Britain’s Most Mysterious UFO Photo

On August 4, 1990, two hikers near Calvine, Scotland photographed what appears to be a massive diamond-shaped craft hovering in the sky with a military jet nearby. The UK Ministry of Defence kept the image classified for over 30 years.

The Witnesses

Two men:

• Unnamed hikers
• Walking in Highlands
• Near Calvine
• Perthshire
• Late afternoon

The Sighting

What they saw:

• Large object appeared
• Diamond or kite-shaped
• Hovering silently
• For about 10 minutes
• Jet aircraft nearby

The Object

Witnesses described:

• About 100 feet across
• Dark or metallic
• Diamond shaped
• Absolutely silent
• Rock solid in sky

The Jet

Military aircraft:

• Appeared during sighting
• Circled the object
• RAF Harrier suggested
• Comparison showed size
• Object much larger

The Photographs

Six images taken:

• Color photographs
• Sent to newspaper
• Then to MoD
• Kept secret
• For decades

Ministry of Defence

MoD response:

• Took photos seriously
• Classified them
• Extended secrecy
• Beyond normal period
• Unusual treatment

Nick Pope

Former MoD official:

• Investigated UFOs
• Saw the photos
• Called “spectacular”
• Best he’d seen
• Advocated release

The Classification

Photos classified until:

• 2072 initially
• 82-year period
• Very unusual
• Raised questions
• Why so long?

The 2022 Release

After pressure:

• Photo finally released
• August 2022
• Original quality
• Confirmed authenticity
• Historic moment

What the Photo Shows

The image reveals:

• Diamond-shaped object
• Clear sky background
• Jet aircraft below
• Scale apparent
• Striking image

Analysis

Researchers noted:

• No obvious fake indicators
• Consistent lighting
• Object appears solid
• Size estimates match witness
• Compelling evidence

The Witnesses Today

Original witnesses:

• Never identified publicly
• Protected identities
• Never profited
• Maintained silence
• Credible behavior

RAF Response

Ministry claimed:

• No aircraft matched
• Denied knowledge
• Standard denial
• Doesn’t explain photo
• Questions remain

Secret Technology?

Some suggest:

• Aurora program
• Secret aircraft
• But shape unusual
• No confirmation
• Speculation only

Significance

Calvine photo significant for:

• Extended classification
• Official acknowledgment
• Clear imagery
• Size comparison with jet
• Government interest

Legacy

The Calvine photograph’s 32-year classification makes it one of the most significant UFO images. The UK government’s unusual treatment suggests they took it very seriously—and perhaps knew more than they admitted.