Ministry of Defence File: Unidentified Flying Objects (UFOs) Reports (01 Feb 85 – 25 Oct 85)

This document is a compilation of reports and correspondence regarding Unidentified Flying Objects (UFOs) received by the British Ministry of Defence between February and October 1985. The file contains numerous individual 'Report of an Unidentified Flying Object' forms, police reports, and letters from members of the public. The reports describe a wide variety of phenomena, including bright lights, spherical or cigar-shaped objects, and triangular formations. Many witnesses were members of the public, including police officers, pilots, and individuals with an interest in astronomy. The reports often detail the time, duration, location, and description of the objects, as well as meteorological conditions at the time of the sighting. Several reports mention the involvement of local police forces, such as the Gwent Constabulary, Staffordshire Police, and West Yorkshire Metropolitan Police, who forwarded these accounts to the Ministry of Defence for review. The file also includes internal correspondence between various RAF stations and the Ministry of Defence regarding the handling of these reports. Some reports include sketches or diagrams provided by the witnesses. The file reflects the standard administrative procedure for documenting and filing these reports during the mid-1980s, with many documents marked as 'Unclassified' or 'Restricted'. The reports vary in detail, with some providing precise descriptions and others being more vague. The file serves as a historical record of the public's observations of aerial phenomena and the government's systematic collection of these accounts.