Ministerial Correspondence Regarding Unidentified Flying Objects

This file documents a 1957 inquiry by Raoul E. Baudish, an influential resident in the Minister for the Army's electorate, regarding sightings of unidentified flying objects (UFOs) in Australia, specifically in relation to military exercises. Mr. Baudish wrote to the Minister for the Army, J.O. Cramer, on October 28, 1957, expressing concern that such objects had been observed during military exercises and that the government had a responsibility to release information. The Minister's office initiated an inter-departmental investigation, consulting the Department of the Navy and the Department of Air. The Department of Air reported that they had received 11 official reports in the preceding twelve months. Their investigation concluded that two were meteorological balloons, five were likely aircraft, and the remainder lacked sufficient evidence to determine their nature, though they noted that investigations in the United States suggested such reports did not relate to anything abnormal. The Department of the Navy reported that their last received report was in 1954, though they noted a specific incident involving a naval pilot at R.A.N. Air Station, Nowra, who observed lights and vague shapes on radar during a night flight. Both departments confirmed that no sightings were linked to military exercise areas. The file concludes with internal administrative notes directing staff to hold the file until all replies were received and then to 'kill the matter,' indicating a desire to close the inquiry once the ministerial response was finalized.