Drawing sheds light on UFO sighting
IT LOOKS like a drawing of something straight out of a Lego Star Wars kit – but this crude sketch depicts an unidentified flying object which was apparently spotted flying over the Westcountry.
The image gives a front and side view of a mysterious aircraft seen hovering over Tintagel, North Cornwall, at about 11.45pm on June 22, 1997.
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The drawing is among 6,000 pages of previously top secret files released by the Ministry of Defence (MoD), spanning from 1994 to 2000.
The documents, released as part of a three-year project involving the National Archives, hold hundreds of other-worldly experiences with UFOs and "aliens" across Britain.
Sketch of the mysterious aircraft seen hovering over Tintagel, North Cornwall
Experts say the shape of UFOs has changed over the years, depending on what science fiction images were prevalent in popular culture at the time.
The unknown Cornish artist described seeing illuminated lights all over the surface of the outlandish structure, and a protruding cockpit, with an eerily glowing dome.
The main body of the UFO has two arms attached to parallel structures on either side, resembling a basic reproduction of a TIE Fighter, which first appeared in the Star Wars films in 1977, and was the subject of a computer game in 1994.
Dr David Clarke, author of The UFO Files and senior lecturer in journalism from Sheffield Hallam University, said: "In the 1950s the next big leap in technology was thought to be a round craft that took off vertically and it's intriguing to note that this is the same period when people began to report seeing 'flying saucers' in the sky.
"In the period the latest file release covers, triangular-shaped US stealth bombers and Aurora spy planes featured heavily on TV, such as The X Files between 1993-2002, and films, such as Independence Day released in 1996 and the shape of reported UFOs corresponds.
"It's impossible to prove a direct link between what people are reading and watching and what they report as UFOs, but one interpretation could be that the latest advances in technology may be influencing what people see in the sky."
The files are available to download for free for a month from the website www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/ufos
9 Comments
by Reg, Pt
Sunday, February 21 2010, 9:18AM
“Is space spherical? Mmm. If you go far enough nto space and come to a brick wall, what's on the other side? Mmm In this case I would agree it's got something to do with Cornwall Council's travel and their trying to avoid using tax-payers money for the same.”
by Alan, Redruth
Friday, February 19 2010, 10:44AM
“There will be a similar sighting at Trelissick in September when Carnon Down Dram Group present "War of the Worlds"!!”
by Alan Henderson, Newcastle-upon-Tyne
Thursday, February 18 2010, 9:25PM
“Not sure if this was a Cornish U.F.O.?
Was there a whining noise?”
by Edee, Edey stone
Thursday, February 18 2010, 3:59PM
“A lack of a St Pirains Flag is an obvious corroboration this is a Martian assailant”
by Paul, Truro, 3rd rock from the sun
Thursday, February 18 2010, 3:33PM
“Its probably something Cornwall Council are wasting my money on to use to get too meetings and other wasteful doings!”
by Bill, PZ
Thursday, February 18 2010, 2:41PM
“It was King Aurthur visiting his mates!!”
by Jacee, Liskeard
Thursday, February 18 2010, 2:20PM
“I thought that was a nationalists N reg rover seen from under the Tamer Bridge until I read lights that work.
Please tell me how he knew it was a cockpit, did they waive at him”
by Bob, Plymouth
Thursday, February 18 2010, 1:44PM
“Can you imagine, the Cornish Nationalist would explode if they found out there were aliens after their precious land...
Why are ufos covered in lights? anyone?”
by Gary, Saltash
Thursday, February 18 2010, 10:52AM
“I have never seen a UFO but appreciate surrounding us are billions of other planets. Earth itself has spent billions trying to contact other planet using the cleverest minds on the planet. Would it be so unreasonable to presume another planet may want to do the same?
I doubt if you can master travelling at the speed of light or beyond you would use an upside down bath tub to undertake the trip but I feel it wrong of us to presume others are not interested in us. Rather arrogant of us to presume that out of billions of planets we are the only life forms in the universe able to travel through space, but that¿s sums up mankind for you”