Puerto Maldonado, Madre de Dios, Peru, Peru
The Puerto Maldonado Smoking Saucer Photograph
A widely reproduced photograph attributed to customs inspector Domingo Troncoso shows a dark elongated object over Puerto Maldonado with a smoke- or vapour-like trail. Modern databases disagree on whether the date was 19 July 1951 or 1952. The public trail does not currently provide the original neg
Why This Case Matters
A striking early Latin American photograph whose date inconsistency and missing first-generation provenance sharply limit evidential value.
Chronology
- 19 Jul 1951/1952 claimed sighting and photograph
- image later enters international UFO-photo collections
- captions identify customs inspector Domingo Troncoso and describe low-flying cigar/disc with trail
- date varies across catalogues
- original negative/report remains unlocated
The Witnesses
Evidence
The following evidence types are documented for this case:
Conventional explanations: Conventional aircraft, balloon, small object, photographic defect/manipulation or other airborne object producing a trail are possible. Without original film and range, size estimates are speculative.
What Remains Unresolved
- Correct year
- photographer identity/employment verification
- original negative
- exact location
- first publication
- customs/police report
- technical analysis.
Key Takeaways
- The first correction is the date: the inventory says 1952, while some sources place the photograph in 1951. Do not present the object size as measured.
Sources
Primary and secondary sources for this case file: