MoD Confirms Release of UFO Reports

28.01.2008 08:53 UFO - Source: UFO Digest

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MoD Confirms Release of UFO Reports
(Dec 2007)
by Michael Naisbitt

Posted: 12:15 December 24, 2007

Source: UK-UFO.org

(UK) UFO Researchers Secure Release Of MoD UFO Documentation. Very recently (21st Dec 2007) Joe McGonagle of UK-UFO.org announced that:

“Following sustained pressure by a small number of UFO researchers during the last 8 years, the British Ministry of Defence have decided to release all of their UFO files. (For the full details of the planned release, visit: UK-UFO.org).

Gary Anthony, Dave Clarke, and Joe McGonagle have been making full use of the Freedom of Information Act and its precursor, the Code of Practice on access to Government information. At considerable personal expense, effort, and investment of time the three of us have submitted a steady stream of requests. As well as making requests ourselves, we actively encouraged and assisted other ufologists to make their own requests.”

Anybody who is interested in UFOlogy, especially as it relates to the UK and to the “Official” stance of the government owe these researchers at the very least a word of thanks as even anyone who's unaware of the previous achievements of this small but dedicated group will undoubtedly be aware of the many documents that they have been instrumental in obtaining the release of. As far back as 2001, Dave Clarke and Andy Roberts discovered the existence and much more importantly secured the release of documents relating directly to the sensationally named, “Flying Saucer Working Party”. Some of these documents were retained for a further six years before Dave Clarke finally secured release of the sections which were earlier withheld under Section 3(4) of the Public Records Act. (8th February 2007).

And there's also, “Project Condign” Britain 's Secret UFO Study which was the first ever document obtained under the FoIA with a, “SECRET” classification. The researchers meticulous gathering and analysis of documents first identified the existence of the, “Condign report” in 2005 and then promptly secured its release in 2006. A release of information which Dave Clarke doggedly pursued and upon appeal forced the further release of details which were previously claimed too sensitive. Rather than highlight all of their remarkable achievements, I suggest that you visit (and bookmark!!) their main/updates page which has full details and all relevant links to these and many other FOIA requests. (UK-UFO.org updates page).

This recent revelation is the culmination of many years work some of which dates back to 2003 while actively pursuing the release of information via FoIA requests they discovered that DI55 (the Defence Intelligence Branch charged with the investigation of UFO reports) were considering physically destroying millions of pages of files due to asbestos contamination, some of which were specifically created by DI55 in relation to UFO reports. These were just a small percentage of the files which were earmarked for destruction, however all of the files combined covered a diverse and eclectic array of topics which they argued were representative of a key period of military and political history and as such it would be a travesty to simply destroy and ultimately erase these records in their entirety.