Petit-Rechain Triangle Photo
The most famous UFO photograph of the 1990s showed a black triangle over Belgium with lights at each corner. For 21 years it was considered authentic evidence of the Belgian wave. Then the photographer confessed—but the wave itself was real.
The Photo That Wasn’t—But the Wave Was
The Petit-Rechain photograph became the symbol of the Belgian UFO wave—a clear image of a black triangle. In 2011, the photographer confessed it was a hoax. But 13,500 people still saw real triangles, including F-16 pilots and radar operators.
The Photograph
The image:
- Black triangle
- Four lights
- Sharp clarity
- Night shot
- Famous worldwide
The Photographer
Who took it:
- Patrick Maréchal
- Then a young man
- Claimed authentic
- For 21 years
- Then confessed
The Story
What he claimed:
- April 4, 1990
- Backyard sighting
- Quick photograph
- Lucky shot
- Triangle overhead
How It Was Made
The confession:
- Styrofoam model
- Spray painted
- Hung from string
- Christmas lights?
- Simple hoax
The Confession
2011 revelation:
- TV interview
- Admitted fake
- Explained method
- Apologized
- Story ended
Why It Matters
The lesson:
- Photos can fake
- Testimony can’t
- 13,500 witnesses remain
- Radar data real
- F-16 encounters real
The Real Wave
What was verified:
- Thousands of sightings
- Multiple countries
- Military confirmation
- Radar tracking
- Not hoaxed
Military Evidence
What pilots saw:
- Real objects
- Radar tracked
- F-16 chase
- Documented
- Gun camera footage
The Problem
Photo vs. phenomenon:
- Photo fake
- Wave real
- Media focused on photo
- Discredited wave?
- Unfair connection
Colonel De Brouwer
His response:
- Photo was “nice”
- Not essential evidence
- Thousands of witnesses
- Radar was real
- Case stands
Scientific Analysis
Before confession:
- Analyzed extensively
- Some doubted
- Some believed
- Not definitive
- Eventually resolved
Impact on Ufology
The damage:
- Skeptics empowered
- Believers embarrassed
- Photo shouldn’t matter
- But did
- Lesson learned
The Real Evidence
What remains:
- 13,500 witnesses
- Police reports
- Military data
- Radar tracks
- F-16 recordings
Why Hoax?
His explanation:
- Young and foolish
- Joke that grew
- Never expected fame
- Couldn’t confess
- Eventually did
Significance
A famous hoaxed photo that doesn’t change the reality of the Belgian UFO wave—but reminds us to be careful with photographic evidence.
Legacy
Petit-Rechain teaches that one fake photo can overshadow thousands of authentic witnesses—the Belgian wave was real even if this photograph wasn’t.