Calvine UFO Incident (1990)
The Calvine UFO photograph has been dubbed one of the clearest and most mysterious UFO images ever taken.
On August 4, 1990, two hikers in Calvine, Scotland, claimed to have seen a large, diamond-shaped object in the sky. They quickly took six photos of the object, which also appeared to have a military aircraft nearby. These photos were handed to the Daily Record newspaper, which then sent them to the British Ministry of Defense (MoD) for investigation. Subsequently, the photos and negatives disappeared, and the hikers’ identities remained unknown.
For decades, the photos were lost until Dr. David Clarke, a UFO researcher, discovered that former Royal Air Force press officer Craig Lindsay had kept one of the original prints. Lindsay had initially received the photos from the Daily Record and then sent the negatives to the MoD, but never heard back about the investigation. Clarke and Lindsay eventually made the photograph public, stirring significant interest and speculation in the UFO community.
Theories about the object’s origins vary widely. Some believe it to be a secret government project, possibly a classified aircraft like the rumored “Aurora.” Others, including skeptics, have suggested more mundane explanations, such as a kite or a mountain peak obscured by clouds. Despite the public release of the photo, the identities of the hikers and the full story behind the photograph remain shrouded in mystery.
Project Condign was a secret UFO study undertaken by the British Government’s Defence Intelligence Staff (DIS) from 1997 to 2000. The study’s findings were compiled into a comprehensive 400-page document titled “Unidentified Aerial Phenomena in the UK Air Defence Region,” which drew on around 10,000 sightings and reports collected by DI55, a section within the Directorate of Scientific and Technical Intelligence (DSTI) of the DIS. This document was made public on May 15, 2006, following a Freedom of Information Act request submitted by Dr. David Clarke in September 2005.
Dr. David Clarke, a leading authority on contemporary legend and folklore in the UK, played a crucial role in bringing Project Condign’s results to light. He is a co-founder of the Contemporary Legend research group at Sheffield Hallam University (SHU) and combines his folklore expertise with teaching and research in journalism and media law. An experienced broadcaster, Dr. Clarke has also acted as a consultant for The National Archives and the BBC.
In an interview posted on the Disclosure Team YouTube channel on October 12, 2022, Dr. Clarke discussed the background and findings of the Condign Report, highlighting the complexities and secrecy surrounding the study. The interview looked into the mid-1990s context, detailing the roles of various departments, such as secas (Secretariat Air Staff) and DI55, and their interactions regarding UFO investigations. Despite initial resistance and attempts to halt the study due to funding and secrecy concerns, the report eventually concluded that UAPs did not pose a significant threat to UK air defense. This conclusion was reached despite the report acknowledging the existence of UAPs and their seemingly advanced aerodynamic capabilities.
The interview revealed that the author of the Condign Report, Ron Haddow, approached the study with a preconceived notion that UAPs were not a threat, which influenced the report’s findings.
Dr. Clarke also discussed how sensitive information about black project aircraft was redacted from the report, hinting at secret US aircraft that might explain some UAP sightings. He mentioned the Calvine UFO photograph as a potential example of such technology, though this remains speculative.
Additionally, the interview touched on the underreporting of near-miss incidents by aircrews due to fear of ridicule, a concern mirrored in recent US Congressional hearings on UAPs. Clarke emphasized that while the Condign Report dismissed the need for continued monitoring of UAPs, its findings were based on flawed research methods and predetermined conclusions.
The interview also covered the historical significance of the Condign Report, likening it to other notable UFO studies such as the Condon Report in the US. Clarke pointed out that the British government had spent public funds on this study despite publicly denying any significant interest or investment in UFO research at the time. The report has since become a valuable historical document, shedding light on the government’s secretive approach to the subject.
In the interview, Clarke suggested that the object in the Calvine photograph might be related to secret government projects, potentially a classified aircraft. He mentioned that the Condign Report, which also referenced UAPs and secret military technology, could be linked to such sightings. Clarke believes that the report’s sections on “black projects” and hypersonic aircraft might indirectly reference objects like the one in the Calvine photo, though these sections were heavily redacted.
