MoD finally publishes previously redacted West Freugh incident files

This is actually happening. The National Archives just released the full West Freugh dossier from 1962 - the Scottish incident where RAF personnel allegedly tracked something unusual on radar near Stranraer.

The thing is, the redacted version from 2008 had basically nothing useful. But the newly released version includes the actual radar operator's notes, witness statements from four separate officers, and most correspondence with an unnamed American military attaché.

The American component is still redacted, obviously, but the fact that it's acknowledged in the file is new. Suggests this was a joint UK-US incident. Full PDF available on the National Archives website if anyone wants to dig through it.

Brilliant work finding this. I've downloaded it and skimmed the operator notes - they describe a target moving at impossible angles. The next page is just... blank space where text should be. Classic.

This is genuinely interesting. The fact that they're releasing more details on old incidents (1962 is 61+ years ago now) suggests either genuine transparency or they're getting ahead of something. What's the betting odds that a journalist picks this up in the next week?

Don't get too excited. "Unnamed American military attaché" could mean someone from the embassy or a liaison officer. Happens all the time in Cold War era files. Still worth reading but let's not assume it's aliens just because the Americans were involved.