Warning after Naphill investigations unit is closed
11:30am Wednesday 9th December 2009 in
THE British Flying Saucer Bureau has warned the Government to “be on their toes” after it abandoned its UFO investigations unit at High Wycombe.
The £44,000 Ministry of Defence department that investigated UFO sightings has been closed after almost 60 years. It had been at the RAF base at Naphill for the last year.
MoD chiefs said there was no benefit to investigating sightings.
Denis Plunket, chairman of the British Flying Saucer Bureau said: “They shouldn't be closing this department down they should be opening more things up.
“The authorities don't seem to be into it but they should be on their toes. There are still UFO sightings and it's important to record these things and let the public know they exist.”
Mr Plunket, who lives in Bristol, said his cousin died in the 'Star Dust Mystery' of 1947 when an aircraft disappeared in South America.
A wreckage was finally found in 1998 but a mysterious message reading “STANDEC” was twice sent by the aircraft's radio operator. Mr Plunket said this has never been fully explained.
Meanwhile a field investigator for the Ealing-based British UFO Research Association said he doubts the MoD will stop investigating sightings.
Bob Rosamond said: It's probably a load of rubbish because they will still be monitoring what's out there. If anything takes their curiosity or interest then I'm sure they will look into it.
“The juicy cases wont be released and will be held back from the public. This announcement just gets the media off their back.
“The Government has conducted secretive investigations for years now. Why they don't just come out and admit they are interested in it? It can only be that they are afraid of the media.”
The MoD department has dealt with more than 12,000 reports since 1950, including 135 last year.
The decision was revealed after a Freedom of Information request. A response on the MoD website reads: “The MoD has no opinion on the existence or otherwise of extra-terrestrial life.
"However, in over fifty years, no UFO report has revealed any evidence of a potential threat to the United Kingdom.”
The hotline answer-phone service and e-mail address was withdrawn on December 1.
Comments(2)
tideswellman
says...
10:55pm Wed 9 Dec 09
http://tideswellman.
blogspot.com/2009/11
/mod-letter-regardin
g-ufo-sightings.html
More News stories
UFO warning after MoD shuts Wycombe investigations
Most popular
Local Information
Enter your postcode, town or place name
phil the fish says...
6:56pm Wed 9 Dec 09
Having such a policy now though, means that with the amount of information readily available on the Net, they don’t have to cover the cost to that being in direct contact with the public or having to try and explain it or even discuss it. They have the information resources at their finger tips on the Net, like my own blog which keeps well abreast of any encounters not only here in Britain but else where in the world on a daily basis.
I think it is interesting to note that they never say it’s not happening but in fifty years of reports, none has shown evidence of being a threat to the United Kingdom.
They can of course still if they deem it necessary, have a quiet word with any witnesses if it looks like that is changing.