Ministry of Defence UFO Sighting Reports File D/Sec(AS)64/2

This document is a collection of Unidentified Flying Object (UFO) sighting reports compiled by the United Kingdom's Ministry of Defence (MOD) during the early months of 1996. The file, referenced as D/Sec(AS)64/2, contains numerous individual reports submitted by members of the public, police forces, and air traffic control personnel from across the United Kingdom. These reports describe a wide variety of aerial phenomena, ranging from bright lights and star-like objects to more complex descriptions of triangular or cigar-shaped craft. Many witnesses reported objects that appeared to hover, move erratically, or travel at high speeds. The reports often include details such as the date, time, duration of the sighting, the observer's location, and the meteorological conditions at the time. In many instances, the observers were members of the public who reported their sightings to local police stations, which then forwarded the information to the MOD or relevant air traffic control authorities. The file also includes internal MOD correspondence, file notes, and facsimiles between various military units, such as RAF stations and air traffic control centres, regarding the processing and investigation of these reports. The MOD's standard response, as reflected in several file notes, was to inform the public that there was no evidence to support the existence of extraterrestrial life and that sightings were often attributable to conventional aircraft, astronomical phenomena, or other explainable sources. The file was eventually closed in 2007 and transferred to the National Archives for permanent retention.