AESV - no 13

Magazine Overview

This issue of the A.E.S.V. bulletin, titled 'L'ASSOCIATION D'ÉTUDE SUR LES SOUCOUPES VOLANTES' (Association for the Study of Flying Saucers), is the 13th issue of its 5th year, dated January 1980. Published quarterly by A.E.S.V. in France, it covers a period of significant UFO activity and ufological developments.

Main Cover Story: Abduction in Cergy Pontoise?

The prominent cover headline asks about an alleged abduction in Cergy Pontoise, France. The article details the case of Franck Fontaine, who reportedly claimed to have been abducted by a UFO on November 26, 1979. The incident involved two witnesses and led to a gendarmerie investigation. The article expresses skepticism about the case, suggesting it might be a hoax or exaggerated, partly due to the involvement of individuals and media seeking to commercialize UFO stories. It notes the involvement of GEPAN (Groupement d'Etude des Phénomènes Aerospatiaux Non-identifiés) in the investigation.

The Recent Franco-Spanish Wave

The issue extensively documents a wave of UFO sightings that occurred in France and Spain during October, November, and December 1979. Numerous reports are detailed, including:

• October 9: UFOs observed over 'Les Communautés' in Saône et Loire, France.
• October 10: A UFO sighted over Alsace, France.
• October 20: A spherical object with a trailing light observed over Masevaux, France.
• November 1: A red-orange UFO seen over Floudes, France.
• November 10: Alleged UFO photographs taken from 'Phantoms' aircraft in Spain, corroborated by visual sightings.
• November 11: Four UFOs reportedly forced a TAE caravelle to land in Valencia, Spain.
• November 13: A bright delta-shaped object observed moving rapidly between Morlaix and Landivisian, France.
• November 16: Numerous luminous points observed over Marseille, France.
• November 18: A military man reported seeing a green fluorescent ball-shaped object with a tail over Thionville, France.
• November 20: A luminous oval object observed over Costhum, Luxembourg, emitting a sound.
• November 20: A diamond-shaped object observed at tree-top level near Balledent, France.
• November 25: A luminous red-orange saucer-shaped object observed in Thenay, France.
• November 26: The alleged abduction of Franck Fontaine in Cergy Pontoise, France.
• November 26: A white, blinding light observed over Tilh, France.
• November 27: A large cigar-shaped object with red and white flashing lights landed in a field near Montlieu, France, leaving traces.
• November 28: Thousands of witnesses in Madrid, Spain, observed a circular UFO.
• November 29: A blue light source observed near Fousseret, France, emitting a white light beam.
• November 29: Multiple sightings of a UFO over the Logrono province, Spain, which changed color before disappearing.
• December 1: A witness in Annot, France, was followed by a bright fireball-shaped sphere.
• December 3: Franck Fontaine reappeared at the location of his alleged disappearance with amnesia.
• December 4: A witness reported an orange ball-shaped UFO that 'swallowed' a vehicle and then followed the witness's car.
• December 8: A fighter pilot reported seeing a UFO resembling a half-moon or cigar taking off.
• December 8: Two bright balls observed at high speed near Vitry sur Seine, France.
• December 24: Numerous witnesses in Castrocontrigo, Spain, observed a UFO that disappeared, leaving a multicolored trail.
• December 28: A cigar-shaped object with a blue fringe and a projector-like beam was observed near Bois-d'Arcy and Plaisir, France.
• December 29: Police officers observed a UFO in Dammarie les Lys, France.
• December 30: Witnesses, including a firefighter and two gendarmes, observed a UFO over Creil, France.
• December 31: Two UFOs observed over Castrocontrigo, Spain.

