A Brazilian Navy file recently reexamined sheds light on one of South America’s most famous UFO sightings: the 1958 Trindade Island incident.
Officially documented aboard the naval vessel Almirante Saldanha, the case involved multiple military witnesses, photographic evidence, and confirmation by Brazilian authorities.
This report, originating from the Directorate of Naval Hydrography, outlines the Navy’s internal investigation into the sighting and the authenticity of photographs taken during the incident.
“Photos of the flying object… were analyzed by the Navy Ministry and no alteration was found.”
📍 The Sighting at Sea
On January 16, 1958, while stationed near Trindade Island, crew aboard the Almirante Saldanha observed a metallic object flying across the sky.
Among those who saw the object were Navy officers, enlisted personnel, and civilian photographer Almiro Baraúna, who captured four clear images of the phenomenon.
According to statements in the file:
-
The object approached the island from the sea
-
It made a looping maneuver over the mountain range
-
It accelerated and vanished into the clouds
“Photographic film was developed onboard and analyzed in the presence of Navy officers.”
🧾 Verification and Civilian Release
The Navy treated the incident seriously, preserving the film negatives and confirming their authenticity through multiple analyses.
Letters from the High Command affirm that the photographs showed no evidence of manipulation.
The images were eventually made public with the approval of President Juscelino Kubitschek, who delivered them to the press.
Civilian and military testimonies matched-an unusual consistency that further solidified the case’s credibility.
“We cannot dismiss the possibility that this was a real object of unknown origin.”
🌍 International Interest
The Trindade sighting gained international attention. Letters from the file include communications from foreign researchers such as Julian Hennessey, affiliated with U.S. scientist Dr. J. Allen Hynek, seeking more details.
Brazil’s open approach to releasing documents stood in contrast to other nations at the time.
“The case has become the object of study by several foreign experts in aeronautics and phenomena in the atmosphere.”
📚 A Record the Navy Did Not Hide
Unlike many Cold War-era cases buried in bureaucracy or secrecy, this incident was acknowledged by Brazil’s military command and supported by official statements.
The file emphasizes that while no definitive identification was made, the object was not dismissed as a fabrication, illusion, or natural phenomenon.
“No reason was found to doubt the statements of those who witnessed the event.”
This document adds historical weight to a case that has long stood as one of the most compelling in global UFO history-backed not by speculation, but by evidence the Navy was willing to stand behind.
