UFO Files in Britain

From today’s Anomalist:

Britain’s X Files: RAF Suspected Aliens of Telegraph. Britain’s Ministry of Defense has had a keen interest in UFOs for decades, and since releasing numerous UFO documents to the public, documents have emerged that indicate copies were sent to other higher clearance agencies as well. The public files reveal a subversive interest in the extraterrestrial presence which was monitored by “Defence Intelligence” branches. High ranking officers apparently believe that the phenomenon does indeed exist but they ultimately conclude that there’s “no threat to defense” and have been categorized as mostly ET reconnaissance missions, scientific study, or alien “tourism.” Seems from the number of reports of unexplained sightings that we are a popular destination indeed!

More on the UK-UFO Files

Dave Clarke (who has been instrumental in pushing for the release of UFO material) gives a good overview on the newly-released British MoD-UFO files.

UK-UFO Files

Fellow Fortean Kithra alerts us to the latest news on the most recent release of UFO files from the British Ministry of Defence.

As she says:

"The UK has just released some more UFO files, this time for the years 1981 to 1996. Amongst the reports are some pertaining to Rendlesham Forest and, of course, the archive downloads are all in pdf which, personally, I really dislike.

"If you’d like to check them out then click here for the National Archives.

"As to be expected, Dr David Clarke, a UFO expert and journalism lecturer at Sheffield Hallam University, has his own theories about sightings being co-incidental with the release of some film and TV programmes in which the main themes were Aliens and/or UFOs.

"You can read more about that here in an article that also relates what Lord Hill-Norton thought when he wrote to Michael Heseltine, the UK Defence Secretary in 1985, about the Rendlesham event.

"But what I find particularly interesting is the case of a UFO seen across my own county of Cornwall, and other counties, at the very end of March 1993. The Ministry of Defence concluded that this was, in fact, either an American spy plane, or the re-entry of a Russian rocket.What all of this tells us about UFOs is, of course, open to question.

"Some of it relates to what are now old cases where further investigation would probably be very difficult given the passage of time. But that's not to say that investigating old cases has no merit, and I'm also a firm believer that those who are new to the UFO subject should make themselves aware of what went before. Without that basic grounding we fail to see how the subject has evolved, and is still evolving with each new generation."

Sewing Machines of Death

This is one of the strangest official secrets I've come across in a long-time: a previously-classified project that Britain was contemplating using on the enemy during the Second World War.

Strange UFO Secrets From Brazil

This just in from Brazilian UFO researcher A.J. Gavaerd concerning the nation's official UFO files:



Dear colleagues of the World UFO Community:


As of May 04th, Brazilian Government has disclosed over 600 new pages of previously classified documents, covering UFO reports and military investigations from 1970 to 1979, including photos and films, for the first time.


The content of this material has now been examined and proved to be very interesting and revelatory of Brazilian official strategy to cover UFO cases, often openly regarded as "from external sources" in these new documents, meaning from outside Earth. The cases covered and the methods used to investigate them by the military are also very significant.


On my oppinion, the most important material contained in this new declasification are 195 new pages of documents resulted from the Operation Saucer, conducted in the Amazon by the Brazilian Air Force from September to December 1977, that is certainly the biggest *known* official innitiative to military investigate UFOs in the world.


As I also reported, so far, over 1,400 pages of Brazilian previously classified UFO documents have been released thanks to the efforts of the Brazilian UFO Researchers Committee (CBU), through the campaign UFOs: Freedom of Information Now, started in 2004 and articulated by the Brazilian UFO Magazine. This last one has been the biggest disclosure ever in Brazil.


The PDF files of 12 envelopes or folders now released can be can be downloaded at: www.ufo.com.br/public/abertura_2.



Please read below a summary of the contents of each envelope or folder and pay special attention to this one: Folder 10 - 1978, downloadable at www.ufo.com.br/public/abertura_2/CENDOC_ENVELOPE_10_1978.pdf, with 195 pages of Operation Saucer material.


Brazilian UFO researchers are very excited about these new disclosures, that inquestionably prove that our efforts have been profitable for the entire Brazilian UFO Community.


Download more official disclosed documents at the Brazilian UFO Magazine FTP areas:
www.ufo.com.br/public/abertura_1www.ufo.com.br/public/brasilwww.ufo.com.br/public/documents


FEEL FREE TO USE AND REPUBLISH THIS MATERIAL IN YOUR WEBSITE, BUT PLEASE MENTION ITS ORIGIN AS CREDITS.


