Missing British UFO Files

Summary

In 2008, an investigator requested from the UK Ministry of Defence information about a 1955 file on UFO sightings. The official response indicated it was unavailable in the ministry's or The National Archives' records. However, the requester argued the dossier might have been transferred or misplaced during a 1990 archive reorganization. A 1990 internal memo confirmed some UFO files had been sent for preservation, and a 1969 ministerial commitment to retain these records for historical value was reiterated. Although the 1955 file wasn't listed among those destroyed in 1990, it remained possible it had been moved or lost. The case highlighted the complexity of managing historical archives and the importance of accurate record-keeping to prevent the loss of key information.