On May 11, 1950, a farming couple, Paul and Evelyn Trent, took two photographs of a metallic, disc-shaped object over their farm near McMinnville, Oregon. The images, which were published in Life magazine, became some of the most famous and debated UFO photographs in history.1 The Trent photos are considered by many to be compelling evidence of unidentified aerial phenomena, and they have been subject to intense scrutiny and analysis for decades.2
The Sighting
Evelyn Trent was the first to spot the slow-moving, silent object. She called to her husband, Paul, who grabbed their Kodak Roamer camera and took two pictures from different positions in his yard.3 The first photo shows the object with a distinct metallic sheen and a mast-like structure on top. The second photo, taken moments later, shows the object tilted at an angle. Shortly after the second photo was taken, the object reportedly accelerated and disappeared to the west.1
Investigation and Debate
The Trents were hesitant to publicize the photos, but they were eventually published in the local McMinnville Telephone-Register and then picked up by the national media.3 The Condon Committee, a US Air Force-funded study, analyzed the negatives in the 1960s and found no evidence of a hoax.4 Later, optical physicist Bruce Maccabee conducted his own extensive analysis and also concluded the photos were authentic.2 Skeptics, however, have long argued the object was a model hanging from a wire, citing inconsistencies in lighting and shadows.5 Despite the debate, the Trents maintained the truth of their story for the rest of their lives, and the McMinnville UFO Festival is held annually to commemorate the event.3