A. J. Gevaerd,Editor, Brazilian UFO MagazineCoordinator, Brazilian UFO Researchers Committeehttp://www.ufo.com.br/gevaerd@ufo.com.braj@gevaerd.com
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
UFO DISCLOSURE IN BRAZIL CONTINUES


Contents of 12 folders disclosed by the Brazilian Ministry of Defense confirm activities of unidentified flying objects in Brazilian territory. Moreover, it shows that Brazilian military authorities have always monitored such activities of other species in the country's environment.


Folder 01 - 1970



http://www.ufo.com.br/public/abertura_2/CENDOC_ENVELOPE_01_1970.pdf - 13 pages


This folder contains statements delivered at a police station in the city of Bauru (SP). The office was linked to the extinct DOPS, an acronym to name the feared Brazilian Department of Political and Social Order during military dictatorship. There are also reports of numerous UFO sightings occurred in many cities of the state of Sao Paulo. Such reports highlight the good reputation with which police officers regard the witnesses. There are also occurrences from the state of Rio Grande do Sul involving an unsuccessful attempt of an official car to chase a UFO - the object exploded in the air without leaving a trace.


Folder 02 1971



http://www.ufo.com.br/public/abertura_2/CENDOC_ENVELOPE_02_1971.pdf - 22 pages


Military reports addressed to Brig. Gervasio Duncan and Gen. Moacyr Uchoa describing UFOs flight and landing in the states of Rio Grande do Sul and Rio de Janeiro, including a UFO chasing aircraft and sightings of 2-meter tall beings beside their spacecraft in the city of Belo Horizonte (MG). Report from the Division of Security Information of the 2nd Air Zone Command on the spotting of UFOs by radars in the region of Varginha (MG). It also contains an official report sent to the Air Force Command on the sighting of a large flying saucer with several windows over Presidente Dutra highway.


Folder 03 - 1972



http://www.ufo.com.br/public/abertura_2/CENDOC_ENVELOPE_03_1972.pdf - 15 pages


Newspaper clippings reporting UFO sightings followed up by military and police forces at the time. One case describes how two UFOs chased a bus carrying 34 students onboard. Military telegrams including one from the Air Base in Rio de Janeiro informing a UFO sighting at Morro da Onsa - the landing site was spotted by a FAB aircraft. A document from the Division for Flight Protection on the 3rd Air Zone describing UFO sightings in June 1972 as a "swarm of fish". Letters and instructions.


Folder 04 - 1973



http://www.ufo.com.br/public/abertura_2/CENDOC_ENVELOPE_04_1973.pdf - 26 pages


DOPS report containing statements delivered by Sao Paulo city teachers on UFO sightings occurred between municipalities of Ubirajara and Galia in August-October 1972. UFOs there seen had the ability to split and rejoin their pieces which illustrates their intelligent behavior towards the witnesses. Bulletins from the Sociedade Pelotense de Investigação e Pesquisa de Discos Voadores, from April to October 1973 containing articles on the Brazilian cases emphasizing several occurrences registered in the state of Rio Grande do Sul. The fact suggests that Brazilian researchers had been monitored by the Air Force.


Folder 05 - 1974



http://www.ufo.com.br/public/abertura_2/CENDOC_ENVELOPE_05_1974.pdf - 19 pages


This folder contains memos from the Office of Public Security of the State of Sao Paulo addressed to the commander of the 4th Air Zone - investigations carried out by Sorocaba and Votorantin police stations on UFO sightings in those municipalities were altogether forwarded. There are also materials from civil ufologists. Letter from the Canadian UFO Research to the 4th Air Zone requesting information on the ufological occurrence in the city of Arasariguama (SP) which resulted in a certified death of witness. Copies of the report from Centro de Investigação Civil de Objetos Aéreos Não Identificados on the UFO spotted and registered in Belo Horizonte plus details of the case.


Folder 06 -1975



http://www.ufo.com.br/public/abertura_2/CENDOC_ENVELOPE_05_1975.pdf - 68 pages


This one contains documents generated by several civil associations throughout the country which clearly indicates the government surveillance on researchers' activities. Among those pages are bulletins from Sociedade Pelotense containing researches on animal mutilations, correspondence exchanged by the Air Force and Gen. Moacyr Uchoa, and also a summary of David Jacobs' book, The UFO Controversy in America. Strangely enough, it also contains an Italian citizen's statement reporting a UFO occurrence caught by movie camera in 1975 - the movie would have been sent to the USA.


