1 - The Black Vault

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LCCSE NINU:CE
S4(Air) (Hr Peduzie)
Copy to:- DCS(RAF)
UFO Rl'JCORDS
Reference: AE'/CX 80/?0·da.ted 6 June
1. DCS(RAF) has asked me to reply to your minute at reference.
2. The Royal Ifolloway College •team' which comes in practice
from REG, King's College, London and 1•Tational Physical Laboratory,
seems to be a group of academics dravrn together by an interest
in UFOs. It 1wuld be difficult to distinguish it from any other
group of academics ;rhich might be dra1m together by a cor:!ll'.on
interest, of 1-1hich there could be many, and therefore I do not
oelieve that it can be described as 'a maier scientific
organisation of high standing'. For this"reason I su:;gest that
the request be turned- do·":·m.
3. I also have some reservations about the objective of the
study. It is described as 'obtaining data concerning rare
atmospheric events, such as "ball-lightni.'lg"...... for u.se as
material for a .scientific conference on little-understood aerial
phenomena". Dr Christop.!)_er ~ans is an applied psychologist
who has i·lritten books on topics such as scientolcgy, Sub bud
and other fringe activities' and \•rho also appears fre1uently
on TV and radio. It therefore appears that the study might
range _more ;ridely~.than the brief description suggests. I.n any
case you 1'i0Uld require more ii:lforr:1ation befo1·e it could be called
'strong scientific reason' for undertaking the work.
, 4. H"owever, I believe that soor'.er or later somebody >-rill break
this confidentiality barrier, and the data 1Jill have to be
II
~ sanitised. F2ve you considered asking the Air ffistorical Branch
r 'l' whether they could em:Jloy a consultant to do this'?
\; r''. .
11 June 75 J :5 A HAlL'USOT
ACS (G) RA.F