Ministry of Defence File: UFOs - Persistent Correspondent - Dr David Clarke

This document is a compilation of correspondence and internal Ministry of Defence (MoD) records concerning Freedom of Information (FOI) requests made by Dr. David Clarke between 2005 and 2006. The primary focus of the file is the release of a previously classified Defence Intelligence Staff (DIS) study titled 'Unidentified Aerial Phenomena (UAP) in the UK Air Defence Region,' which was completed in December 2000. The correspondence details the administrative process of reviewing this report for public release, including the application of various FOIA exemptions such as Section 26 (Defence), Section 27 (International Relations), and Section 40 (Personal Information). The documents reveal that the MoD commissioned a study into UAP reports to determine if they posed a threat to UK airspace or contained evidence of advanced technology. The study, which analyzed reports from 1987 to 1997, concluded that there was no evidence of such threats and that most sightings could be explained by natural or man-made phenomena. Consequently, the MoD decided to cease monitoring and receiving UAP reports. The file also contains discussions regarding the destruction of the database used for the study, the redaction of specific technical details concerning radar performance, and the MoD's internal debates on how to handle media interest in the subject. Dr. Clarke, acting as an academic researcher, persistently challenged the MoD's redactions and sought clarification on the status of various historical files, including those related to the Rendlesham Forest incident and the 'Project Condign' study. The correspondence highlights the tension between the MoD's desire to maintain operational security and the public's interest in transparency regarding UFO/UAP matters. The file serves as a record of the MoD's transition toward a more open policy regarding its historical UFO records, while simultaneously confirming its decision to discontinue active investigation into the phenomenon.