Lauren Jones
Skilled Investigator
The alleged photo analysis by "NASA" has been part of the mythology for years. Does that stem from Richard Haines being one of the analysts?
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Famous Belgian UFO Photo A Fake
- Thread starter dorkbot
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Ron Collins
Curiously Confused
I am a bit more educated on this now. The timeline seems to indicate that the image was constructed to resemble the object/objects reported by witnesses. If that is indeed the case, then we still have a bunch of witness accounts that support an actual series of events. I was concerned that this image helped to spawn the wave and that it was a construct of a hoaxers imagination. That unfortunate scenario could have damned the credibility of the entire series of sightings.
Hotkafka
Sanity is a default
Just for some perspective from a fella in the field of psychology: this reference smacks of faux regard - specialist in cognition psychology? Unclear. There's a dozen or more subsets of psychological training which might find a place for this niche of training, none of which might grant a degree under this particular subset - unless it is a specialization under a liberal arts focus, which does not encourage acknowledgement from academics whom may have been schooled in graduate level programs of psychology. Without a specific title or reference to credentials from a recognized subset of psychology, this reference amounts to a whole lot of bubkis. How a person missing the academic background might proclaim themselves useful in the determining the validity of a said photograph, well.... That's sketchy. For sure. Not that determining the validity of a photo has anything to do with psychology, but....
Patrick M. has recently been interviewed by a french ufologic association (OVNI-Languedoc). The dialogue has been posted on the web. I found it very interesting as it adresses a lot of the questions that would come to anyone's mind and some that have been raised on the paracast forum.
Here's the transcript of this recent interview (source in french) - just for paracast forumers
(OL is OVNI-Languedoc and PM is patrick M.)
----
OL : Why did you wait for so long before speaking the truth ?
PM : At the beginning, I didn't really care about the picture, I just got interested at what was going on when people talked about it. Of course, I wanted to say everything many times, but it was only these last few days, while reading again some articles on the web, that it appeared to me it was high time to say the truth.
OL : who did you contact to reveal the truth on the photo of Petit Rechain and how did you end up being interviewed on television and in front of videocameras ?
PM : I contacted RTL. I just wanted to explain how and why I made the photo, without taking side, but with anonimity. As it wasn't possible, I accepted appear on the medias but without my family name and my adress being said.
OL : the revelation that the photo was a hoax has deceived a lot ufologists whom many considered it genuine. Did you anticipate this type of reaction ?
PM : No, I never wanted to deceive anyone and I apologize for this. And certainly not the SOBEPS who did a lot of work, not on my photo but all over Belgium. This photo is nothing compared to all the testimonies received at this time. Me, I just put a picture on what thousands of people have seen and I apologize to them. They had the chance to see and I benefited from what they saw. This certainly doesn't put in question the Belgium wave. It's there and will remain so. Many apologizes to the SOBEPS, and particularly to Patrick Ferryn, Michel Bougard, Lucien Clerebaut, Auguste Meessen and to the whole world.
OL : what happened to the model ?
PM : I destroyed it very little time after.
OL : I had to search what frigolite was. You also used three lamps. How did you make the photo ? Was the model suspended on a string ?
PM : actually, there were 4 lamps. I cut the model within frigolite material, of 60 or 70 cms length along the large basis, I painted it with a metallic blue bomb colour that was left. The colour was causing the frigolite to melt, which gave a multitude of humps. I put somelamps of flaslight, the one of the center, I painted it with a permanent red felt, and connected the whole to a 9V battery. I suspended the model in the garden more or less at a height of 2 m. Many strings were necessary to dispose the model in the right position. I put my camera on a tripod, and while watching out nothing would come across the frame of the camera I took photos at different times, actually slides. After having them developped, I chose one I liked.
OL : You just met M. Auguste Meessen. He wondered about things you couldn't answer, for example, why 4 lights were visible when you used only 3 lamps or the reasons why the colour is changing when the lamps were the same. Does it seem strange to you ?
