Ministry of Defence UFO Correspondence and FOI Requests 2009

This document is a compilation of correspondence and Freedom of Information (FOI) requests handled by the Ministry of Defence (MOD) and the Royal Air Force (RAF) Business Secretariat during 2009. The file contains numerous inquiries from members of the public, UFO researchers, and organizations such as MUFON and the East 2 West UFO Society, all seeking information regarding various UFO sightings across the United Kingdom. The MOD's standard response to these requests is consistent: they state that the MOD does not have a specific role or expertise in investigating 'UFO/flying saucer' matters. Instead, the MOD examines reports only to determine if there is evidence of a potential threat to the United Kingdom from an external source or if UK airspace has been compromised by hostile or unauthorized air activity. The correspondence details the administrative process of handling these FOI requests, including the use of exemptions such as Section 22 (Information intended for future publication) and Section 40 (Personal Information). The MOD frequently directs requesters to the National Archives, where historical UFO files are transferred as part of a three-year release programme. The document also includes internal communications between MOD departments, such as the RAF Business Secretariat and the Radar Analysis Cell, regarding the verification of military aircraft activity in response to specific sighting reports. These internal checks often conclude that no military activity occurred at the times and locations specified, or that the sightings were likely civilian aircraft or other phenomena. The file also contains detailed logs of UFO reports from 2009, documenting dates, locations, and descriptions of sightings, ranging from 'bright orange lights' to 'spherical objects'. The MOD maintains that to date, no UFO report has revealed evidence of a threat to the UK, and they remain open-minded but skeptical regarding the existence of extraterrestrial life.