The identification of the jet as a Harrier comes from the MoD briefing to the Minister in September 1990, when they expected the story to break in the Daily Record. The briefing says the images had been analysed (we know it was JARIC who carried out this initial analysis) and they had identified the jet as a Harrier...and furthermore one of the images also shows a faint second jet, also identified as a Harrier. I have also been informed they were operating from a OCU unit based at RAF Wittering but have not been able to confirm this. The MoD briefing is odd because although it says the jets have been identified as Harriers they have no record of Harriers operating at that time/date/location (it was a Saturday evening). Attempts have been made to contact Harrier squadrons and aircrew but so far with no success. Others with knowledge of RAF have suggested the jet is a Hunter and also a Tornado from Leuchars.
Hi David, this is slightly off topic but as the guy who oversaw the UK governments UFO/UAP files release do you know if they still hold files relating to 'Operation Mainbrace' in 1952 and if so is there a release date for anything still held ?
There are no files on UFOs and Operation Mainbrace as most records o ufos were destroyed in the 1960s. There is a surviving Air 16 file on the RAF Topcliffe UFO that occurred during the exercise but this survived only by accident
One aspect that intrigues is the jet. Is it definitely a Harrier, not a Hunter? Harrier operators at the time include the US Marines as well as the Fleet Air Arm and RAF. If a Hunter, could be from those latter two or even Boscombe Down. Have any aircrew ever come forward? You've also got air traffic controllers who would be aware of aerial activity. Obviously covered by Official Secrets Act but even those who were often write memoirs etc, so wouldn't think that would stop someone who wished to reveal what the object is - or what is wasn't. Were photographs taken on board the aircraft? If they were aircraft that had happened upon the object as part of a normal mission, am pretty sure it would be the talk of the crewroom.
The identification of the jet as a Harrier comes from the MoD briefing to the Minister in September 1990, when they expected the story to break in the Daily Record. The briefing says the images had been analysed (we know it was JARIC who carried out this initial analysis) and they had identified the jet as a Harrier...and furthermore one of the images also shows a faint second jet, also identified as a Harrier. I have also been informed they were operating from a OCU unit based at RAF Wittering but have not been able to confirm this. The MoD briefing is odd because although it says the jets have been identified as Harriers they have no record of Harriers operating at that time/date/location (it was a Saturday evening). Attempts have been made to contact Harrier squadrons and aircrew but so far with no success. Others with knowledge of RAF have suggested the jet is a Hunter and also a Tornado from Leuchars.
Hi David, this is slightly off topic but as the guy who oversaw the UK governments UFO/UAP files release do you know if they still hold files relating to 'Operation Mainbrace' in 1952 and if so is there a release date for anything still held ?
There are no files on UFOs and Operation Mainbrace as most records o ufos were destroyed in the 1960s. There is a surviving Air 16 file on the RAF Topcliffe UFO that occurred during the exercise but this survived only by accident
One aspect that intrigues is the jet. Is it definitely a Harrier, not a Hunter? Harrier operators at the time include the US Marines as well as the Fleet Air Arm and RAF. If a Hunter, could be from those latter two or even Boscombe Down. Have any aircrew ever come forward? You've also got air traffic controllers who would be aware of aerial activity. Obviously covered by Official Secrets Act but even those who were often write memoirs etc, so wouldn't think that would stop someone who wished to reveal what the object is - or what is wasn't. Were photographs taken on board the aircraft? If they were aircraft that had happened upon the object as part of a normal mission, am pretty sure it would be the talk of the crewroom.