Ufological Activities in Switzerland

The bulletin highlights several ufological events in French-speaking Switzerland:

• University Course on UFOs: Professor Georges Hartmann (Dr.ès sciences politiques et économiques) gave a four-session course on the UFO phenomenon at the Fribourg University from October to November 1979. The course covered theoretical aspects, statistics, and physical evidence, including humanoids, photos, films, radar detections, and physiological effects. It also touched upon government attitudes towards UFOs and mentioned the U.S. Air Force's offer for a UFO photo negative.
• Mouvement Raëlien: The article critiques the 'Mouvement Raëlien' (Raëlian Movement), describing it as an 'interplanetary travel agency' that claims extraterrestrial contact. It discusses their conferences, the founder C. Vorilhon's claims of contact, and the movement's ideology, which the author views as a form of 'geniocracy' and a materialistic interpretation of religion.
• Fifth ASC RU Meeting: The meeting in Lausanne on November 17, 1979, discussed proposals for a bimonthly information bulletin for ASC RU members and the preparation of a lecture tour by Michel Figuet in the French-speaking cantons.
• J. Guieu's Conference: International lecturer J. Guieu presented a conference in Switzerland, discussing various UFO cases, including the 'nacelle du Cotentin,' humanoids from Belo Horizonte, and observations by astronauts. The article expresses skepticism about a specific 'contactee' case presented by Guieu.
• Richard Bessière's Tour: Ufologist Richard Bessière conducted a tour in Switzerland, presenting information on UFOs and extraterrestrials. The article criticizes the quality of his presentations and the sensationalist nature of some of his claims.
• G.U.B. Exhibition: The G.U.B. (Groupement Ufologique Bullois) organized an exhibition titled 'Lee OVNI, une réalité' (UFOs, a reality) in Bulle from December 15 to January 1, 1980. The exhibition covered the history, interpretations, and evidence related to UFOs.
• Michel Figuet's Lecture: Michel Figuet gave a lecture in Bulle, praised for its serious and objective approach to ufology, contrasting with sensationalist reports. He discussed statistics, GEPAN, and the recent UFO wave in France.

Other Sections

• Editorial: The editorial reflects on the past year (1979) as a good year for A.E.S.V. and ufology in general, highlighting the establishment of the AESV-Suisse catalogue, the special issue on Jean Miguères, the creation of ASC RU, participation in the BUFORA congress, and preparations for a public stand in Aix-en-Provence. It also mentions increased international relations and the need for continued support.
• AESV Secretariat: Contact information for the general secretariat in Aix-en-Pce, and branches in Switzerland and Belgium, as well as a delegate for Spain.
• Subscriptions: Details on subscription rates for the bulletin in France, Switzerland, and Belgium.
• Affiliations: AESV France is affiliated with the Fédération Française d'Etude des Phénomènes Spatiaux, and AESV Suisse with the Association Suisse de coordination de la Recherche Ufologique.
• 'Au coin de la page' (In the Corner of the Page): This section reviews J. Allen Hynek's book 'Nouveau Dossier sur les OVNI' (New Dossier on UFOs), criticizing the handling of cases in the Blue Book project and suggesting a cover-up by higher authorities.
• 'APPEL' (Appeal): The VERONICA group (Nimes, France) is seeking documents for a documentary film on UFOs, offering the film in exchange for contributions.
• 'Nous Recevons' (We Receive): A list of ufological organizations and publications from France, Canada, Germany, Denmark, Norway, Switzerland, Belgium, England, Italy, Spain, Portugal, Australia, Luxembourg, and New Jersey.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The recurring themes in this issue are the documentation of UFO sightings, particularly during a recent wave in France and Spain, and the critical analysis of ufological cases and organizations. The editorial stance appears to be one of promoting serious, scientific ufological research, while being skeptical of sensationalism, hoaxes, and commercial exploitation of the UFO phenomenon. There is a clear emphasis on factual reporting and investigation, as seen in the detailed accounts of sightings and the critical reviews of books and lectures. The publication also aims to foster collaboration among ufological groups and inform the public.

Title: Les Cahiers de l'Unexplained
Issue: 21
Volume: 2
Date: February 1980
Publisher: Observatoire des Parasciences
Country: France
Language: French

This issue of "Les Cahiers de l'Unexplained" (Issue 21, February 1980) delves into the complex world of UFO phenomena, featuring a critical perspective from scientist Carl Sagan, an in-depth look at the French GEPAN research program, and reports on unusual aerial observations.

