• Newly released UFO files - October 2008

  The files contain a wide range of UFO-related documents covering the years 1986–1992. If you want to find out more about close encounters over Gatwick Airport, alien abductions, stray satellites - and what the UK Government thought of it all - then this is the place to be. The files are in PDF format. Start by reading our highlights guide (PDF 442kb) to help you navigate your way through the files.
  • DEFE 24/1926/1 (30.2 Mb)
  • DEFE 24/1927/1 (213.7 Mb)
  • DEFE 24/1928/1 (37.6 Mb)
  • DEFE 24/1929/1 (62.7 Mb)
  • DEFE 24/1930/1 (61.4 Mb)
  • DEFE 24/1931/1 (38.4 Mb)
  • DEFE 24/1939/1 (48.1 Mb)
  • DEFE 24/1940/1 (14.6 Mb)
  • DEFE 24/1941/1 (29.9 Mb)
  • DEFE 24/1942/1 (37.5 Mb)
  • DEFE 24/1943/1 (5.1 Mb)
  • DEFE 24/1949/1 (34.3 Mb)
  • DEFE 24/1951/1 (26.2 Mb)
  • DEFE 24/1952/1 (25.9 Mb)
  • DEFE 24/1953/1 (24.8 Mb)
  • DEFE 24/1954/1 (20.6 Mb)
  • DEFE 24/1955/1 (36.8 Mb)
  • DEFE 24/1956/1 (26.3 Mb)
  • DEFE 24/1957/1 (26.7 Mb)

• Background material

  Start your own UFO research by reading Dr David Clarke's guide to the newly released files. Discover the history of government UFO investigations and find out where the new files fit in.

  Read the guide (PDF 172kb)

• Videocast

  Dr David Clarke, an expert in UFO history, guides us through the highlights of the newly released UFO files.

  Watch the Videocast now

• Previous file releases

  The National Archives holds other UFO files that have already been released by the Ministry of Defence. You can download these in PDF format for a small fee. The files contain details of numerous UFO sightings.

  Access existing UFO files

"What does all this stuff about flying saucers amount to? What can it mean? What is the truth?" Sir Winston Churchill - July 1952

(Catalogue reference PREM 11/855)