The Malvern UFO Photograph

On March 28, 1967, 14-year-old Alex Birch photographed a disc-shaped UFO over the Malvern Hills in Worcestershire, England. The clear, daylight photograph became one of the most examined British UFO images.

The Sighting

Alex Birch was outdoors near his home when he noticed an unusual object in the sky:

• A metallic, disc-shaped craft
• Moving steadily over the Malvern Hills
• Making no sound
• Clearly structured and artificial

He quickly grabbed a camera and captured a single photograph.

The Photograph

The image showed:

• A classic disc or flying saucer shape
• Clear definition against the sky
• The Malvern Hills in the background
• No obvious signs of model or hoax

Initial Reception

The photograph received significant attention:

• Local and national media coverage
• UFO researchers examined the image
• Officials showed interest
• The photograph was widely published

Analysis

Various analysts examined the photograph:

• No obvious suspension wires or supports
• The object appeared at significant distance
• Scale analysis suggested a large object
• No clear hoax mechanism identified

Alex Birch’s Account

The young photographer maintained his account:

• The object appeared suddenly
• He had time for only one photo
• He had no interest in UFOs before the sighting
• He had no motive for hoaxing

Later Confession

Years later, Birch admitted the photograph was a hoax:

• He had painted UFOs on a pane of glass
• Photographed through the glass to create the image
• The confession came decades after the original incident

The Confession’s Impact

The admission demonstrated:

• How convincing faked UFO photos can be
• The difficulty of photographic analysis
• Why witness credibility matters beyond evidence
• The long-term nature of some hoaxes

Significance Despite Hoax

The case remains significant for:

• Demonstrating hoaxing techniques
• Showing limitations of photo analysis
• Illustrating media and researcher credulity
• Teaching methodological lessons to UFO research

Legacy

The Malvern photograph serves as a cautionary tale:

• Even clear photographs can be hoaxed
• Young photographers can create convincing fakes
• Confession may come decades later
• Physical analysis alone cannot verify UFO photos

The case is now taught as an example of how not to evaluate UFO evidence, demonstrating why multiple forms of corroboration are essential.