Summary
The UK National Archives published extensive files from the Ministry of Defence's UFO desk, documenting investigations from 1950-2009.1 The release included witness reports, radar logs, internal memos, and policy documents showing how official interest evolved over decades before ending in 2009.2
Archive Release
Between 2008-2013, the National Archives released over 209 files containing approximately 250,000 pages in ten tranches.3 The documents included everything from citizen reports and sketches to internal intelligence assessments and policy briefings.4 The release generated unprecedented public interest, with over 4.7 million page views and 3.9 million document downloads.5
Historical Context
The MOD's UFO desk operated from 1950 to 2009, investigating over 10,000 reported sightings.6 While most cases had conventional explanations, some remained unexplained. The files reveal that officials worried about being accused of not taking UFOs seriously enough, while also grappling with limited resources for investigations.7
Notable Content
The files contain significant historical documents including Winston Churchill's 1952 memo demanding to know "the truth" about flying saucers, the 1950 Flying Saucer Working Party report, and records of major cases like the 1956 RAF West Freugh radar incident. Internal memos show how defence intelligence officials assessed potential national security implications.8