Witness statement:
Click for enlargement
19th February 1994:
Probably
Britain's best UFO photographic case.
A disc-shaped
metallic craft hovered at around 200ft over the Craigluscar reservoir,
in Fife in Scotland and was photographed by witness 'Ian Macpherson'.
It stayed in view for about 15 minutes, before flying off at a “phenomenal" speed.
Following checks with airports and police, it was confirmed that there was no known traffic in the sky at the time.
"On the afternoon of Saturday, 19th February, 1994, I drove to Craigluscar
Reservoir, just outside Dunfermline, in order to take some photographs of that
area. I am an amateur artist., and wanted the phqtographs to assist me in producing
a painting of the reservoir. I am a member of the local angling club who stock and
have the fishing rights of this water. Already having taken photographs there in
the summer, I wanted to have several or the landscape in winter.
I took a number of photographs as l walked along the bank of the reservoir
and was looking eastwards at the furthest point of the reservoir, and pondering
whether I should take some photographs looking east, away from the water.
I became aware of what I can only describe as a kind of humming noise, such as that from high voltage power lines. I also felt very, uneasy, and turned slowly towards the
reservoir.
Fairly high in the air, and coming slowly in my direction, was a disc-like
object, which was definitely an aircraft, I was holding my camera in my hand,
but felt unable to use it. I have never experienced such a feeling before; I did
not THINK of taking a shot. In retrospect, it seems there must hsve been some kind
of compulsion. I was concentrating on the craft, yet not really absorbing whet was
happening. At that point, I was very afraid. But I now realise that the fear
passed, end was replaced by a sense of ''relaxed resignation". (I don't have better
words to describe it.)
I later realised that I must have been looking at whatever it was, for more
than fifteen minutes. The craft came close enough for me to see that it was
definitely metallic, and had several points of diffused light on its underside,
inside a darker coloured "rim".
As the craft began to move away, all sense of the feelings which had stayed
my hand, disappeared. I raised my camera and took two photographs. The craft's
acceleration was phenomenal - by the time I'd wound the film on between the two
shots, it was a mere dot in the sky to the west. There was no noise at all, apart
from the "buzzing" when it was near to me.
I know nothing at all about U. F. 0. 's and the subject does not interest me. But
nothing of what I saw or experienced, was "in my imagination". Of that, I am
certain. Later that day, I telephoned R.A.F. Piteavie, to enquire as to whether
there had been any unusual air activity that day. I was told there had not been.
I am an aircraft enthusiast myself, and pride myself in their recognition. I know
that what I saw was no conventional aircraft."
Camera used was an old SLR model, a Chinon CS. The film used was a 200 ASA.
Craigluscar Reservoir UFO - Artist Impression
Niick Pope former employee at the British Government's Ministry of Defence from 1985 to 2006, (turned British journalist and media commentator), said at the time that the witness seemed honest and genuine and that the photograph Mr Macpherson had taken was a classic flying saucer. "He appeared genuine, and rather disappointed at the way in which (the newspapers) eventually ran (his) story. He did not appear to know anything about UFOs, and aside from his own experience, expressed no interest in the
subject."
Sources: FOI release and Google images
