Case · C-017

Trindade Island: the photos of an object in flight taken from the ship Almirante Saldanha

Trindade Island, South Atlantic Ocean · Brazil · Jan 16, 1958

In flight Mixed witness types Photos

What happened

On January 16, 1958, the civilian photographer Almiro Baraúna, aboard the Brazilian Navy ship Almirante Saldanha for International Geophysical Year activities, photographed an object in flight near Trindade Island, which according to the sources was also seen by members of the crew. According to reconstructions, the Navy's aerial reconnaissance laboratory judged the negatives authentic and the government of President Kubitschek authorized the release of the images. The case remains disputed: Project Blue Book filed it as a hoax, and in 2010 people close to the photographer claimed it was a trick. Brazilian Air Force documents on the photos are recorded as deposited in the National Archives in Brasília, but a copy available online has not been verified.

Proposed explanation

Hoax hypothesis: according to the encyclopedia entry on the case, Project Blue Book classified the photos as a hoax, and Baraúna had already made photomontages in the past; in 2010 a family friend told Brazilian TV that the photographer had confided to her that he had photographed a small model made with two spoons, and the niece confirmed it without allowing herself to be recorded. Those who argue for authenticity point to the Navy's expert examination of the negatives and the witnesses on board.

Official investigation

Brazilian Navy; Project Blue Book (U.S. Air Force)

Sources

1. Gazeta do Povo / G1, the photographer's family reveals the truth about the Trindade photos (August 15, 2010) (press)
2. HandWiki (copy of Wikipedia), “Trindade Island UFO” (other)
3. Diário do Comércio, “Óvnis, assunto sério” (January 27, 2022) (press, pro-disclosure)

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