Missing 1955 UFO File from the UK Ministry of Defence

Summary

The search for a historical UFO file from the UK Ministry of Defence, referenced as PQ 196/55, has led to official correspondence between different branches of the Ministry. This file, related to parliamentary questions on "flying saucers" in 1955, appears to have disappeared from the Ministry's records. Despite multiple attempts to locate it, no current record of its existence has been found in the Ministry's archives or in The National Archives. It is suggested that it may have been transferred to another department or lost during a reorganization of files in the 1990s. The file is considered historically significant for its content, which includes some of the earliest statistical data on UFO sightings in the UK.

The importance of this file lies in its potential to provide insight into how the British government addressed UFO reports in the 1950s. Although the Ministry of Defence has confirmed no records of its destruction or current location, efforts to recover it continue. The absence of this document raises questions about transparency and the preservation of sensitive historical records, especially those that generate public interest and speculation. Despite the challenges, it is hoped that the file will one day be located and made publicly accessible.