Loch Ness Monster - 1970 US Science Team

In 1970, after almost 40 years of sightings reported by reputable witnesses, Loch Ness was visited by a well-equipped expedition, consisting of members of the Boston-based Academy of Applied Science in cooperation with the British Loch Ness Investigation Bureau.

The team's primary mission was to find evidence of large, moving objects in the loch. Using a new high-frequency, side-scan sonar designed by underwater engineer Martin Klein, himself on the scene as one of the academy's monster hunters, the investigators made a number of intriguing contacts with moving but un­identifiable targets of various sizes.

At the end of October a series of particularly suc­cessful sonar hits was made while the apparatus was rigged near a pier in Urquhart Bay. Something massive moved through the sonar beam not far from the pier. Then, at successive intervals of 10 or 15 minutes, similar but larger objects were detected from greater distances. Whatever they were, these objects apparently moved of their own accord and were from 10 to 50 times larger than the fish registered by the apparatus.

The contacts were compelling if not conclusive evidence of large, mysterious creatures in Loch Ness. (Technology Review, 8:27, March-April 1976; telephone interview with Martin Klein, Salem, New Hampshire)