PM : I talked a lot with M. Meessen since then and it has never been question of 3 lamps but 4, and I told him I was not able to explain what happened. Me, I'm not a scientist. By now, I explained to him how I proceeded and he has an idea as why it could happened and the reason why nobody was able to see that it was only a model, but we still work on it.
OL : how took place your meeting with the COBEPS ?
PM : at the time, it outranged any hope and I couldn't confess the lie, I just said an imaginary story the shortest possible without much details.
OL : do you know someone else that could confirm your testimony ?
PM : yes , M. Meessen doesn't really believe me. At the time I put a colleague of the factory in the confidence and showed him everything. I gave him [to AM] the name and the place where he was living at the time as I didn't have any contact with him for more or less 15 years. He found him who confirmed that I've made a model and all I've said.
OL : Another model will be rebuilt ? Why ?
PM : M. Meessen told me that it wasn't necessary anymore but since I promised to make one, yes I'm going to do it again and see what it'll give. However, it's clear that it won't reproduce exactly what was obtained the first time without any calculation.
OL : have you earned any money with this story ?
PM : No, I never earned anything at the time nor today. There's certainly the photographer of that time, M. Mosay, to whom I lent the slide who, maybe, has earned something, but me, no. Except for the exchange of my camera that I was asked to lend for analysis and, quite some time after, when I wanted to get it back, I was proposed to exchange from a slightly better one. I agreed. By curiosity, I'd like to know if someone earned something with my photo and how much.
OL : did your life change because of your revelation ?
PM : Surely not, there's no reason why.
OL : what do you think of the UFO phenomenon ?
PM : I believe in UFOs, well I believe that if we're here, there's no reason that there wouldn't be another planet inhabited. From that to say they'd be able to come here...Maybe they're less developped than us, who knows.
----
"at OL, as elsewhere, we've been very disappointed to learn that this photo came from a youngster's prank. However, it doesn't question, as says Patrick M. the Belgium wave in its whole. Hundreds, thousands of people in Whom military or civil pilots, or even police personnel have observed un explained phenomena at this time"
Here's the transcript of this recent interview (source in french) - just for paracast forumers
(OL is OVNI-Languedoc and PM is patrick M.)
----
OL : Why did you wait for so long before speaking the truth ?
PM : At the beginning, I didn't really care about the picture, I just got interested at what was going on when people talked about it. Of course, I wanted to say everything many times, but it was only these last few days, while reading again some articles on the web, that it appeared to me it was high time to say the truth.
OL : who did you contact to reveal the truth on the photo of Petit Rechain and how did you end up being interviewed on television and in front of videocameras ?
PM : I contacted RTL. I just wanted to explain how and why I made the photo, without taking side, but with anonimity. As it wasn't possible, I accepted appear on the medias but without my family name and my adress being said.
OL : the revelation that the photo was a hoax has deceived a lot ufologists whom many considered it genuine. Did you anticipate this type of reaction ?
PM : No, I never wanted to deceive anyone and I apologize for this. And certainly not the SOBEPS who did a lot of work, not on my photo but all over Belgium. This photo is nothing compared to all the testimonies received at this time. Me, I just put a picture on what thousands of people have seen and I apologize to them. They had the chance to see and I benefited from what they saw. This certainly doesn't put in question the Belgium wave. It's there and will remain so. Many apologizes to the SOBEPS, and particularly to Patrick Ferryn, Michel Bougard, Lucien Clerebaut, Auguste Meessen and to the whole world.
OL : what happened to the model ?
PM : I destroyed it very little time after.
OL : I had to search what frigolite was. You also used three lamps. How did you make the photo ? Was the model suspended on a string ?
PM : actually, there were 4 lamps. I cut the model within frigolite material, of 60 or 70 cms length along the large basis, I painted it with a metallic blue bomb colour that was left. The colour was causing the frigolite to melt, which gave a multitude of humps. I put somelamps of flaslight, the one of the center, I painted it with a permanent red felt, and connected the whole to a 9V battery. I suspended the model in the garden more or less at a height of 2 m. Many strings were necessary to dispose the model in the right position. I put my camera on a tripod, and while watching out nothing would come across the frame of the camera I took photos at different times, actually slides. After having them developped, I chose one I liked.
