Ministry of Defence Correspondence File: Unidentified Flying Objects (UFOs) - 1993

This document is a collection of correspondence and reports maintained by the Ministry of Defence (MOD) Secretariat (Air Staff) 2a during the year 1993, specifically regarding Unidentified Flying Objects (UFOs). The file contains numerous letters from members of the public reporting sightings of strange lights or objects in the sky, alongside the MOD's standard responses. The MOD's consistent position, as articulated in these letters, is that it does not conduct research into UFOs and only monitors reports to determine if there is a threat to the security of the United Kingdom. The MOD explicitly states that it has found no evidence of such a threat and that most sightings can be attributed to known phenomena, including aircraft, airships, satellites, weather balloons, and searchlights used for advertising or at music festivals. The file also includes correspondence with various civilian UFO research groups, such as the British UFO Research Association (BUFORA), Quest International, and the Plymouth UFO Research Group (PUFORG). These groups frequently shared their own investigations and evaluations of sightings with the MOD. Several reports in the file specifically discuss the prevalence of illuminated airships over London during late 1993, which the MOD suggests accounts for many of the reported sightings. The document also contains technical discussions regarding the 'Astronautical Model' and orbital tracking of objects, as well as references to historical UFO files held at the Public Record Office. The file serves as a record of the MOD's administrative handling of public inquiries regarding UAP during this period.