During the Golden Age of UFO sightings, the time between 1940 and 1970, thousands of UFO reports were submitted to officials, many of which were held for decades before being released to the public.  Included in these reports are many notable photographs purported to depict UFO’s, or flying saucers as they were known at the time.  Below is a collection of the most popular historic UFO photographs from as early as 1870.

UFO over Bulawayo, Southern Rhodesia. December 29, 1953

 

 

This is widely believed to be a photo of the infamous UFO over Westall Scondary College in Melbourne, Victoria, Australia, witnessed by more than 200 students and teachers as it descended into an open, grassy field. The only official explanation to date is “experimental craft”. 1966

 

UFO in Conniston, England. Photo taken by small boy (Stephen Darbishire) using an “old fashioned Kodak box camera recently purchased by his father.  The photo was featured in national press for many weeks following. February 15, 1954

 

UFO over Germany. 1954

 

UFO over Germany. 1974

 

UFOs over Dublin, Ireland.  March 25, 1950

 

UFO photograph taken by 21-year-old US Coastguard through window of laboratory. 1952

 

UFO over Mojave Desert, California.

 

UFO over Cave Junction, Oregon taken by volunteer fireman in the late 1920’s.  One of a handful of rare historic photos that cannot be completely debunked.  The age of the photo has been verified and the original was examined by professional researchers and declared genuine.  1927

 

The McMinnville UFO photograph taken at Paul and Evelyn Trent’s farmhouse in McMinnville, Oregon. Although some believed the incident was a hoax, Paul and Evelyn maintained the sighting was genuine until their deaths. May 11, 1950

 

UFO over Outer Hebrides, Scotland. 1947

 

UFO over Redbud, Illinois taken by photographer Dean Morgan. April 23, 1950

 

UFO over Czaplinek, Poland. 1947

 

UFO in St. Paris, Ohio captured in background of photo of George Sutton. The significance of the object was not recognized until more than a decade later.  1932

 

UFO over Mt Washington, New Hampshire taken by Amos F. Clough and Howard A. Kimball during an expedition.  Photo is widely regarded as the oldest known UFO photograph. 1870

 

UFO over Tiensten, Hopeh Province, China. Photo found by Masujiro Kiru while looking through his father’s photo album of World War II.  His father had purchased the photograph from a Tianjin street photographer.  1942

 

UFO over sawmill in Ward, Colorado taken by Edward Pine. At the time the photo was taken, Pine described hearing a “terrible, thunderous bellow”. 1929

 

UFO over Phoenix, Arizona taken by William Rhodes.  July 1947

 

UFO over New Delhi, India. July 3, 1964

 

UFO over Woonsocket, Rhode Island taken by Harold Trudel.  One of seven photographs Trudel captured that day. June 10, 1967

 

UFO photo taken somewhere in the United States. 1920’s

 

Vancouver City Hall UFO photo taken by 21-year-old solder, Leonard Lamoreux while visiting the brand new Vancouver City Hall. 1937

 

UFO over Rosetta/Natal, South Africa taken by meteorologist Elizabeth Klarer moments before a thunderstorm. July 1956

 

UFO over Sicily, Italy. December 10, 1954

 

UFO near Edwards Air Force Base, California taken by test pilot. Photo was taken the same date and location that astronaut Gordon Cooper says that he and several test pilots filmed a saucer-shaped object. The photos were turned over to Washington but many believe this is one of the original pictures taken of the object.  1957

 

UFO somewhere over the United States (discovered in an attic many years later). June 10, 1964

 

UFO over Provo, Utah taken by pilot of a twin-engine USAF C-47 Skytrain transport aircraft. July 1966