It’s the infamous UFO photo dubbed by some as the “best in the world” because it shows a huge diamond-shaped object photographed flying over the Scottish Highlands.
The so-called “Calvine Photograph” – which for decades was believed to be lost – was finally discovered after years of searching by academic and journalist Dr David Clarke.
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Showing what appears to be a huge angular object hovering over the Scottish highlands with what appears to be a Harrier jet in the distance, the image is an extraordinary piece of the UFO puzzle.
It was taken around 9pm on August 4, 1990 by two hikers on a hill near Calvine, just off the A9 about 35 miles northwest of Perth in Scotland.
The men – whose identity remains unknown to this day – claim to have observed the metallic object hovering with a low humming noise for about ten minutes – while fighter jets passed in the distance.
As they watched the jaw dropping scene, the object – believed to be up to 100ft long – is then believed to have taken off at high speed straight into the sky – never to be seen again .
But luckily they appeared to capture the moment on camera – snapping six photos of the diamond-shaped craft with a fighter jet in the background.
The photos were then given to the Scottish newspaper Daily Record which then passed them on to the Ministry of Defense (MoD).
But for unknown reasons, the story was never published – and the photos disappeared into the Whitehall black hole.
Thus began the modern myth of “Calvinine Photography” – with images never before seen by the public, until now.
Dr Clarke – who worked as a curator for the MoD’s UFO Files project at the National Archives and is an associate professor at Sheffield Hallam University – managed to track down the photo by searching for former RAF press officer Craig Lindsay .
Mr Lindsay had kept a copy of the original photograph as he was the go-between who liaised between the press and the Ministry of Defense when the original story was probed in 1990.
It had the original envelope sent by the Daily Record – and inside was one of Calvine’s original photographs.
The former RAF man agreed to hand the photo over to Dr Clarke and Vinnie Adams, of campaign group UAP Media UK, and it has now been filed in the archives of Sheffield Hallam University.
Mr Adams told The Sun Online: “It has been a privilege to work on this case with such a dedicated team of researchers.
We may not be any closer to knowing exactly what the object saw above Calvine […] or who it belonged to, but an important piece of the puzzle fell into place
Graeme Rendall
“After 32 years and intensive investigation, it feels good to be able to show this elusive photograph to the world.”
He added: “We urge anyone with information about the photographer’s identity or the case to come forward.”
And the photograph was rediscovered just as UFOs are once again taking center stage in Washington DC.
Lawmakers, ex-military personnel and intelligence officials are all now speaking more openly about the traditionally marginal topic — including a landmark hearing on Capitol Hill.
US officials have acknowledged there’s something in the sky they can’t explain – and the stigma around UFOs is finally being lifted.
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Much of the Calvine Photo caption is built around reports of a large enlarged version of the image which was said to have hung on the wall of the MoD’s so-called UFO office.
The poster-sized photo, however, was said to have been mysteriously removed without a trace.
It’s a story often told by Nick Pope, who worked investigating UFOs for the MoD in the 90s and worked in Whitehall until 2004, who first revealed the story in his 1996 book. . Open Skies, Closed Minds.
Mr Pope claims the UK asked the US if the photo showed an experimental aircraft – only to have the image later removed and never seen again.
And to further add to the mystery, the MoD has decided to withhold certain details of the case until 2076.
But it’s understood this was done to protect the names and addresses of the people on file – not as part of a high-profile cover-up.
The National Archives file included a photocopy of a strange black and white line drawing, something that only further inflamed the mystery surrounding the case.
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But with all these questions, what exactly is the angular shape seen in the Calvine Photo?
Is this an elaborate hoax? A piece of secret technology never seen before? Or perhaps more bizarrely, an alien spaceship?
We just don’t know for sure – with MoD files from the time saying there’s “no definitive conclusion regarding the large object”.
The craft is theorized as potentially an experimental American aircraft – possibly the semi-legendary black project, the Aurora.
The Aurora – whose existence has never been confirmed – is said to have been a hypersonic spy plane capable of reaching extraordinary speeds.
The British made numerous reports of angular objects seen in the sky during the late 80s and early 90s.
And that included a famous sighting by oil rig worker Chris Gibson, who said he saw a triangular plane escorted by F-111 fighter jets.
Mr Pope has previously claimed that the poster-sized photo of Calvine was removed from the Ministry of Defense after a diplomatic row with the United States.
He claims the UK asked the US if the photo showed their hypersonic prototype ‘Aurora’ spy plane – with US Air Force Secretary Donald Rice becoming ‘irritated’ by the questions.
In the aftermath of the dispute, the photograph was taken away and was never seen again.
In February 1993, Lord Kennet asked the House of Lords whether “American experimental aircraft” were allowed to fly over the UK – which was refused by the MoD.
And three years later MP Martin Redmond asked about the Calvine incident – but Nicholas Soames, the Armed Forces Secretary, told him there was ‘nothing of defence’ on the picture.
Graeme Rendall of UAP Media UK said: “We may not know exactly what the object seen over Calvine was in August 1990, or who it belonged to, but an important piece of the puzzle is is put in place through diligent efforts. to research.”
Dan Zetterstrom, also of the band, added: “The Calvine photograph is one of the greatest mysteries in UFO history.
“Finally revealed after 32 years, it shows that the answers only bring new questions.”
U.S. officials are now talking openly about UFOs – although they brushed off the topic decades ago when the Pentagon’s investigation into Project Blue Book ended.
It comes after The Sun Online revealed an extraordinary UFO case where a hypersonic object buzzed a US nuclear bomber.