OL : You just met M. Auguste Meessen. He wondered about things you couldn't answer, for example, why 4 lights were visible when you used only 3 lamps or the reasons why the colour is changing when the lamps were the same. Does it seem strange to you ?
PM : I talked a lot with M. Meessen since then and it has never been question of 3 lamps but 4, and I told him I was not able to explain what happened. Me, I'm not a scientist. By now, I explained to him how I proceeded and he has an idea as why it could happened and the reason why nobody was able to see that it was only a model, but we still work on it.
OL : how took place your meeting with the COBEPS ?
PM : at the time, it outranged any hope and I couldn't confess the lie, I just said an imaginary story the shortest possible without much details.
OL : do you know someone else that could confirm your testimony ?
PM : yes , M. Meessen doesn't really believe me. At the time I put a colleague of the factory in the confidence and showed him everything. I gave him [to AM] the name and the place where he was living at the time as I didn't have any contact with him for more or less 15 years. He found him who confirmed that I've made a model and all I've said.
OL : Another model will be rebuilt ? Why ?
PM : M. Meessen told me that it wasn't necessary anymore but since I promised to make one, yes I'm going to do it again and see what it'll give. However, it's clear that it won't reproduce exactly what was obtained the first time without any calculation.
OL : have you earned any money with this story ?
PM : No, I never earned anything at the time nor today. There's certainly the photographer of that time, M. Mosay, to whom I lent the slide who, maybe, has earned something, but me, no. Except for the exchange of my camera that I was asked to lend for analysis and, quite some time after, when I wanted to get it back, I was proposed to exchange from a slightly better one. I agreed. By curiosity, I'd like to know if someone earned something with my photo and how much.
OL : did your life change because of your revelation ?
PM : Surely not, there's no reason why.
OL : what do you think of the UFO phenomenon ?
PM : I believe in UFOs, well I believe that if we're here, there's no reason that there wouldn't be another planet inhabited. From that to say they'd be able to come here...Maybe they're less developped than us, who knows.
----
"at OL, as elsewhere, we've been very disappointed to learn that this photo came from a youngster's prank. However, it doesn't question, as says Patrick M. the Belgium wave in its whole. Hundreds, thousands of people in Whom military or civil pilots, or even police personnel have observed un explained phenomena at this time"
boomerang
Paranormal Adept
It should be obvious by now that something about this phenomenon leaves an indelible impression on confused witnesses and then: a) denies itself, b) is actively obfuscated by certain factions, c) attracts crackpots, hoaxers and opportunists, d) all of the above.
I suggest looking at the larger set of events.
I suggest looking at the larger set of events.
Chikane, thanks so much for this again. If there will be more updates please send it on the thread as before. Thanks so much.
Just received this from my good colleague from France (currently living in US):
"Here is the latest debate on the Extraterrestrial life , Meteors, and UFOs
at the french television channel FRANCE 5
http://www.france5.fr/c-dans-l-air/index-fr.php?page=resume&id_rubrique=1776
Complete cover up on recent events like the Belgium UFO hoax."
---------- Post added at 10:09 AM ---------- Previous post was at 09:53 AM ----------
My previous posts on GEIPAN and French release that happened in 2007:
http://www.ufoupdateslist.com/2006/dec/m24-006.shtml
http://www.ufoupdateslist.com/2006/dec/m30-002.shtml
http://www.ufoupdateslist.com/2007/apr/m08-003.shtml
Translation of the intro text for the FRANCE 5 show (by Google Translator).
Intro text follows:
Friday, August 5, 2011
Suddenly, an explosion in the night
For the twenty-first edition of Night of the Stars in France, even if the sky will not be released anywhere, astronomers will be there to discover the mysteries of the Milky Way to the public. An event that attracted a number of countries in Europe and Africa.
From 5 to 7 August 2011, anyone can scan from the sun (after 21 h 15) the Moon during the first quarter, then, from 22 pm venues Saturn and its rings and the brightest stars (of Arcturus Bouvier and Antares), and from 23 h, it was the turn of the constellations of summer unfold, and for the lucky, the first to see shooting stars.
