Ministry of Defence UFO Parliamentary Correspondence File 2009

This document is a compilation of correspondence handled by the Ministry of Defence (MOD) and the RAF Business Secretariat during 2009 regarding public inquiries about Unidentified Aerial Phenomena (UAP/UFOs). The file contains numerous letters from members of the public, including individuals from Australia and the United Kingdom, expressing concerns about UFO sightings, requesting employment with the MOD to investigate these matters, or urging the government to disclose information regarding extraterrestrial life. The MOD consistently responded to these inquiries with a standardized position: the department does not possess expertise in UFOs or extraterrestrial life, and its primary responsibility is to monitor UK airspace for potential threats from external sources. The correspondence highlights the MOD's policy of releasing historical UFO files to The National Archives as part of a multi-year programme, while maintaining that current reports are only examined to ensure national security. Several letters mention specific incidents, such as the Rendlesham Forest incident and sightings in Derby, Scunthorpe, and over police helicopters in Wales. The document also includes internal administrative forms, such as file disposal and tracking sheets, indicating the procedural handling of these public inquiries within the Ministerial Correspondence Unit. The tone of the MOD responses is formal, dismissive of the existence of extraterrestrial craft, and emphasizes that resources are not diverted to aerial identification unless a specific defense threat is identified.