Lost UFO snap resurfaces but Scottish sighting remains unsolved
After vanishing without a trace for more than 30 years, photographic evidence of a Scottish UFO has finally resurfaced, but who took it – and what we’re looking at – remains unknown
READING LEVEL: ORANGE
An infamous* UFO* photo, dubbed the “world’s best” by some, shows a huge diamond-shaped object flying over the Scottish Highlands.
The so-called “Calvine Photograph” – considered lost for decades – was recovered after years of research by Sheffield Hallam University Associate Professor David Clarke.
Showing what seems to be a huge angular object with a jet in the distance, the image is an extraordinary* piece of the overall UFO puzzle.
It was taken at around 9pm on August 4, 1990, allegedly* by two male hikers on a hillside near Calvine in central Scotland. The unnamed hikers were reported as saying they watched the metallic object hovering with a low hum for around 10 minutes, while fighter jets made passes in the distance. Estimated as being up to 31m long, they said the object shot off at high speed straight up into the sky and disappeared.
The men allegedly provided six photographs to Scotland’s Daily Record newspaper, which in turn passed them to the British Ministry of Defence (MoD).
But the story never published – and the photos vanished.
So began the modern myth of the Calvine Photograph.
Dr Clarke – who has worked as a curator* for the MoD UFO files project at the National Archives – tracked down the photo by seeking out former RAF press officer Craig Lindsay.
Mr Lindsay had kept a copy of the original photograph after liaising* between the press and the MoD when the original story was probed in 1990.
He had the original envelope sent by the Daily Record – and inside was one of the original photographs from Calvine.
The ex-RAF man agreed to hand over the photo to Dr Clarke and Vinnie Adams, from campaign group UAP Media UK, and it has now been filed in the archives at Sheffield Hallam University.
“It’s been a privilege to work on this case with such a dedicated team of researchers,” Mr Adams said.
“After 32 years, and an intensive investigation, it feels good to be able to show this elusive* photograph to the world.
“We urge anyone with any information on the identity of the photographer or the case to come forward.”
Politicians, former servicemen and intelligence officials are now all speaking more openly about UFOs – including a landmark* hearing on Washington’s Capitol Hill – and the stigma* around unexplained sightings is being stripped away.
But what exactly is the angular shape seen in the Calvine photo?
Is it an elaborate hoax*? A piece of never before seen secret technology? Or possibly an alien spacecraft?
We simply don’t know for sure – MoD files from the time found there was “no definite conclusion regarding the large object”.
Britons reported numerous angular objects flying in the skies during the late ‘80s and early ‘90s, including one seen by oil rig worker Chris Gibson, who said he saw a triangular aircraft being escorted by F-111 fighter planes.
Nick Pope investigated UFOs for the MoD in the ‘90s and there until 2004. He claims in his 1996 book Open Skies, Closed Minds that the UK asked the US if the Calvine Photograph showed their prototype* “Aurora”, a never-confirmed hypersonic* spy plane, and that US air force Secretary Donald Rice was “incensed*” by the questions.
In February 1993, Lord Kennet asked the House of Lords whether “US experimental aircraft” were allowed to fly over the UK – something denied by the MoD.
And three years later, MP Martin Redmond asked about the Calvine incident – but was told by then Armed Forces Minister Nicholas Soames thar there was “nothing of defence significance” in the photo.
Nonetheless, the Calvine Photograph “stands as one of the biggest mysteries in UFO history,” according to UAP Media UK’s Dan Zetterstrom.
“Finally revealed after 32 years, it shows that answers only bring new questions,” he said.
This story originally appeared on The Sun and was reproduced with permission.
GLOSSARY
- infamous: well-known, legendary, fabled
- UFO: unidentified flying object
- extraordinary: remarkable, exceptional, amazing
- allegedly: asserted to be true, claimed to be the case but unable to be proven
- curator: someone who cares for museum collections and artworks
- liaising: co-operating, collaborating, working with
- elusive: slippery, evasive, difficult to find, catch, see
- landmark: an important, historic or unique decision or event
- stigma: strong negative feeling toward something, especially when it’s unfair
- hoax: prank, trick, ruse, deception
- prototype: original test model, first example of a machine or other industrial product
- hypersonic: five or more times the speed of sound in air
- incensed: extremely angry, infuriated
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QUICK QUIZ
- Precisely when was the Calvine Photograph taken and by whom?
- How long was the object said to hover?
- How long was the object estimated to be?
- What did oil rig worker Chris Gibson claim to see?
- Nick Pope’s book suggests that the UK asked the US if the photograph showed what?
LISTEN TO THIS STORY
CLASSROOM ACTIVITIES
1. Write a report
What do you think the object in the Calvine Photograph really is? Write a report that describes your ideas in detail. Use information in the story to help you.
Time: allow 30 minutes to complete this activity
Curriculum Links: English; Science
2. Extension
Imagine that an alien spacecraft landed at your school during lunchtime today. Write a story about what happened next.
Time: allow 30 minutes to complete this activity
Curriculum Links: English; Science
VCOP ACTIVITY
Imaginative dialogue
Imagine you were there during the event being discussed in the article, or for the interview.
Create a conversation between two characters from the article – you may need or want to include yourself as one of the characters. Don’t forget to try to use facts and details from the article to help make your dialogue as realistic as possible.
Go through your writing and highlight any punctuation you have used in green. Make sure you carefully check the punctuation used for the dialogue and ensure you have opened and closed the speaking in the correct places.