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The Calvine UFO Sighting (Scotland; August 1990)

World's 'best ever' UFO image The Calvine Photo shows top secret & highly advanced US aircraft, says ex-intel officer

A MASSIVE diamond-shaped craft captured in the "world's best ever" UFO photo was a top secret US aircraft, according to an ex-defence intelligence officer.

The photo was found in the hands of a former RAF press officer by a team led by academic and journalist Dr David Clarke.

Dr Clarke has now revealed [that] they have their strongest lead to date - that the object may have a piece of highly top secret and experimental US tech.

The defence official - whose credentials were verified by Dr Clarke and his team - explained the UFO is believed to have been an "target designation companion" for F-117 Nighthawk stealth bombers.

The so-called "Calvine Vehicle" is understood to have been unmanned, very large, and equipped with a high tech ground-mapping laser.

…there was "a hell of a stink" in Washington over the snaps when they were passed up the chain of command - and the Americans "went ballistic".

The "Calvine Vehicle" is understood to have been deployed from the US facility at RAF Machrihanish.

It was then spotted and photographed just two days after Saddam's forces invaded Kuwait, sparking the first Gulf War.

gfdsgfdgfdssgfdhgfdj.png


A man believed to be Kevin Russell, the Calvine photographer.

His name features on the back of the original photograph - and he is believed to be the one who originally sent to the press.

Kevin is suspected to have been originally from Glasgow or Falkirk - and was at the time living and working at the Pitlochry Hydro Hotel.

He is believed to have been aged between 18 and 26 at the time he is believed to have taken the Calvine Photo.

Former colleagues of his positively identified him and provided the investigators with the above picture of him.

https://www.thesun.co.uk/news/21782863/worlds-best-ever-ufo-image-calvine-us/

maximus otter
 
maximus otter said:
World's 'best ever' UFO image The Calvine Photo shows top secret & highly advanced US aircraft, says ex-intel officer

A MASSIVE diamond-shaped craft captured in the "world's best ever" UFO photo was a top secret US aircraft, according to an ex-defence intelligence officer.

The photo was found in the hands of a former RAF press officer by a team led by academic and journalist Dr David Clarke.

Dr Clarke has now revealed [that] they have their strongest lead to date - that the object may have a piece of highly top secret and experimental US tech.

The defence official - whose credentials were verified by Dr Clarke and his team - explained the UFO is believed to have been an "target designation companion" for F-117 Nighthawk stealth bombers.

The so-called "Calvine Vehicle" is understood to have been unmanned, very large, and equipped with a high tech ground-mapping laser.

…there was "a hell of a stink" in Washington over the snaps when they were passed up the chain of command - and the Americans "went ballistic".

The "Calvine Vehicle" is understood to have been deployed from the US facility at RAF Machrihanish.

It was then spotted and photographed just two days after Saddam's forces invaded Kuwait, sparking the first Gulf War.

gfdsgfdgfdssgfdhgfdj.png


A man believed to be Kevin Russell, the Calvine photographer.

His name features on the back of the original photograph - and he is believed to be the one who originally sent to the press.

Kevin is suspected to have been originally from Glasgow or Falkirk - and was at the time living and working at the Pitlochry Hydro Hotel.

He is believed to have been aged between 18 and 26 at the time he is believed to have taken the Calvine Photo.

Former colleagues of his positively identified him and provided the investigators with the above picture of him.

https://www.thesun.co.uk/news/21782863/worlds-best-ever-ufo-image-calvine-us/

maximus otter
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Really interesting, however this is the Sun newspaper and so it is entirely possible they have sensationalised what David Clarke has told them (there are a noticable lack of direct quotes). When you narrow it down you have a retired military intelligence officer who makes an indirect reference to an event that Clarke takes to be the Calvine photo. It is all feasible and in fact makes a great deal of sense (with one exception*) but ultimately there is no solid evidence that this photo is of a "target destination companion" for the F-117

* even if it was, why fly it anywhere other than a top secret military range? If you need to move it between top secret locations then simply do so at night so it won't get photographed.
 
RAF Machrahanish, whilst relatively remote by UK standards, was far from being a secret base…..that being said, I did hear mutterings about it being an ideal choice for operating the legendary and/or illusive Aurora spy plane due to its location and generously long runway!
 
Sgt Girth said:
RAF Machrahanish, whilst relatively remote by UK standards, was far from being a secret base…..that being said, I did hear mutterings about it being an ideal choice for operating the legendary and/or illusive Aurora spy plane due to its location and generously long runway!
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...and over 100 miles away from Calvine (150+ miles by road).