Article: Carl Sagan on UFOs

The magazine presents an excerpt from a Readers Digest article by Carl Sagan, who is described as an "authentic savant." Sagan criticizes the rise of charlatanism cloaked in pseudo-scientific language, specifically targeting UFO phenomena. He dissects alleged scientific "hoaxes" and hidden mysticism behind so-called "pseudo-sciences," extending his critique to flying saucers and the "Bermuda triangles." Sagan offers a dismissive explanation for UFO sightings, suggesting they might be mere reflections of car headlights on clouds or powerful projectors used for meteorological observations. The author of the magazine article finds this explanation "a bit light" for an "authentic savant."

Article: VERONICA Bulletin and UFO Publications

VERONICA is announced to be publishing a bi-annual information bulletin called "VERO-INFO." The magazine also lists several UFO-related publications that have been received, including "TELEX UFO" from Spain, "JOURNAL UFO" from Canada, and "Parapsychologie" and "Idées pour Tous" from France.

Incident Report: Bouches du Rhone

A "LAST MINUTE" report calls for individuals who observed unusual phenomena in the sky over the Bouches du Rhone region between Wednesday, February 6th, and Sunday, February 10th, 1980, to contact the AESV of Aix. The AESV has already initiated an investigation into these events.

GEPAN: A Structured Approach to UFO Research

A significant portion of the magazine is dedicated to explaining the GEPAN (Groupe d'Etudes des Phénomènes Aérospatiaux Non identifiés) program, based at the Centre National d'Etudes Spatiales (CNES) in Toulouse, France. The program, currently managed by Alain Esterle, aims to study unidentified aerospace phenomena through a structured, multi-level approach.

GEPAN's Three Levels of Study:

1. Level 1: Data Collection: This involves gathering existing witness testimonies from various sources like the military and private groups, and also seeking to obtain new types of more precise data, potentially through specialized detection equipment or devices like optical diffraction networks, which GEPAN has helped develop.
2. Level 2: Pre-processing of Data: This stage focuses on preparing the collected data for scientific analysis. It includes analyzing documents to determine if an observation is natural or artificial and then classifying and coding the information for statistical processing. GEPAN acknowledges that its current methods are not perfect and are being refined for better compatibility with future data exchange.
3. Level 3: Scientific Development: This level involves developing scientific studies based on the processed data. While many have focused on statistical analysis, GEPAN intends to explore other aspects. Specifically, GEPAN will focus on statistical techniques and will prepare comprehensive dossiers on various aspects of the UFO problem. These dossiers will include case studies, relevant theories, interpretations, and studies from other scientific fields that might shed light on UFO observations. These dossiers are intended to serve as foundational material for research centers.

GEPAN's Publications:

GEPAN is also producing "Notes Techniques" (paid, 10 F) and "Notes d'Information" (free). "Notes Techniques" detail GEPAN's own research, while "Notes d'Information" summarize external theoretical or practical work relevant to the UFO problem. These are available through the CNES/RPE.

Collaboration and Future Prospects:

GEPAN is seeking collaboration with private groups, both in France and abroad, to develop studies on specific aspects of UFO phenomena. The goal is to compile base dossiers and then have them developed by competent research centers. The magazine expresses hope that this collaboration will lead to new progress in understanding the UFO problem.

Themes and Editorial Stance

This issue strongly advocates for a scientific and structured approach to the study of UFO phenomena, as exemplified by the GEPAN program. It contrasts this with what it perceives as pseudo-scientific charlatanism, as critiqued by Carl Sagan. The magazine appears to be a platform for disseminating information about ongoing research, encouraging collaboration among researchers and groups, and providing a space for reporting unusual observations. The editorial stance leans towards a serious, albeit cautious, investigation of the unexplained, emphasizing the need for rigorous methodology and data analysis.