File 5/6/2/AIR: UFOs - Policy Reports

This document is a collection of correspondence and administrative records from the Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) Headquarters Support Command, specifically concerning file 5/6/2/AIR, titled 'UFOs - Policy Reports'. The file documents the RAAF's efforts to improve the accuracy of UFO report assessments by utilizing satellite tracking data provided by the Weapons Research Establishment (WRE) in Salisbury, South Australia.

Beginning in late 1967, the RAAF recognized that many reported unidentified flying objects were actually satellites. Consequently, they requested and received weekly 'Visible Satellite Passes' bulletins from the WRE. These bulletins were distributed to various RAAF bases across Australia to assist intelligence officers in identifying potential satellite sightings. The correspondence details the administrative process of setting up this distribution, including requests to include specific bases such as Laverton, Amberley, Edinburgh Field, Darwin, Fairbairn, Richmond, Townsville, Williamtown, East Sale, and Pearce.

In addition to satellite data, the file includes correspondence with the Bureau of Meteorology regarding the release of weather balloons, which were also a source of UFO reports. The Bureau provided tables detailing the times and locations of balloon releases, including those carrying lights at night. The file also contains internal RAAF communications regarding subscriptions to information sheets from the Astronomical Society of Victoria, which were sought to aid in the investigation of aerial phenomena. The documents span from November 1967 through June 1983, reflecting a long-term administrative effort to standardize the identification of aerial phenomena through collaboration with scientific and meteorological organizations.