Ministry of Defence Correspondence File: UFOs, Public Correspondence and Requests for Information

This document is a collection of correspondence and internal records from the Ministry of Defence (MOD) regarding public inquiries about Unidentified Aerial Phenomena (UAP), specifically focusing on the 1970 crash of an RAF Lightning aircraft (XS894) piloted by USAF exchange officer Captain William Shaffner. The file spans several years, documenting the MOD's standard responses to persistent public and media interest in the incident. The official MOD position, consistently reiterated throughout the correspondence, is that the crash was a tragic accident resulting from aircrew error during a Tactical Evaluation (TACEVAL) exercise. The MOD explains that Captain Shaffner was tasked with shadowing a Shackleton maritime reconnaissance aircraft at low altitude and speed, became disoriented, and inadvertently flew into the sea. The failure of the ejection system was attributed to a servicing error. Despite these explanations, the file contains numerous letters from researchers, journalists, and members of the public who challenge the official narrative, citing reports of a 'conical' or 'ball-shaped' object, radar anomalies, and alleged cover-ups. The file also includes correspondence regarding other reported sightings, such as an incident near the residence of former Home Secretary Michael Howard in 1997, which the MOD and Home Office investigated and dismissed as having no security significance. The documents highlight the tension between the MOD's policy of transparency regarding non-sensitive information and the public's suspicion of official secrecy. The MOD repeatedly emphasizes that it has no expertise or role in investigating extraterrestrial life and that its primary concern is the integrity of UK airspace against hostile or unauthorized military activity. The file serves as a record of the MOD's administrative handling of UFO-related inquiries, including the transition toward more open access under the Freedom of Information Act.