Source: Scotland On Sunday - Edinburgh, Scotland, UK
Close Encounters Of Pitlochry Kind
By Marc Horne
22 March 2009
Government ministers were alerted over a UFO photographed hovering
over the Scottish countryside, it has emerged.
Newly released Ministry of Defence files reveal they took the unusual step of
informing senior Cabinet figures after an unidentified object was captured
on camera in Perthshire.
While most reports of flying saucers are quickly dismissed by defence
chiefs, the previously classified papers show the sighting, which took place
near Pitlochry in 1990, was taken extremely seriously.
A former MoD official who investigated the case told Scotland on Sunday
that despite strenuous efforts they could find no earthly explanation for the
craft.
Witnesses reported seeing a large, diamond-shaped object hanging in the
air next to a RAF Harrier above the A9 at Calvine, north of Pitlochry, on
August 4.
The UFO is said to have hovered for about 10 minutes before zooming
skywards at high speed and disappearing from view.
The apparent close encounter of the Caledonian kind was photographed by
members of the public whose images appear to show a blurry,
diamond-shaped craft next to a jet.
Fearing the pictures would spark significant media interest, the MoD
decided to bring it to the attention of the Government.
A Whitehall official wrote in a memo: "Such stories are not normally drawn to
the attention of ministers.
"On this occasion, however, the MoD has been provided with six
photographic negatives of an alleged UFO... and has been asked for
comments almost certainly for inclusion in a forthcoming story."
The memo suggested the media should be told that "no definite conclusion
had been reached regarding the large diamond-shaped object".
It has also emerged the MoD went on to commission a series of line
drawings of the object the following year, noting that the "sensitivity of the
material suggests very special handling".
Former MoD civil servant Nick Pope, who dealt with UFO reports, described
the image as the "most impressive" ever shown to his department.
He said: "The MoD has all sorts of equipment and expertise that we used to
analyse and enhance imagery to tell whether there were any signs of fakery.
"This picture was assessed by our digital experts, who concluded it was a
real photograph showing a solid-structured craft which was estimated as
being around 25m in diameter.
"There were no wings and no visible signs of any propulsion system.
"It was exotic and unknown in a way far beyond even the most modern
stealth aircraft being trialled at that time."
Pope, who served in the MoD for 21 years until 2006, claims they were
unable to come up with any firm answers about the craft and its origins.
"I remember going to a briefing with the defence intelligence staff where the
photograph was discussed.
"My opposite number in defence intelligence pointed his finger to the left
and said, 'It is not the Americans,' then to the right, saying, 'It is not the
Soviets,' and finally, he said, 'That only leaves...' and pointed his finger
directly up."
During his time with the ministry, Pope had a blown-up copy of
the photograph on his office wall until it was personally taken
down by his superior. He recalled: "My head of division removed
it and put it in his drawer because he was convinced, wrongly in
my opinion, that it showed a top secret prototype craft.
"Somewhere along the line the photo disappeared, but I have no idea
whether it was genuinely misplaced or whether it was treated as something
we shouldn't have seen and put through a shredder."
Meanwhile, another newly released file reveals how efforts to create a
computer database of UFO reports were halted amid fears of a potential
public relations disaster should its existence come to light.
The aim was to produce a database which could supply information and
explanations when ministers were asked questions in Parliament about
sightings.
Close Encounters Of Pitlochry Kind
By Marc Horne
22 March 2009
Government ministers were alerted over a UFO photographed hovering
over the Scottish countryside, it has emerged.
Newly released Ministry of Defence files reveal they took the unusual step of
informing senior Cabinet figures after an unidentified object was captured
on camera in Perthshire.
While most reports of flying saucers are quickly dismissed by defence
chiefs, the previously classified papers show the sighting, which took place
near Pitlochry in 1990, was taken extremely seriously.
A former MoD official who investigated the case told Scotland on Sunday
that despite strenuous efforts they could find no earthly explanation for the
craft.
Witnesses reported seeing a large, diamond-shaped object hanging in the
air next to a RAF Harrier above the A9 at Calvine, north of Pitlochry, on
August 4.
The UFO is said to have hovered for about 10 minutes before zooming
skywards at high speed and disappearing from view.
The apparent close encounter of the Caledonian kind was photographed by
members of the public whose images appear to show a blurry,
diamond-shaped craft next to a jet.
Fearing the pictures would spark significant media interest, the MoD
decided to bring it to the attention of the Government.
A Whitehall official wrote in a memo: "Such stories are not normally drawn to
the attention of ministers.
"On this occasion, however, the MoD has been provided with six
photographic negatives of an alleged UFO... and has been asked for
comments almost certainly for inclusion in a forthcoming story."
The memo suggested the media should be told that "no definite conclusion
had been reached regarding the large diamond-shaped object".
It has also emerged the MoD went on to commission a series of line
drawings of the object the following year, noting that the "sensitivity of the
material suggests very special handling".
Former MoD civil servant Nick Pope, who dealt with UFO reports, described
the image as the "most impressive" ever shown to his department.
He said: "The MoD has all sorts of equipment and expertise that we used to
analyse and enhance imagery to tell whether there were any signs of fakery.
"This picture was assessed by our digital experts, who concluded it was a
real photograph showing a solid-structured craft which was estimated as
being around 25m in diameter.
"There were no wings and no visible signs of any propulsion system.
"It was exotic and unknown in a way far beyond even the most modern
stealth aircraft being trialled at that time."
Pope, who served in the MoD for 21 years until 2006, claims they were
unable to come up with any firm answers about the craft and its origins.
"I remember going to a briefing with the defence intelligence staff where the
photograph was discussed.
"My opposite number in defence intelligence pointed his finger to the left
and said, 'It is not the Americans,' then to the right, saying, 'It is not the
Soviets,' and finally, he said, 'That only leaves...' and pointed his finger
directly up."
During his time with the ministry, Pope had a blown-up copy of
the photograph on his office wall until it was personally taken
down by his superior. He recalled: "My head of division removed
it and put it in his drawer because he was convinced, wrongly in
my opinion, that it showed a top secret prototype craft.
"Somewhere along the line the photo disappeared, but I have no idea
whether it was genuinely misplaced or whether it was treated as something
we shouldn't have seen and put through a shredder."
Meanwhile, another newly released file reveals how efforts to create a
computer database of UFO reports were halted amid fears of a potential
public relations disaster should its existence come to light.
The aim was to produce a database which could supply information and
explanations when ministers were asked questions in Parliament about
sightings.
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A memo from March 1988 revealed the project was to be ditched because