Off Southern California near San Pedro, claimed, United States / maritime
The S.S. Ramsay Photographs
Radio officer Thad Fogl said he photographed a disc-like object from the S.S. Ramsay in December 1957. The case entered NICAP-era compilations and even appears in a CIA-hosted NICAP index. Fogl later said he had once labelled his own photos a hoax because false information had spread about them, the
Why This Case Matters
A good illustration of how a genuine historical photo can acquire contradictory authenticity claims that cannot be resolved without the original negatives and first publication trail.
Chronology
- Dec 1957 claimed shipboard photo sequence
- images enter UFO press/NICAP circulation
- case indexed in later government-hosted NICAP compilation
- Fogl at one point reportedly calls photos hoax amid dispute
- later interview says he wants to restore original claim
The Witnesses
Evidence
The following evidence types are documented for this case:
Conventional explanations: Hoax/staged object, aircraft or photographic artefact remain viable given contradictory provenance.
What Remains Unresolved
- Original negative
- exact vessel identity/route
- first publication
- why Fogl previously labelled image a hoax
- independent crew statements.
Key Takeaways
- A CIA-hosted NICAP index is not CIA confirmation. The case remains provenance-limited and internally contradictory.
Sources
Primary and secondary sources for this case file: