Background

On June 13, 2021, a photo (which led to more) was posted on the social media network called Reddit, and the /r/UFOs ‘subreddit.’

The Black Vault reached out to the ‘witness’ who posted it, and began a deep dive into the origin of where they came from, and attempted to piece together the full story.

What resulted was a bit of a rabbit hole. This now smells like a hoax after some deep digging. There were obvious signs up front, but my approach has always been to exhaust all possibilities.

NOTE: I feel I may be a bit more neutral than is warranted on this. After this video was uploaded, and the article was programmed, I made a discovery which slipped by me prior to creating this.

The key element in all this that I missed until just before publishing, is this fact: In CAM01877.jpg (raw files available at the link above), the metadata states the photo was taken at 8:26pm. The “identical” photo labeled as CAM01878.jpg which did not have the lens flares, was taken at 8:25pm, one minute earlier. Sequentially in the file naming structure vs. the time stamps; they are reversed. The camera would have named the 8:25pm photo as *1877 and the 8:26pm photo as *1878. I feel that may be the deciding factor in labeling this a hoax. However, I opted not to record the entire video again and re-edit it all, but rather, post this addendum and show you all the evidence as complete as I could make it. Plus, the journey to get there!

In addition to the above, there are too many other red flags to dismiss. When I recorded the video, I tried to stay neutral giving way to long-shot possibilities, but possibilities none-the-less. However, right before publishing everything, I made additional discoveries. 

Ideally, I’d delete it all, and have a different approach. Re-edit, re-do, and re-upload. However, I want to show you all the investigative techniques to exhaust all possibilities. Sure, we can dismiss more easily. I just opt not to. What you see in the above links is why…

Sometimes, we just need to keep digging despite having the deep down feeling on what the overall outcome will be. The more evidence we collect; the better we are for the next one.

UPDATE: Shortly after I posted this investigation, the Reddit user /u/Munchizmo deleted their account after having it for 10 years. This is another highly suspect action, and more in line with what I would expect from a hoaxer.

Moral of the story: Always follow the evidence, and always keep pushing.

Additional Information

.zip File

[ .zip file of ALL photographs released by the witness – metadata attached ]

Photo Gallery

Note: In my video above, I felt a made an error with outline/positioning of the photographs. When making this table array, I realized I did not make a mistake, rather, the metadata is reversed.

In CAM01877.jpg, the metadata states the photo was taken at 8:26pm. The “identical” photo labeled as CAM01878.jpg which did not have the lens flares, was taken at 8:25pm, one minute earlier. Sequentially in the file naming structure vs. the time stamps; they are reversed. The camera would have named the 8:25pm photo as *1877 and the 8:26pm photo as *1878. I feel that may be the deciding factor in labeling this a hoax. However, I opted not to record the entire video again, but rather, post this addendum and show you all the evidence as complete as I could make it.

Metadata Breakdowns

Another complete red flag is the fact that the photograph dimensions for all photos was 960×720, taken by a LG LDC-F20. However, the LDC-F20 shot a resolution of 640×480. A special thanks to Mick West for notating that discrepancy.

Here is proof of the tech specs behind the LDC-F20, as taken from the Digital Camera Museum.

CAM01875.jpg

CAM01876.jpg

CAM01877.jpg

CAM01878.jpg

The post NEW 1997 Phoenix Lights Surface? The Investigation. first appeared on The Black Vault Case Files.

The post NEW 1997 Phoenix Lights Surface? The Investigation. appeared first on The Black Vault Case Files.

Background

The following case was submitted to The Black Vault / TBV Investigations. However, after numerous attempts by team member Rob Mercer to contact the witness by phone and email, they did not return any messages.

We decided to archive the case, in hopes the witness may reach out in the future, or corroborating testimony can be discovered.

Witness Testimony

The following was submitted by the witness (unedited):

I joined the Air Force in February, 1996. After basic training, I was sent to Ft. Huachuca, Arizona (an Army base) for more training. I don’t know the exact day, but it had to be between May 15, 1996-July, 1996 (the length of time I was stationed there).

We had just finished our training for the day, which was around 3:00 pm, and were in formation for our usual daily update. One particular day, we were told that the base was on lockdown.

No one was allowed to leave the base. We naturally asked why, and were given no explanation. Since we were all stuck on the base, we spent most of the evening in the day room, where there were lounge chairs and a TV. Later that night, on the local evening news out of Tucson, there was a story about a UFO seen in the area. A large (at least the size of a football field), black, slow moving, triangular shaped object was spotted in the sky, very close to the base (SHOWING UP IN BROAD DAYLIGHT!)

A policeman took video of it on his dashcam, and followed it for MANY miles (north to northeast), to around the Scottsdale area, where it disappeared. This sighting had to have lasted a few hours due to the distance from where we were (southern Arizona), to the area where it disappeared (and it’s slow speed). I’ve looked online and never seen that video, or even clips of it.

So, even though it made the news, we saw the short video clip, no one ever spoke of it again. I would think that the policeman (or sheriff) that followed it would remember it, or the video would have somehow gotten leaked on YouTube considering how interesting it was! I’ve seen the video of the Phoenix lights, and this was NOT the same thing.

I’m baffled that a story like this would just disappear! Added note: Ft. Huachuca was testing drones at the time, so we were used to seeing test aircraft in the sky. The fact that they locked down the base leads me to believe it wasn’t ours!

The post Black Triangle Near Ft. Huachuca, Arizona, U.S. Army Training Base – Circa May/June 1996 first appeared on The Black Vault Case Files.

The post Black Triangle Near Ft. Huachuca, Arizona, U.S. Army Training Base – Circa May/June 1996 appeared first on The Black Vault Case Files.