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Magazine Overview

This issue of 'Historique des Objets Volants Non Identifiés' (History of Unidentified Flying Objects) provides a chronological overview of significant events and discussions related to UFOs, primarily focusing on the 1960s. It highlights the growing public and scientific interest in the phenomenon, alongside specific case studies and archaeological interpretations.

International Congress and Early Cases

The issue begins by referencing an International Congress on Unidentified Flying Objects held in Wiesbaden, Germany, in October, which attracted over 1000 participants and featured Professor Herman Oberth. It then recounts several early incidents:

• January 1, 1961, La Victoria, Venezuela: Adolfo Pisani witnessed a UFO dive towards a truck, causing it to flip over and the driver to be slightly injured. The truck was lifted nearly a meter off the ground.
• January 19, 1961: A U.S. Air Force communiqué stated that no material evidence of 'flying saucers' or 'space vehicles' had ever been found.
• November 1961: Frank Edwards drew a parallel between this statement and Wilbert Smith's account of showing an admiral a small fragment of a flying saucer in 1952.
• June 3, 1961, Savone, Italy: Four people in a boat saw a large bubble on the sea, from which an object emerged, shaped like a cone on a disk, and flew northeast.
• 1961: Carl G. Jung's book 'Un Mythe Moderne' discussed UFOs in terms of hallucinations and psychoses.

The Barney and Betty Hill Abduction

A significant portion of the issue is dedicated to the widely reported abduction of Barney and Betty Hill on the night of September 19, 1961. While driving through the White Mountains, USA, they observed a bright, star-like object that transformed into a cigar-shaped craft. The object landed in a field, and they reported being taken aboard by humanoid beings. After the encounter, they experienced missing time, their watches stopped, and their clocks were off by two hours. The incident led to increasing nervousness and physical ailments for Barney, including unusual warts. They were later interviewed under hypnosis by Dr. Benjamin Simon, who confirmed the consistency of their accounts, despite the lack of definitive explanations.

Further Sightings and Investigations (1961-1963)

The magazine continues to document various sightings and developments:

• Waldo Harris's sighting (October 2, 1961): While flying his private plane in Utah, Harris observed an oscillating object that executed a 'chandelle' maneuver, exceeding his aircraft's speed. Seven witnesses on the ground corroborated the sighting, though authorities attributed it to Venus or a balloon.
• April 18, 1962, Nevada: A blinding flash of light, perceived as a possible atomic explosion, illuminated the sky. Pilots reported chasing an object that seemed to explode.
• July 17, 1962: Major Robert White, piloting an X-15 at 90 km altitude, reported seeing a strange, grayish object in space.
• August 2, 1962, Camba Punat, Argentina: Luis Harvey and airport personnel observed a spherical object hovering near the runway, emitting colored lights.
• September 15, 1962, New Jersey: Two incandescent disks were seen, followed by a circular OVNI that touched down near a reservoir.
• November 8, 1962: The GEPA (Groupement d'Etude des Phénomènes Aériens) was founded in Paris, aiming to conduct scientific investigations into UFOs, distinct from official services.
• December 21, 1963, Buenos Aires: A bright disk was observed approaching the airport.

Scientific and Public Recognition

The issue notes the increasing acceptance of UFOs as a subject of study:

• January 5, 1963: The U.S. National Academy of Sciences published Report 1079, urging a scientific study of extraterrestrial life.
• Barry Goldwater: The Republican senator stated that UFOs 'exist, period.'
• Dr. Carl Sagan: The astronomer acknowledged the existence of unidentified flying objects and was a member of the Space Biology Advisory Committee of NASA.
• 1963: The term 'Unidentified Flying Object' was officially recognized and included in the American language encyclopedia.