An observation of the universe that has always fascinated people and has appointments on time, as the eclipse - the last, visible in some parts of Europe in June was the longest for eleven years and has offered the sight of a red moon - and sometimes brings its own surprises. As in Britain, where the explosion of a meteorite, the July 19 morning, residents woke up with a bright flash and a deafening explosion. Since then, the hunt is launched fragments around Rennes, to the chagrin of research, this debris has rarely something other than science.
This type of phenomena are often subject to different interpretations, including that of the presence of an Unidentified Flying Object (UFO). Since their first appearance with the aliens in the literature in 1898 (War of the Worlds), they have continued to haunt the minds and populate the novels and films of science fiction.
And if their existence is so far not proven, they are subject to civil and military studies in many countries. In France, for example, the Group of Study and Information on Unidentified Aerospace Phenomena (GEIPAN) has worked on a 1600 case. According to a report dated April 2010: 11% are fully identified phenomena, 29% probably are, but without proof, 37% lack information and 23% remain unexplained.
And if the existence of "little green men" remains an enigma, the first "invaders" may well be men. Indeed, it is virtually the case since the beginning of March, June 3, 2010, a mission by the Russian Institute of Medical-Biological Problems. After three releases on the reconstituted soil of the red planet, they began their "return" in February and should "land" in November.
"Here is the latest debate on the Extraterrestrial life , Meteors, and UFOs
at the french television channel FRANCE 5
http://www.france5.fr/c-dans-l-air/index-fr.php?page=resume&id_rubrique=1776
Complete cover up on recent events like the Belgium UFO hoax."
---------- Post added at 10:09 AM ---------- Previous post was at 09:53 AM ----------
My previous posts on GEIPAN and French release that happened in 2007:
http://www.ufoupdateslist.com/2006/dec/m24-006.shtml
http://www.ufoupdateslist.com/2006/dec/m30-002.shtml
http://www.ufoupdateslist.com/2007/apr/m08-003.shtml
Translation of the intro text for the FRANCE 5 show (by Google Translator).
Intro text follows:
Friday, August 5, 2011
Suddenly, an explosion in the night
For the twenty-first edition of Night of the Stars in France, even if the sky will not be released anywhere, astronomers will be there to discover the mysteries of the Milky Way to the public. An event that attracted a number of countries in Europe and Africa.
From 5 to 7 August 2011, anyone can scan from the sun (after 21 h 15) the Moon during the first quarter, then, from 22 pm venues Saturn and its rings and the brightest stars (of Arcturus Bouvier and Antares), and from 23 h, it was the turn of the constellations of summer unfold, and for the lucky, the first to see shooting stars.
An observation of the universe that has always fascinated people and has appointments on time, as the eclipse - the last, visible in some parts of Europe in June was the longest for eleven years and has offered the sight of a red moon - and sometimes brings its own surprises. As in Britain, where the explosion of a meteorite, the July 19 morning, residents woke up with a bright flash and a deafening explosion. Since then, the hunt is launched fragments around Rennes, to the chagrin of research, this debris has rarely something other than science.
This type of phenomena are often subject to different interpretations, including that of the presence of an Unidentified Flying Object (UFO). Since their first appearance with the aliens in the literature in 1898 (War of the Worlds), they have continued to haunt the minds and populate the novels and films of science fiction.
And if their existence is so far not proven, they are subject to civil and military studies in many countries. In France, for example, the Group of Study and Information on Unidentified Aerospace Phenomena (GEIPAN) has worked on a 1600 case. According to a report dated April 2010: 11% are fully identified phenomena, 29% probably are, but without proof, 37% lack information and 23% remain unexplained.
