HOAX / FAKECRAFT
The Petit-Rechain Triangle
1990 · Petit-Rechain · Belgium
WHAT IT IS
The iconic photo of the Belgian triangle wave. The photographer confessed in 2011 that it was painted styrofoam — even though the wider wave had radar and pilot witnesses.
THE CASE FOR
For twenty-one years it survived scrutiny and matched the triangle thousands reported during the Belgian wave — which is precisely why it fooled so many.
THE CASE AGAINST
The photographer confessed in 2011 and demonstrated the method: a painted styrofoam triangle. The wave's radar and pilot reports stand apart from it, but the photo itself is closed.
WHERE IT STANDS
Hoax / fake. Shown to be fabricated, or confessed by its maker.
STATUS IS OUR CURRENT ASSESSMENT, NOT A VERDICT · REVIEWED 3 SEPT 2026
THE RECORD
- DATE
- 1990
- PLACE
- Petit-Rechain · Belgium
- RECORDED BY
- Patrick Maréchal
- TECHNICAL
- 35 mm frame, long-ish exposure · confessed styrofoam model, demonstrated on Belgian television, 2011
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