Case file · Government program
Flying Saucer Working Party (UK)
The UK Ministry of Defence's first official UFO study, set up at the urging of chief scientific adviser Sir Henry Tizard.
1950 CE · 51.50, -0.13 · status: official
The account
Tizard insisted that reports shouldn't be dismissed without proper scientific study. The working party reviewed the available reports and in June 1951 concluded that all could be explained as misidentifications, illusions or hoaxes, advising that no further work was needed.
The sceptical view
Its review was brief, and some later UK sightings, such as Lakenheath–Bentwaters in 1956, renewed official interest.
Connections in the atlas
- 'Britain's first flying saucer', RAF Tangmere
- Flt Lt Hubbard's disc over Farnborough
- Project Condign (UK)
- UK MoD 'UFO desk' & DI55 (closed 2009)