And if the existence of "little green men" remains an enigma, the first "invaders" may well be men. Indeed, it is virtually the case since the beginning of March, June 3, 2010, a mission by the Russian Institute of Medical-Biological Problems. After three releases on the reconstituted soil of the red planet, they began their "return" in February and should "land" in November.
you're welcome uforadio, and thanks also to you for your links
. If there aresome new interesting developpements on the case, I'll post something on the topic (I should learn to use that google translator, looks to work fine). I believe the last interview has answered a lot of the questions that still remained so now that there's no doubt left on the hoax. Still that would be interesting if PM could find the old other slides he took and give them to the people involved.I guess that this news warns again anyone of the carefulness needed when a photo is brought forward before giving it some credence.
Sean Elifritz
Administrator
Supposedly there is going to be a documentary based on Leslie Kean's book that will air around the end of the month. Going off of memory but thinking it might be the 25th on History Channel. Wonder if it was completed before this revelation. Could end up featuring this photo as the real thing. If so pretty bad timing.
Here is the annoucement with all the details:
https://www.theparacast.com/forum/threads/7378-Leslie-Kean-Media?p=121261#post121261
Leslie has commented on latest photo revelation during her recent Coast to Coast interview. About documentary - hard to tell as you say - it seems that story broke during the last phaze of postproduction or maybe even after that. I do vaguely recall during production of I KNOW WHAT I SAW that James Fox has mentioned in one of his interviews deadline for the documentaries to be enclosed to History Channel before the broadcast, but can't remember the exact value.
Burnt State
Paranormal Adept
Because once you see something that you know is something so different, so not from here,& because we are driven by narratives, the more speculative & impossible the better! It is an addiction wanting to know what is behind the curtain of reality that falls apart every now & then, offering up compelling, magical glimpses of that which can not be known. & you want to know - my goodness it has stolen so many of my hours....
Burnt State
Paranormal Adept
There are some drugs I said I would never try in case I liked them too much - but ufo's found me first. I blame Arthur C. Clarke & Nimoy for their televised searchings for the other worldly that hooked me as a kid.
"It has yet to be proven that intelligence has any survival value."
~ A.C.C.
trainedobserver
Paranormally Disenchanted
That is the real mystery isn't it?
Kieran
Paranormal Adept
Too many people latched on to that photograph as prove of a UFO and yet nobody knew who took that picture. This photo here was the real deal not yet debunked as a fake.
Wallonia, Belgium, Europe. Triangle over triangle.
15 June 1990
http://www.abduct-anon.com/AUTHENTIC%20PHOTOS.htm
J.S. Henrardi
Wallonia, Belgium, Europe. Triangle over triangle.
Date
15 June 1990
Source
http://www.abduct-anon.com/AUTHENTIC%20PHOTOS.htm
Author
J.S. Henrardi
Actually, Meessen puts forward some pretty good arguments as to it not being a hoax, but I'd really like to see how the kid really did it.
Re: Iconic Belgian UFO Claimed To Be A Hoax
I'm really disappointed about this, but the strength of the Belgium Wave doesn't hinge on one photo. IIRC, jets were scrambled on several occasions with pilots gaining a visual of some of the craft, so I don't quite buy the "atmospherics" explanation. I think I'll wait until it's reproduced before tossing it completely.
Re: Iconic Belgian UFO Claimed To Be A Hoax
I'm really disappointed about this, but the strength of the Belgium Wave doesn't hinge on one photo. IIRC, jets were scrambled on several occasions with pilots gaining a visual of some of the craft, so I don't quite buy the "atmospherics" explanation. I think I'll wait until it's reproduced before tossing it completely.
Keans endorsement of the photo was based on expert analysis, so she can't really be blamed since it isn't her field of expertise. I can see how the whole thing may now be dismissed by the layperson because of one iconic photo, but the largest body of evidence isn't in the one photo, although that one photo represents the face of the BW. Meessen, NASA and those who analyzed would have to share the blame for that.
Sentry
Paranormal Adept
Curtis Peebles, in his book Watch the Skies! demonstrated how UFO mythology continually absorbs ideas from hoaxes. Even if something is proven to be a hoax, the idea is introduced and spread through the network, when the vehicle that introduced the concept crumbles, it is no longer important. The concept is cemented in the canon and other anecdotal evidence can be found to support it.