UAP file 5/6/Air Part 3 - Department of Defence

Hi all,

As mentioned in a recent post I have been fortunate to obtain copies of several Department of Defence UAP files from the period 1985-1994. These files have only once before been seen by UAP researchers, namely by Dominic McNamara and myself at RAAF Base Edinburgh, in 2004. However, no one, until now, has received copies of the entire files.

5/6/Air Part 3:

The first file is titled "[RAAF Headquarters Support Command, Victoria Barracks, Victoria] UAS [Unusual Aerial Sightings] policy [UFO, Unidentified Flying Objects]" according to the National Archives of Australia's RecordSearch database. Although the contents of the file are outside the date range accessible via the Archives Act, the RAAF sent the file to the NAA in 1994.

Its title, according to our 2004 examination, was simply "Unidentified Aerial Sightings." The file cover indicated it belonged to Chief of Air Staff, Headquarters Support Command. It is 65 pages long.

The most interesting paper on the file is a copy of a Support Command "Air Staff Instruction No. 3/A/3 on Unusual Aerial Sightings, reference AF84/3508 Part 1, of 12 April 1984. It includes the following text:

"1. The RAAF is often the first point of contact for reports of Unusual Aerial Sightings (UAS) which are popularly referred to as Unidentified Flying Objects (UFO). However, the term UFO is emotive and inaccurate, and its use by RAAF personnel should be avoided because:

a. the term is often loosely applied to lights, sounds and objects which have not been airborne, and

b. most sightings are easily and rapidly identifiable as natural or man-made objects seen or heard in unusual conditions.

2. Most UAS reports from members of the public have been found by the RAAF to be based on the observation of natural or man-made phenomena. Nevertheless, most reports are made by responsible people who:

a. are seeking an intelligent assessment of an experience which they have not previously encountered or

b. believe that their sighting may be concerned with the defence or security of Australia.

The RAAF accepts reports on UAS and attempts an allocation of reliability. However, few reports are of any direct interest to the RAAF."

It goes on to talk about USAF Project Blue Book and the Condon report and cites the report's conclusion "Experience in the RAAF since the early 1950's supports the Condon Report conclusion."

The Instruction then sets out "Responsibilities." "The RAAF is responsible for the acceptance and evaluation of UAS reports. Those which suggest a defence or national security implication are further investigated..." Under "Execution" "Officers commanding are to appoint UAS Investigation Officers..." A questionnaire is attached to the Instruction - the one we are all familiar with.

The Instruction contains one odd sentence:

"In general terms, further investigation is to be confined to sightings of a terrestrial, rather than an extra-terrestrial nature. Sightings of interest to the RAAF would involve incursions, into Australian airspace by man-made objects, and particularly include sightings near defence or other sensitive establishments."

My reading of this is that the RAAF would not investigate if a 'genuine' UAP close encounter occurred which was caused by a 'genuine' extra-terrestrial object!

Other papers on the file:

* Copies of material relating to the 1983 Bendigo, Victoria UFO 'flap," which includes the findings of the RAAF's investigating officer.

* Newspaper clippings such as an undated article titled "Man's robot envoys to the stars," and "An evening of the absurd kind" (Sunday Times 13 Feb 1985.)

* Prediction sheets of visible satellite passes.

* Correspondence between the Victorian UFO Research Society and Command Intelligence Officer, Headquarters, dated September 1987. VUFORS was asked to verify a list of civilian UFO organisations. The VUFORS letter was signed by Secretary Mark Sawyers.