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

This document is a compilation of correspondence and administrative records from the Ministry of Defence (MOD) Directorate of Air Staff, specifically concerning Freedom of Information (FOI) requests related to Unidentified Aerial Phenomena (UAP) or UFOs. The file, designated D/DAS/10/2/8/13 Part H, covers the period from 2005 and contains various inquiries from members of the public, journalists, and researchers. The MOD's standard response to these inquiries is consistent throughout the file: the department does not hold expertise in extraterrestrial life, nor does it attempt to identify the precise nature of every reported sighting. Instead, the MOD's remit is limited to establishing whether reported sightings indicate a potential threat to the United Kingdom's airspace from hostile or unauthorized activity. The correspondence highlights the MOD's policy of transferring older UFO records to The National Archives, noting that files prior to 1967 were routinely destroyed after five years, while subsequent records have been preserved. The file includes specific inquiries regarding historical incidents, such as the 1974 Berwyn Mountains event, the 1990 RAF Phantom/Tornado sighting, and various police officer reports from the 1960s and 1970s. The MOD consistently directs requesters to the National Archives for historical data and to the MOD's own publication scheme for more recent information. The document also includes internal administrative forms, such as the Registered File Disposal Form, indicating the file's closure and recommendation for permanent retention. Several pages detail the specific FOI request tracking system used by the MOD, showing the receipt, processing, and response stages for various applicants. The file serves as a record of the MOD's transparency efforts following the implementation of the Freedom of Information Act in 2005, documenting the volume and nature of public interest in UFO sightings during that period.