Archaeological Interpretations: British Columbia Rock Carvings

A significant section shifts focus to archaeology, presenting findings from British Columbia, Canada. The article, authored by Gérard Landercy and Lucien Clérebaut, discusses rock carvings that bear striking resemblances to modern UFO depictions. These carvings, found at sites like Cayuse Creek and Kootenay Lake, feature figures in what appear to be fusiform craft, some with ejection seats or landing gear. The authors highlight the unique aspect of these Canadian carvings: their relative recentness, dating back to around 1860, unlike similar findings in Tassili, Val Camonica, or Australia, which are thousands of years old. The article presents specific examples, including a carving depicting a sailing ship alongside a classic double-domed flying saucer, and another from a cave on Christina Lake showing a detailed 'disk' with human figures providing scale. The authors suggest these findings imply external intelligence influencing human history.

Further Cases and Developments (1963-1964)

The chronicle of UFO events continues:

• May 1963: Major Gordon Cooper, during his last mission around Earth, reported seeing a UFO near Perth, Australia. He was the first astronaut to witness a UFO in space, but his report was classified.
• June 18, 1963: Astronaut Valeri Bikovky reported being followed by an 'ovoid body' that changed course abruptly.
• October 12, 1963, Venado Tuerto, Argentina: A large, luminous object appeared on a road, and three tall beings in luminous suits emerged from it.
• October 25, 1963: Pilots observed a marked object escorted by a smaller one, which then changed size and disappeared.
• November 16, 1963, Kent, UK: Four young people reported seeing a dark, headless figure with bat-like wings.
• Early 1964: Major Hector V. Quintanilla took over Project Blue Book.
• April 8, 1964: Four unidentified spacecraft were detected by radar, surrounding a Gemini capsule during its orbit.
• April 9, 1964, El Quisco, Chile: Florence Ferrer and his family encountered a bizarre, luminous object that hovered near their car.
• April 11, 1964: A physiotherapist and his family in New York observed a large, white vapor trail followed by a dark spiral cloud that transformed into a vertical, banana-shaped object.
• Ardmore, Oklahoma, USA (April 9, 1964): An anonymous witness reported a bright, central object emerging from a 'cloud,' which then moved and disappeared.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The issue consistently emphasizes the growing body of evidence for UFO phenomena, citing eyewitness accounts from credible individuals, including pilots, scientists, and ordinary citizens. It highlights the limitations of official investigations and the need for more rigorous scientific study. The inclusion of archaeological findings suggests a long-standing presence of anomalous aerial objects or phenomena throughout human history. The editorial stance appears to be one of open inquiry, presenting cases and expert opinions that support the reality of the UFO problem, while acknowledging the challenges and skepticism involved. The magazine aims to inform and provoke thought on a subject that transcends mere science and technology, touching upon philosophical and historical dimensions.

This issue of Inforespace, published by SOBEPS, delves into various UFO phenomena and related scientific and historical topics. The cover story, "Ni cubique, ni salzbourgeois...", addresses the "Salzburg Cube" artifact, clarifying its location and analysis results. The magazine also features photographic evidence of UFOs over Tokyo in 1973 and detailed witness accounts from Brussels in 1972 and Montignies-sur-Sambre, Belgium, in 1965. Scientific articles explore the nature of plasma and its potential connection to UFOs and ball lightning, while also critiquing the plasma hypothesis for UFOs. Book reviews on ancient civilizations and archaeological findings are also included.

Articles

Ni cubique, ni salzbourgeois...

This article debunks common misconceptions about the "Salzburg Cube" artifact. It clarifies that the object, found in 1885 in Austria, was not lost and is currently housed at the Heimathaus in Vöcklabrück. Analysis of a fragment revealed no cobalt, chrome, or nickel, suggesting it was likely a piece of cast iron used as ballast in old mine machinery. The article criticizes the idea that the object was embedded in coal, stating it was likely found among coal pieces. It also notes that the object was temporarily at the Linz museum, not Salzburg, leading to confusion.

Tokyo, Japon, septembre 1973: Un OVNI photographié

This section details an incident on September 19, 1973, where Yoshiaki Kato, a student in Tokyo, photographed UFOs near the Tokyo Tower. While taking photos for a school exhibition, he, his mother, and neighbors observed unexplained aerial phenomena. Three of his photographs clearly show these objects. The article notes that the Tokyo Tower is 333 meters high and has observation platforms at 150 and 230 meters. Due to the lack of precise measurements, the dimensions and altitude of the objects could not be determined.

