Ministry of Defence Freedom of Information Correspondence File D/DAS/10/2/8/13

This document is a compilation of administrative records, correspondence, and internal minutes from the Ministry of Defence (MOD) regarding Freedom of Information (FOI) requests submitted between 2004 and 2005. The file serves as a record of how the MOD handled public inquiries concerning Unidentified Flying Objects (UFOs) and related phenomena. The correspondence reveals a consistent policy: the MOD asserts it has no expertise in extraterrestrial life and does not actively investigate UFO reports. Instead, the department reviews reports solely to determine if there is any evidence of a threat to UK airspace or national security. The documents demonstrate that the MOD frequently directed members of the public to the MOD FOI Publication Scheme and The National Archives for historical records. Several specific cases are documented, including inquiries about the Rendlesham Forest incident, sightings near Craigluscar Reservoir, and reports of triangular objects in the Midlands. The file also contains historical background material, including internal minutes from 1977 and 1978 regarding a United Nations initiative proposed by Grenada to study UFOs. The UK government, as evidenced by these minutes, actively opposed the Grenadian proposal, fearing it would bring the UN into disrepute and drain resources. The MOD's internal stance, as articulated in these historical notes, was to maintain a skeptical, common-sense approach, often citing the US Air Force's Project Blue Book and the Condon Report as justification for not pursuing scientific investigations into UFOs. The file includes various internal administrative forms, such as 'Authorisation for the Release of Information' and 'Registered File Disposal Forms,' which track the processing and eventual retention of these records. The document provides a clear view of the bureaucratic process involved in managing public interest in UFOs, highlighting the tension between public curiosity and the government's stated lack of resources and interest in conducting scientific research into the subject.