Folder 07 - 1976



http://www.ufo.com.br/public/abertura_2/CENDOC_ENVELOPE_07_1976.pdf - 30 pages


Memo from the minister of aeronautics' chief of staff to the head of the Air Force regarding the release of reports on Caso Ilha da Trindade, occurred in 1958. Both response and letter from requestor are attached including a brief on the Center For UFO Studies which was directed by ufologist J. Allen Hynek. There are also correspondence exchanged among Brazilian ufologists and the military concerning a cooperation for sharing of materials such as UFO case studies and bulletins. Also a letter dated 25 May 1976 from Brazilian Air Force representative in Washington requesting the Air Force Command for information to the US researcher.


Folder 08 - 1977



http://www.ufo.com.br/public/abertura_2/CENDOC_ENVELOPE_08_1977.pdf - 24 pages


Includes a protocol by Salvador Air Base undersigned by several brigadiers reporting occurrences in which military reported sightings of large UFOs followed by smaller ones. Air traffic controller and other seven witnesses claim to have seen a large UFO that would be the "mother ship". Also letters exchanged by Brazilian and foreign civil ufologists with Air Force military. Among these, there is one request from researcher Bob Pratt concerning UFO incidents in USA territory. There are also reports on sightings that triggered Operacao Prato.


Folder 09 - 1978



http://www.ufo.com.br/public/abertura_2/CENDOC_ENVELOPE_09_1978.pdf - 85 pages


Assorted materials including issues of research bulletins and the case of abduction of Australian pilot Frederich Valentich. This folder contains a protocol by the Ministry of Aeronautics describing UFO sightings at the country's capital including reports of witnesses being chased by flying saucers. Also a letter from the 5th Regional Air Command, in Canoas (RS), containing illegible registers on a UFO case, and the investigation of the 4th Regional Air Command on the UFO that hovered over a plot of land at low altitude beside a family's residence in Sao Paulo.


Folder 10 - 1978



http://www.ufo.com.br/public/abertura_2/CENDOC_ENVELOPE_10_1978.pdf - 195 pages


This is the folder which contains more information including reports on several sightings all over the country. Reports from Operacao Prato account for most of the material in the folder amounting to 170 report pages and 126 mission pictures. The most important cases are there and include maps, diagrams and other sketches of varied UFOs and mother ships. Materials describe UFO trajectories, geographical coordinates, view angles, time, and physical effects caused by UFOs on soil and people when there were direct contacts.


Folder 11 - 1978



http://www.ufo.com.br/public/abertura_2/CENDOC_ENVELOPE_11_1978.pdf - 66 pages


Reports from a serious occurrence registered by the I Integrate Center for Air Defense and Air Traffic Control (Cindacta) on the night of June 20th, 1978. A multicolored UFO performed maneuvers at high speed causing panic. The object showed intelligent behavior and ability to vanish from one spot to reappear in another. The chief of police and 20 of his men were witnesses to that. There is also a transcription of talks between radar operators and three civilian aircraft over a UFO sighting among Campinas, Marilia, Pirasununga and Brasilia cities.



Folder 12 - 1979



http://www.ufo.com.br/public/abertura_2/CENDOC_ENVELOPE_12_1979.pdf - 68 pages


This folder contains interesting material on civil UFO investigation both in Brazil and abroad. The 2nd Regional Air Command (COMAR) forwards tens of articles published by US magazine International UFO Reporter and also newspapers. There is also a letter from an attorney of Banco do Brazil on his experience with a UFO on 26 February 1979 and an enquiry from Comitê Nacional de Investigacoa de Fenômenos Aéreos to the governments of Brazil and US. These contains parameters for the scientific research of UFOs and other enquiries.


Report by A. J. Gevaerd, editor, Brazilian UFO MagazineTranslated by Eduardo Rado, volunteer, Brazilian UFO Magazinehttp://www.ufo.com.br/

Secret UFO Files: In Print

It’s not often that I follow one blog-post with another one on broadly the same subject - unless there is good reason to, of course.

And, right now, there is.

Hot on the heels of yesterday’s post about Dave Clarke’s attempts to secure the name of the author of the British Ministry of Defense’s “Condign Report” on UFOs, comes the news that Dave has a new book looming on the horizon that deals with the specific issue of the British MoD’s UFO files.

And here’s Dave himself with all the details:

Copies of my new book based upon the Ministry of Defense’s UFO files can now be pre-ordered via Amazon.

The UFO Files: the Inside Story of Real-life Sightings will be published in paperback during July 2009 by The National Archives. The recommended cover price is £12.99 but those who order early can obtain a discount.

The book has been specially produced to accompany the ongoing releases of MoD files via the TNA website UFO page.