Un OVNI photographié au-dessus de Bruxelles

This article recounts an observation by M. Saillé in Brussels on July 5, 1972. He witnessed a silver, oval-shaped object oscillating rapidly in the sky. The object reflected sunlight and appeared to be stationary. M. Saillé managed to photograph the object. The article includes a detailed analysis of the photographs and the witness's sketch, attempting to reconstruct the object's trajectory and position. It notes that pigeons reacted to the object's presence, but M. Saillé's dog did not.

Nos enquêtes: Un OVNI photographié au-dessus de Bruxelles (Continued)

This continuation of the Brussels UFO case provides a technical analysis of the photographs and the witness's testimony. The analysis involves projecting the negative onto the witness's drawing, calculating angles and distances, and determining the object's elevation. The article discusses the quality of the photographs and the characteristics of the object, noting its unusual behavior and the lack of sound or smell. It concludes that while the case has many guarantees of authenticity, it leaves the dossier open for further explanation.

Plasma and UFOs

This section explores the potential connection between plasma phenomena and UFOs. It discusses the characteristics of plasmas, their instability, and the extreme conditions required for their formation in laboratory settings. The author, Michel Bougard, argues that explaining UFOs solely as plasmas is an "utopia" due to the quantitative discrepancies. The article also touches upon ball lightning, presenting various hypotheses for its origin, including plasma and radio waves.

Un « toit lumineux » dans le ciel

This article details an observation by M. A.G. in Montignies-sur-Sambre, Belgium, on December 15, 1965. The witness described a luminous, rectangular "roof" shape in the sky, with a blue ridge and colored "slopes" that changed from white to yellow, orange, and red. The object appeared to be viewed from below and was estimated to be about 1500 meters away. The phenomenon lasted for about 12 minutes, followed by a brief red glow in the clouds. The witness initially considered a connection to the US space program but later thought it might be a "flying saucer." The article includes a critical analysis of the observation, considering natural explanations and potential psychological factors, but finds the testimony credible due to its detailed nature and the unusual description of the object.

Service Librairie

This section lists recent books available for purchase from SOBEPS, including "Les Civilisations des Étoiles" by Marcel Moreau and "Nouvelles Recherches sur l'Île de Pâques" by Jean-Michel Schwartz.

Avis

This section announces a guided visit to the Royal Observatory of Uccle for SOBEPS members on May 19 and 26.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The magazine consistently explores unexplained aerial phenomena (UFOs/OVNIs) with a critical yet open-minded approach. It prioritizes witness testimony, photographic evidence, and scientific analysis, while also debunking misinformation and exploring potential explanations, including natural phenomena like plasma and ball lightning. The editorial stance appears to be one of thorough investigation and a commitment to presenting detailed accounts of sightings and related research, encouraging reader participation and further inquiry. There is a clear interest in historical cases and scientific correlations, as seen in the articles on primhistory and the "Salzburg Cube."

This issue of OVNI magazine, dated July-August 1973, features a cover story titled "Une bulle orange à Chaudfontaine" (An orange bubble in Chaudfontaine) and includes several international reports on UFO phenomena.

Chaudfontaine Sighting

The main article details an observation made on Saturday, December 9, 1972, around 7:30 AM in Chaudfontaine, Belgium, near a locality called "La Béole." The witness, Mlle M.-P. Joiret, a young woman of about fifteen, described seeing a yellowish-reddish, orange-sized luminous bubble emerge from behind a house roof at low altitude. The object moved silently, emitting sparks every ten seconds without anything falling. The observation lasted about three minutes before the sphere disappeared abruptly about 500 meters away. The witness, who had no prior interest in UFOs, only mentioned the event to her parents several days later. The investigation, conducted six months after the event, found the witness's account to be precise. Her parents are described as educated and from a well-off social background. Mlle Joiret's watch reportedly stopped after the observation, though it's unclear if this was directly related. The object was estimated to be between 50 and 100 meters in altitude, with a diameter of 4 to 8 meters. Its general direction of movement was from west-northwest to east-southeast, aligning with the BAVER line, which is of interest to researchers studying orthotenic lines. The region is also noted for its geological faults and natural 'juvenile' springs. The object's trajectory was similar to a 70 kV high-tension line connecting Romsée to Pepinster. The report also mentions an artificial underground watercourse from the Eupen dam to Seraing, perpendicular to the OVNI's path.

Turin UFO Incident

This section reports on a UFO observed over Turin Airport (Caselle) in December 1973. The account, based on information from the Italian press and correspondents, focuses on the testimony of Riccardo Marano, a 28-year-old pilot flying a Piper Cub. Around 7:00 PM on November 30, while approaching Turin, Marano was alerted by air traffic control to a UFO approximately 400 meters above the ground and 1,200 meters from his position. Guided by the control tower, Marano observed the object, which then moved towards Susa. Radar lost track of the object, but another pilot helped Marano relocate it behind him at an altitude of 3,600 meters, while Marano was flying at 3,000 meters. The object was described as a very bright, white sphere with variable intensity, like a giant neon lamp. Marano attempted to approach it, but the object accelerated rapidly and performed spectacular maneuvers, including dizzying dives and high-speed lateral movements, maintaining a constant distance. Marano pursued the object for about eight minutes until he reached his fuel limit. He estimated its speed to be around 500 km/h, possibly up to 900 km/h, easily outdistancing his aircraft. The object was heading towards Genoa. The testimony was corroborated by radar operators at Caselle Airport, including Colonel Rustichelli, who described it as a luminous point of intensity comparable to a DC-8 or Boeing 707, initially stationary before moving west. Two Alitalia pilots, Tranquillio (DC-9 AZ 043) and Mezzalani (DC-9 AZ 325), also reported observing a similar UFO that evening. Tranquillio described it as a luminous object with intermittent light, while Mezzalani saw a very bright, white or blue object with a fixed, intense light, estimated to be 15 to 20 degrees above the horizon. He noted its size appeared to decrease as it moved southwest. The article also mentions photographs taken on November 25 in Susa by Franco Contin, showing a luminous spot that moved intermittently. Contin and his fiancée observed the object, which later became a bright, white or blue globe, sometimes orange, moving erratically. The object was reportedly detected by military radar, leading to fighter jets being scrambled. An official explanation suggested it was a red hydrogen-filled weather balloon launched from Lyon, found near Villar Fochiardo. The article expresses skepticism about this explanation, given the object's reported speed and maneuvers.

Argentine UFO Sighting

This section presents a testimony from four individuals (MM. Aballay, Martino, Vignoli, and a fourth unnamed person) who were on an excursion in the region bordering San Juan and Rioja provinces, Argentina, near "Agua Hedionda" in the Huaco Faille. On December 11, 1972, at 11:00 PM, they observed a powerful white, "phosphorescent" light on the west side of a mountain, illuminating a rock face. The light sometimes took the form of a perfect triangle. Later, a second light appeared on the south side of the mountain. A high-pitched female cry was heard, causing them to feel uneasy. The light remained fixed. Suddenly, small lights began advancing from inside the Faille at high speed, zigzagging. One light passed a meter away without crashing. The witness, Aballay, then saw a circular "saucer" about 6 to 8 meters in diameter moving slowly towards the north. The group observed this phenomenon until its disappearance behind the mountain. Around 5:00 AM, they saw three flying discs moving rapidly from southwest to northeast, following the path of the larger object. One disc separated from the formation. Aballay described the spectacle as marvelous, superior to anything humanly realizable. He noted the small discs had a color similar to radioactive minerals (uranium green), while the main disc appeared silvery and somewhat transparent. The experience was described as astonishing. The report also mentions that a local gendarmerie chief received numerous other testimonies, and a similar phenomenon was observed in Iglesia.

