Ministry of Defence File: UFOs Policy (Part B)

This document is a Ministry of Defence administrative file (D/SEC(AS) 64/1, Part B) covering the period from 1997. It serves as a repository for correspondence, internal minutes, and policy documentation regarding the MOD's handling of public enquiries about Unidentified Aerial Phenomena (UAP) or 'UFOs'. The file highlights the MOD's consistent policy stance: that it possesses no expertise or role in researching UFOs, and that its interest is strictly limited to determining if reported sightings pose a potential defence threat to the United Kingdom. A significant portion of the file is dedicated to the administrative management of public interest, including the establishment of a dedicated telephone answerphone service for UFO reports to streamline enquiries. The file also details the MOD's cooperation with the BBC for the production of the science fiction drama series 'Invasion Earth', which involved providing access to RAF facilities and equipment, such as helicopters and personnel, for filming purposes. Furthermore, the file contains extensive documentation regarding the 'Operation Aeneid' hoax, a series of incidents in 1967 involving fake flying saucers, and the subsequent efforts by researchers and journalists to obtain information about these events from MOD files. The file also tracks the ongoing process of reviewing and transferring historical UFO-related files to the Public Record Office (PRO) in accordance with the 30-year rule, and addresses queries from the public and Members of Parliament regarding the Freedom of Information Act and the accessibility of these records. The file reflects the internal MOD debate on how to manage the administrative burden of UFO enquiries while maintaining a policy of transparency regarding historical records, balanced against the need to protect sensitive defence information.