting that these groups are better equipped to handle detailed investigations. The file also contains internal administrative documents, including closure recommendations for specific reports, and correspondence regarding the handling of public requests for information, including inquiries about the 1980 Rendlesham Forest incident and the release of historical UFO records under the '30-year rule'. The document also includes technical information, such as a summary of SETI (Search for Extraterrestrial Intelligence) observing programs from 1960 to 1992, and reports on specific airmiss incidents involving unidentified objects. The correspondence highlights the MOD's role as a point of contact for public reports while emphasizing its limited resources and lack of mandate for scientific research into the subject.