UK: Official reveals 15,000 UFO reports in files
In 1954, a UK Deputy Directorate of Intelligence official informed investigator Ronald N. Russell that they held 15,000 UFO reports since 1947, stored securely in filing cabinets. This disclosure highlights extensive official UFO documentation.
Background
Background
In 1954, a senior official of the Deputy Directorate of Intelligence (Technical), abbreviated DDI, of the British air force disclosed confidential details to the UFO investigator Ronald N. Russell about the extensive collection of sighting reports. The branch held 15,000 reports dating from 1947, secured in nine drawers of three locked wooden filing cabinets with Yale locks and an additional padlock.
Key Information
This disclosure points to the systematic recording and archiving of UFO reports by British bodies since the beginning of the modern wave. The official confirmed both the quantity and the security measures, which indicates high priority and secrecy. Source: Eberhart's 'UFOs and Intelligence: A Timeline', page 335, citing John Pitt in Flying Saucer Review (1956).
Significance
The statement shows that UK authorities documented thousands of cases, far more than was publicly known. This adds to the history of official UFO investigation and confirms institutional involvement. There are no specific sightings, but an administrative disclosure.