Mine Encounter in Argentina

In a follow-up to the Argentine sighting, witness Aballay recounts an event from February 1953. While working in a mica mine, he and his cousin Eberto Villafane were hunting for guanacos. Eberto reported being awakened by intense heat and seeing a tall lady in green approaching him. She made a gesture to calm him. He noticed she wore a form-fitting green suit and had snake-like feet with bright, almond-shaped eyes. Frightened, Eberto fled and slept in the open. He also observed that the sheepskins he had been sleeping on had turned a golden, russet color. Aballay states that this account, which he initially found hard to believe, now seems plausible following his own UFO observation.

Yugoslavian Encounter

This case, from October 6-7, 1972, near Ljubljana, Slovenia, involves the sighting of two mysterious "beings." Mme H., a 60-year-old innkeeper, saw two silhouettes walking along a hilltop. They wore white robes reaching the ground, black belts, and round black hats. Their faces were dark, and their size was about one meter tall, with one slightly taller than the other. They walked closely together. Mme H. followed them briefly before returning to her inn. She later learned that the previous evening, children had reported seeing two white silhouettes approaching their house. The children described them as having white hoods and being black otherwise. They were seen in a turnip field, moving slowly, and then appeared to crawl on hands and knees. The children saw them twice, always in the evening. The children also mentioned a Fiat 750 car nearby. The report notes the possibility that the car's headlights might have been mistaken for something else, or that the beings themselves were mistaken for a reduced-size UFO.

Annapurna UFO Ballet

This report details an observation by two young Englishmen, Stephen Gill and Roderick Baird, on April 18, 1972, near Pokhara, Nepal, in the foothills of the Annapurna range. While bathing in Phewa Lake, they observed an unusual aerial phenomenon. Approximately 40 minutes before sunset, Gill saw a swarm of black "points" moving rapidly from south to north, low on the horizon. Baird initially saw nothing but then observed a group of points moving more slowly at a higher altitude. The phenomenon evolved through three stages: first, numerous "swarms" appeared, with V-shaped formations. Then, the points condensed into classic "flying saucers" with discoidal shapes, performing complex maneuvers like hovering and rapid acceleration. The objects were slightly luminous gray and appeared to be slightly transparent. Finally, after 15-20 seconds, the discoidal objects dissipated, leaving behind a smoke-like ring that lasted about twenty seconds. The witnesses managed to take one photograph, which showed a bright, oval point, possibly the result of the sun illuminating the object or the dissipation phase. The editor, Charles Bowen of Flying Saucer Review, was impressed by the witnesses' serious and sober account, finding the event too fantastic to be invented.

Chroniques des OVNI - Central Asia

This section, "Au cœur de l'Asie (2)" (At the heart of Asia (2)), continues a discussion of ancient texts referencing aerial phenomena. It mentions Chinese manuscripts (Chuang-tsu, Liu-shi-ch'un ch'iu, Hua-non-Tsu) describing events in 2346 BC involving multiple suns and calamities. It also references Japanese texts from 712 AD, such as the Kojiki and Nihongi, which recount strange celestial apparitions, including planets appearing to approach and recede, and nine suns appearing in the sky in 9 BC. More recent Japanese accounts from 989 AD and 1015 AD describe round, brilliant objects and objects releasing small spheres. The section also briefly touches upon a 12th-century object found in a mountain in Tibet and a luminous phenomenon observed in 1180 AD. It mentions a 19th-century account of a "ballet" of luminous objects over the Himalayas and a 1361 event involving a "meter" object in Japan.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The magazine consistently features detailed witness testimonies of UFO sightings from around the world, with a particular focus on Europe and South America in this issue. The editorial stance appears to be one of serious investigation and documentation of these phenomena, presenting accounts with a degree of skepticism but also acknowledging their unusual nature. The magazine aims to compile and discuss such facts, encouraging further research and open discussion. The recurring theme is the global prevalence of UFO sightings and the potential for these events to be more than mere misidentifications or hoaxes, often highlighting the detailed nature of the observations and the credibility of the witnesses.