What we need is a plausible explanation for why a highly secret US/British project was stationary in daylight above Calvine whilst two Harriers (or similar) did their utmost to draw attention to it...
 
Plausible explanation? Somebody in the chain of command made a howling cock up, springs to mind…..The military aren’t exactly infallible when it comes to such things…..in fact they’re really quite adept at finding new and innovative way to screw the pooch! Made a few goofs myself during my service years!
 
Paul_Exeter said:
Really interesting, however this is the Sun newspaper and so it is entirely possible they have sensationalised what David Clarke has told them (there are a noticable lack of direct quotes). When you narrow it down you have a retired military intelligence officer who makes an indirect reference to an event that Clarke takes to be the Calvine photo. It is all feasible and in fact makes a great deal of sense (with one exception*) but ultimately there is no solid evidence that this photo is of a "target destination companion" for the F-117

* even if it was, why fly it anywhere other than a top secret military range? If you need to move it between top secret locations then simply do so at night so it won't get photographed.
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My main concern is: Why would a highly-capable airframe like the F-117 need a “target designation companion" in the first place?

The “stealth fighter” (actually a bomber) had as its unique selling point its stealth capability, which would hardly be enhanced if it had to be accompanied on its missions by a separate large aircraft. The whole point of the F-117 was that it could operate without support, e.g. radar jamming aircraft, fighter cover etc. As the Wikipedia article states:

“The aircraft is equipped with sophisticated navigation and attack systems integrated into a digital avionics suite.

It navigates primarily by GPS and high-accuracy inertial navigation.

Missions are coordinated by an automated planning system that can automatically perform all aspects of an attack mission, including weapons release.

Targets are acquired by a thermal imaging infrared system, paired with a laser rangefinder/laser designator that finds the range and designates targets for laser-guided bombs.”

- So what would the second, companion aircraft actually do?

maximus otter
 
maximus otter said:
My main concern is: Why would a highly-capable airframe like the F-117 need a “target designation companion" in the first place?

The “stealth fighter” (actually a bomber) had as its unique selling point its stealth capability, which would hardly be enhanced if it had to be accompanied on its missions by a separate large aircraft. The whole point of the F-117 was that it could operate without support, e.g. radar jamming aircraft, fighter cover etc. As the Wikipedia article states:

“The aircraft is equipped with sophisticated navigation and attack systems integrated into a digital avionics suite.

It navigates primarily by GPS and high-accuracy inertial navigation.

Missions are coordinated by an automated planning system that can automatically perform all aspects of an attack mission, including weapons release.

Targets are acquired by a thermal imaging infrared system, paired with a laser rangefinder/laser designator that finds the range and designates targets for laser-guided bombs.”

- So what would the second, companion aircraft actually do?

maximus otter
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Agreed. We also have to factor in that the ex-intelligence guy may have teasing Clarke as people who have/believe they have inside knowledge are prone to do. I personally find it a bit too 'convenient' that Clarke would be given this information by that person at that time. It is described as a "one-in-a-million" chance that the photo was taken but I can't help but think how the 'operators' of the alleged project and the Harrier pilots made the odds a lot slimmer thanks to their actions.
 
It could have been a remote-controlled balloon after all. If it was only a 'target drone' it would be as cheaply made as possible.

Like this hoax UFO from Nick Frost's 2003 Avebury programme on Channel 4; not particularly successful, but impressive at a distance.
C4UFOhoax2003.png
 
eburacum said:
It could have been a remote-controlled balloon after all. If it was only a 'target drone' it would be as cheaply made as possible.

Like this hoax UFO from Nick Frost's 2003 Avebury programme on Channel 4; not particularly successful, but impressive at a distance.
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For anyone else who missed it....
 
eburacum said:
It could have been a remote-controlled balloon after all. If it was only a 'target drone' it would be as cheaply made as possible.

Like this hoax UFO from Nick Frost's 2003 Avebury programme on Channel 4; not particularly successful, but impressive at a distance.
View attachment 64692
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The witnesses described the Calvine object as "shooting vertically upwards" at very high speed which doesn't fit well with a a balloon (unless it had a sudden puncture!). However, we only have their word on this aspect of the sighting (as relayed to the RAF chap) and as yet they have not come forward.
 
Paul_Exeter said:
The witnesses described the Calvine object as "shooting vertically upwards" at very high speed which doesn't fit well with a a balloon (unless it had a sudden puncture!). However, we only have their word on this aspect of the sighting (as relayed to the RAF chap) and as yet they have not come forward.
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:bump:If it received a puncture it would plummet down. :)
 
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Don't confuse hot air or weather balloon mechancs with those of a punctured rubber party balloon.
It'd be hilarious, though, with the noise!
 
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