The British government says it will release more official UFO files, despite previous claims that it had made all files related to UFOs available to the public.
HISTORY OF FILE RELEASES
The British government, like many governments around the world, officially investigated unidentified flying objects. The UK Ministry of Defense’s (MoD) UFO desk was tasked with receiving and investigating UFO reports. But the large volume of reports required more resources than the MoD was willing to allocate. So it closed the UFO desk in 2009.
The MoD began its process of releasing its more than fifty years worth of UFO files in 2008. These files were released in batches, with the final batch released in June of 2013.
Or so it was claimed.
MORE UFO FILES DISCOVERED
U.S. Air Force veteran John Burroughs was stationed at Royal Air Force Base (RAF) Bentwaters in Suffolk, England in December 1980, and he witnessed the most well-known UFO event in the UK.
Burroughs and others at the base investigated strange lights nearby in Rendelsham Forest. The lights were seen on multiple nights, and the men assert that they observed craft of unknown origin. Burroughs and another soldier were the closest to the craft. And, since this encounter with UFOs, they have suffered health issues they attribute to their proximity to the craft.
In order to get proper treatment for his ailments, Burroughs has attempted to attain his military medical records. But he has continually been met by roadblocks. After a long battle, he was finally granted full medical disability. But the military still refuses to release his medical records.
During the course of his attempts to gain access to his medical records, Burroughs filed several Freedom of Information Act requests both in the U.S. and the UK. And it was through these requests that the MoD’s additional UFO files were discovered.
The MoD announced back in September 2014 that these UFO files would be released. But it also announced that the process of preparing the documents for release could take up to nine months.
A GOVERNMENT COVER-UP?
Naturally, UFO researchers and others found it curious that the MoD still has unreleased UFO files after claiming that it has released all its files.
Nick Pope, who ran the MoD’s UFO desk from 1991 to 1994, publicly commented, “This is a huge embarrassment for the MoD and will have UFO enthusiasts up in arms.”
Lord Black of Brentwood raised the issue of the still-to-be-released UFO files in parliament, resulting in the MoD’s announcement that the eighteen files related to the Rendlesham Forest UFO incident are scheduled to be released in March 2016.
