Ministry of Defence File: UFOs - Persistent Correspondence - Dr. D. Clarke

This document is a comprehensive file from the Ministry of Defence (MOD) containing correspondence between Dr. David Clarke and various MOD officials, primarily from the Directorate of Air Staff (DAS). The file spans from 1971 to 2002 and documents Dr. Clarke's persistent efforts to obtain information regarding historical UFO sightings, MOD policy on UFO investigations, and the fate of records related to 'aerial phenomena'. The correspondence highlights the MOD's administrative procedures for handling UFO reports, which were historically managed by various branches including Air Intelligence 5b (AI 5b) and later by the Directorate of Air Staff. The file includes discussions on the destruction of records, the application of the Code of Practice on Access to Government Information, and the release of specific documents, such as the DSI/JTIC Report No. 7. A significant portion of the file is dedicated to the 1956 RAF Neatishead/Lakenheath incident and the 1980 Rendlesham Forest incident, with Dr. Clarke challenging the MOD's official stance that these events lacked defence significance. The MOD consistently maintains that its interest in UFOs is limited to identifying potential threats to UK airspace and that it does not conduct scientific research into the phenomenon. The file also contains internal minutes, draft replies to Parliamentary Questions, and administrative notes regarding the review and potential destruction of files. It provides insight into the bureaucratic challenges faced by researchers attempting to access declassified government information and the MOD's evolving approach to transparency regarding UFO-related records.