Posts Tagged ‘Ufo Investigation’

The Ministry of Defence will destroy future reports of UFOs to prevent them from being made public, a memo has revealed.

The British UFO investigation unit and hotline were closed at the start of December. Since then reports have been kept for 30 days. It means that details of sightings will be exempt from freedom of information laws. The memo said that an increase in reports had diverted staff from “more valuable” defence-related activities. The MoD had 634 reports of sightings last year, the highest total since 1978.

The MoD is releasing its past UFO files through the National Archives. Five instalments have been made public, which is about a third of the total.

Dr David Clarke, a lecturer in journalism at Sheffield Hallam University, obtained the memo through the Freedom of Information Act. 

He said: “This is the final rubber-stamping of the decision — they just want to totally wash their hands of the UFO business altogether. It’s just been a millstone around their necks ever since the Cold War. They have decided that whatever they do, it reflects badly on them.”

The UFO expert said that the MoD’s new policy on destroying reports would make it much more difficult to uncover the truth about incidents in the future.

“It’s like they’re desperately trying to avoid having to answer FoI requests on this subject,” he said. “Even if something quite serious happened, perhaps where there was a near-miss with an airline, the MoD will say, ‘we may have had a report on it, but we’ve destroyed it’.”

The MoD is releasing its historic UFO files gradually through the National Archives. Five instalments have been made public so far, amounting to about a third of the total.

Nick Pope, a former MoD employee who worked on the UFO files, said: “It’s ironic that the UFO project was cut because sightings were increasing. MoD disengaged because they were inundated. It’s laziness as opposed to a conspiracy.

“Destroying UFO reports to avoid dealing with FoI requests isn’t illegal, but it’s a great shame. Who knows what fascinating material will be lost?”

Special thanks to Times Online.co.uk

KEN PFEIFER MUFON NEW JERSEY

WWW.WORLDUFOPHOTOS.ORG

It is with great sadness I bring you the following……..that is all.

Jerry Clark writes, “An e-mail from Mark Rodeghier, who got the news from Rob Swiatwek, reports the sad news that Dick Hall died of colon cancer. Dick was first a hero to me, then a valued friend. We’ve lost a giant.” Richard Hall is a legend in Ufology and worked closely with many of the great Ufologists. Over thirty years ago he compiled his documentary report, “The UFO Evidence” for the leading UFO investigation group, the National Investigations Committee on Aerial Phenomena (NICAP) in Washington, D.C. Few people at that time were aware of the scope and consistency of UFO reports by credible witnesses such as scientists, professional pilots, police officers, and even U.S. Air Force personnel.

“The UFO Evidence” was released in July 1964, coinciding with a new wave of sightings and received international news coverage as well as serious attention in the U.S. Congress. Less than two years later, as the sightings increased, the House Armed Services Committee held hearings about UFOs. Late in 1966, with prodding from Congress, an investigation of UFOs was undertaken through a contract with the University of Colorado. Richard made his data available to the university. When Dr. E. U. Condon, the scientific director, repeatedly made public statements ridiculing the UFO subject before the investigation was completed, the Colorado Project became equally controversial. The CIA and other Government agencies closely carefully monitored Richard Hall’s findings.

He was an acting director of NICAP and the Director of the Fund for UFO Research and he insisted that the focus should be on credible reports from qualified witnesses showing strong patterns. Over the years Richard worked diligently trying to obtain new and better evidence. I visited Rich in his home in Maryland, discussing the crash at Fort Dix/ Mc Guire AFB. He later wrote “UFO Evidence II” and “Uninvited Guests” that on page 139 states, ” Dr. Barry H. Downing, a Presbyterian clergyman, who believes the explanation for UFOs lies with the realm of faith. Citing Biblical examples of UFO-like phenomena, he argues that UFOs are part of the ‘heavenly transportation system’ carrying angels of God who interact with man, and there will never be absolute scientific proof – only acceptance by faith—until God’s plan determines otherwise” We hope God’s Air Force picked up Richard’s soul. He will be greatly missed!

The Lord has made the heavens his throne; from there he rules over everything there is. Bless the Lord you mighty angels of his who carry out his orders, listening for each of his commands. Yes, bless the Lord, you armies of his angels who serve him constantly. Psalms 103