Inspector Led Major UFO Inquiry
A West Midlands Police inspector has been revealed as the officer behind Britain's largest ever UFO investigation, examining more than 600 reported sightings over several years. The probe, known as Project Condign, was conducted by the Ministry of Defence's secret UFO unit and led by Inspector John Hanson of West Midlands Police.
Inspector Hanson, who served as the MoD's UFO desk officer from 1997 to 2000, oversaw the analysis of thousands of pages of reports, including sightings from police officers, military personnel, and members of the public. The investigation concluded that the vast majority of sightings could be attributed to misidentified aircraft, weather balloons, satellites, or atmospheric phenomena.
Details of the Investigation
Project Condign was established in 1997 and ran for several years, producing a 400-page report that was eventually declassified in 2006. The investigation examined over 600 cases, with only a small fraction remaining unexplained. Inspector Hanson stated, "The vast majority of sightings turned out to be perfectly ordinary things that people had misidentified."
The inspector's role involved coordinating with police forces across the UK and liaising with international agencies. He noted that many sightings occurred near military bases or during periods of heightened air activity, suggesting that military aircraft were often mistaken for UFOs.
Impact and Legacy
The findings of Project Condign were used by the MoD to inform its policy on UFOs, which was to take no further action unless there was evidence of a threat to national security. The report concluded that there was no evidence of extraterrestrial visitation, but it did not rule out the possibility entirely.
Inspector Hanson's work has been cited in subsequent UFO studies and documentaries. He remains skeptical but open-minded, saying, "I think it's important to keep an open mind, but we must base our conclusions on evidence." The investigation remains the largest official UFO inquiry in British history.
