British officials investigating the Loch Ness Monster in the 1960s concluded that film footage probably showed an unidentified living creature beneath the Scottish loch, newly published reports reveal.
The material was examined by workers at the Joint Air Reconnaissance Intelligence Centre (Jaric), after footage captured by the Loch Ness Investigation Bureau (LNIB) was submitted for analysis.
One film, shot in 1960 by former RAF pilot Tim Dinsdale, appeared to show a hump moving across the water. Jaric ruled out the possibility that it depicted a surface vessel or submarine, stating: “The assumption is that it is not a surface vessel. One can presumably rule out the idea that it is any sort of submarine vessel for various reasons, which leaves the conclusion that it is probably is an animate object.”
Experts also examined footage recorded by 17-year-old student Richard Raynor in June 1967. Their report described “some object at the head of the disturbance”, which appeared to break the surface while remaining mainly submerged.
“A possible length for that part of the object which seems to break the surface is in the order of seven feet,” the report said.
The reports are published in A Naturalist’s View of the Loch Ness Enigma, a new book by Loch Ness Monster expert Adrian Shine.
Correspondence included in the book shows that David James, an LNIB founding member and former MP, sent material to defence minister Lord Shackleton. In a letter dated January 1967, Shackleton returned the film and Jaric’s interpretation, describing the report as “extremely interesting”.
Shackleton added: “Our preference would be that you made no public reference to the fact that we have come to this conclusion because we would not wish to find the Ministry of Defence taking sides in a public argument about the possible nature of the underwater population of Loch Ness.”
Alternative explanation for the Loch Ness Monster footage
Despite the official assessment, Shine has offered a different interpretation of the Dinsdale film. After speaking to salmon anglers, he said the movement shown followed a route commonly used by people travelling towards the Moriston River.
He said anglers would cross to the loch’s northern shore, motor against the prevailing south-westerly wind and then drift back while fly-fishing or trolling a lure. “This is the course taken by Dinsdale’s object,” Shine said, adding that the footage was most likely connected to salmon fishing.