The UFO Files showcases accounts of UFO experiences extracted from the entire TNA collection from the 19th century to the present day.

The first two chapters include official accounts of sightings and investigations of phantom airships, foo-fighters and flying saucers from the first half of the 20th century.

Later chapters cover classic UFO incidents featured in the Air Ministry and Ministry of Defence files, ending with the most recent material released under the Freedom of Information Act. The book concentrates upon primary documents and interviews conducted with key witnesses, much of which will be new even to seasoned UFOlogists.

Working with The National Archives has meant that some key historical documents have been made available for publication for the first time. The book will include over 70 original images from the files, including accounts collected by an Air Ministry investigation of strange phenomena sighted over London in 1921!

A summary of the contents, taken from the TNA new books page, follows:

Original records reveal how British Intelligence and the CIA investigated many Cold War sightings, from the Roswell incident of 1947 to ghost aircraft, Radar Angels to the RAF’s confidential files. The book sheds new light on many famous cases, such as RAF Topcliffe, 1952; the Flying Cross in Devon, 1967; RAF West Freugh, Scotland, 1957; the Berwyn Mountains UFO crash and the Phantom Helicopter Mystery, as well as the notorious ‘Welsh triangle’ and the Rendlesham Forest incident. Dramatic witness statements and personal interviews - many undertaken by the author himself - combine with rarely seen photographs, drawings and newly available documents to bring these extraordinary experiences vividly to life. From aerial phenonema of the First World War to crop circles and a secret UFO study of more recent times, The UFO Files offers a unique guide to our most intriguing mysteries.

UFO Files: The Secret Author

Over in England, Dave Clarke has an interesting new article on the identity of the man who wrote the British Ministry of Defense “Condign” report on UFOs.

As Dave says:

The identity of an MoD intelligence expert who wrote a controversial report on UFOs must remain a secret, the Information Commissioner has decided.

Three years ago the Ministry released - under the Freedom of Information Act - a copy of a four volume report, code-named ‘Project Condign’, that was completed in 2000 and classified Secret - UK Eyes Only.

Condign was the brainchild of a mysterious intelligence officer, working as a contractor for the MoD, who was given access to secret documents covering DI55’s investigations of UFO incidents over three decades.

He was asked to produce the report because of his long experience as an advisor to the Defence Intelligence Staff onthe subject of UFOs.

His study concluded that UFOs - or UAPs (Unidentified Aerial Phenomena) - did exist but were mostly likely to be natural, but poorly understood, atmospheric phenomena such as ball lightning and dusty plasmas.

But what of the identity of the man who wrote the report? On this matter, Dave has been digging deep to try and resolve things, as the following from his new post demonstrates:

One of the questions asked “who the author was, what the author’s qualifications in this subject were; to whom the report was circulated [and] what actions were taken on the recommendations of the report.”

In response Baker was told the report cost the public around £50,000 but they would not name the author or say anything more about his background. “The author of the report was a contractor and was employed by the Defence Intelligence Staff (DIS) on a long-term contract,” Ingram responded in Hansard, 19 March 2007. “Further details of the author, including the name, are being with-held under the Data Protection Act 1998 [Section 40 of the Freedom of Information Act].”

And what happened when Dave - obviously not satisfied with that response - took further steps to try and identify the elusive author?

Click right here to find out!

New UK-UFO Government Files

The following just in from Dave Clarke in the UK:

"From Sunday 22 March 2009 a third collection of UK MoD UFO files can be downloaded from The National Archives website: http://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/ufos

"Visitors to the website can download a highlights guide, a podcast and an updated background briefing I have prepared as consultant to The National Archives on the ongoing UFO files release programme.

"'This tranche consists of seven files containing more than 2000 pagesof material. Six of the files include UFO reports received by the MoD's Defence Intelligence branch DI55 between 1987 and 1993.

"During this period MoD received 1200 individual UFO sighting reports.

"One incident that remained unexplained involves a set of colour photographs taken in Scotland during 1990. These show a diamond-shaped UFO apparently shadowed by Harrier jets.

"A detailed list of highlights from the files and discussion of the key stories contained therein can be found on my blogger page:
http://www.drdavidclarke.blogspot.com/

"Media coverage of the story will follow the lifting of the TNA press embargo at 0001 hrs GMT on Sunday, 22 March 2009."

David Clarke http://www.drdavidclarke.co.uk/

Canada: Opening The X-Files

Although I haven't checked out the site thoroughly yet, the Canadian Government is declassifying its very own, previously-classified X-Files. Here's the link, in case you want to check them out!