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Magazine Overview

Title: SOBEPS flash
Issue: Semestriel n° 1
Date: Février 1990
Publisher: SOBEPS (Société Belge d'Etude des Phénomènes Spatiaux)
Country: Belgium
Language: French

This issue of SOBEPS flash, published in February 1990, focuses on a significant wave of UFO observations that occurred in Belgium starting in November 1989. It details the organization's response, investigative efforts, and presents various witness accounts and analyses of these events.

Editorial

The editorial, written by Patrick Vidal, acknowledges the surge in UFO sightings across Belgium since November 1989. He thanks the public for their contacts, press clippings, hypotheses, and offers of help. Vidal notes that due to the high volume of cases, it was not possible to respond to everyone individually. By early January, SOBEPS had recorded over 400 cases. The organization experienced a crisis due to the rapid expansion of its investigation network, with about thirty investigators conducting over 140 field inquiries. They also collected ten video films and fifty photos, though most were deemed to offer little interesting information, with the exception of a film by a Dutch engineer and some other photos.

SOBEPS presented a preliminary synthesis of their fieldwork at an important press conference in Brussels on December 18th. Following initial hesitation, military personnel agreed to participate, including Lieutenant-Colonel Debrouwer and Major Stas of the Air Force. The organization's name, SOBEPS, gained significant media attention following the 'Eupen affair'. The Gendarmerie also took an interest, and Lieutenant-Colonel Rousseau, Director of Operations for the Gendarmerie, agreed to transmit information about UFO phenomena via the general staff. Consequently, Gendarmerie brigades were encouraged to report cases, an initiative baptized 'PRESENCE OVNI' by the Gendarmerie. The editorial concludes that the phenomenon remains unidentified and it is too early to draw conclusions about its nature, promising further details in the next issue of INFORESPACE.

29 November 1989: A Busy Day

This section, written by Michel Bougard based on initial field interventions, synthesizes the observations from November 29, 1989, in the Eupen-Verviers region. This text was presented at the December 18th press conference.

Low-Altitude Sightings in the Eupen-Verviers Region

The evening's events began with a significant sighting by gendarmes Heinrich Nicholl and Hubert Von Montigny. At 17:24, while patrolling the N68 road between Eupen and Eynatten, they observed powerful lights illuminating a meadow near the 'Grosse Welde' farm. They saw a stationary, triangular platform with three large white headlights and a flashing red-orange gyroscopic light. The object moved northeast, then, surprisingly, turned back towards Eupen (southwest) around 17:30. The gendarmes pursued the object, which flew at low altitude, likely along the N68 towards Eupen.

To corroborate this, another anonymous witness reported seeing a luminous object with very bright headlights moving slowly between Eynatten and Raeren around 17:13. Initially mistaking it for a helicopter, the witness noted its unusual speed and brightness. At 17:30, stopped at a traffic light in Merols, the witness saw the object again, described as an isosceles triangle with a wide base, three powerful round headlights, and a flashing red light at the rear. It was heading towards Eupen, deviating near the upper town.

Around 17:30, gendarme Gunther Justen, controlling passports at the Eynatten border post, observed two or three white lights flying at 60-70 km/h at an altitude of about 100 meters, about 500 meters away, moving from Germany towards Eynatten.

Around 18:00, Jean-Marie Demoulin reported three circular white lights coming from Kettenis towards the Eupen train station. He described a rounded front with slight thickness and noted a low 'wind noise' as the object passed overhead. The object appeared to have a large underside and moved at about 60-70 km/h. Demoulin observed it make a turn, possibly near the railway bridge, and head towards Eupen's town hall.

At 17:30, M. and Mme. A., leaving a shop in Eupen, saw an object with three powerful headlights heading towards the police building's antenna, making a curve towards the Gileppe dam. The object crossed the Rue de Verviers at a low altitude, over the rooftops. They initially thought it was a helicopter but dismissed the idea due to its details: a sharp-edged triangle with several vertical, elongated, orange-colored windows on its upper part, two forward headlights illuminating the ground, and a central red light flashing every second.

Gendarmes Nicholl and von Montigny had alerted their colleague, Albert Creutz, at the Eupen dispatching center. While pursuing the object, they stopped near Membach, at Kortenbach (site 7). The object continued towards the Gileppe dam. Around 18:00, Creutz also spotted the phenomenon in the same direction. He contacted Elsenborn camp, Bierset base, and meteorological services. At 18:15, Creutz observed the object moving diagonally and being replaced by a second object.

M. Creutz continued his observation, describing a quadrilateral object, 6-8 meters wide, with four bright white lights covering most of its surface, moving slowly at 100-150 meters altitude towards Lontzen (site 6). This object was possibly the one observed by Nicholl and von Montigny around 18:45, described as a large, slightly tilted triangle moving at high speed towards the E40 motorway in the direction of the north. M. Eric Lebon in Baelen (site 8) observed a similar triangular object around 18:45, emitting a slight 'sewing machine' sound, moving from Dolhain towards Baelen and then turning towards the autoroute. Mme. Christine Hauglustaine in Baelen also saw an 'airplane-like' object with bright headlights and a pulsing orange light, moving slowly and silently from Dolhain towards Eupen.

Several gendarmerie patrols were alerted. Gendarmes Peter Nicholl and Lieter Plumans, controlling traffic on the road to Moresnet (site 10), observed an object with large headlights moving towards Montzen station around 19:20. They initially thought it was an AWACS, despite its low speed and silence. After the object disappeared, they contacted dispatching for instructions and headed towards Henri-Chapelle, stopping near the 'Belœil' home.

Meanwhile, two boys, Ture Schmidt and Adrian Hoffman, aged 13, observed three white lights moving southwest to northeast near Lontzen (site 11). They described a flat disc with a slight dome, which turned and returned, emitting a light 'whirring' sound. The object then moved southwest at about 80 km/h, with its central light extinguishing and reappearing brighter, showing 5-10 small lights underneath and a red light.

Around 19:00, several inhabitants of La Calamine observed a dark, round mass with four white lights directed downwards and a red light in the center. It moved silently and slowly, reportedly from the Netherlands towards Eupen (site 12). Simultaneously, M. Coenrats saw a luminous object appear suddenly at an altitude of 300-400 meters, followed by four large projectors directed at the ground. He was momentarily blinded by a light beam. The phenomenon then moved rapidly towards Eupen, becoming a uniform luminous mass.

Around 19:10, M. Charles Nicolae observed a triangle of lights emitting a faint whistling sound on the road from Hergenrath to Lontzen.

At approximately 19:30, gendarmes Nicholl and Plumans, parked near the 'Belœil' home (site 13), observed an object with three white lights and a pulsing red light, estimated to be less than 100 meters away. The object's headlights were dazzling, and M. Peter Nicholl thought he saw something rotating at the rear, like a turbine, and heard a 'fan' sound. The object's wingspan was estimated at 15 meters. It hovered near the road before moving towards the Battice interchange.

A witness, M. 'C', a shopkeeper in Verviers, reported seeing a circle of six to eight large white lights, 30-40 cm in diameter, moving slowly (10-15 km/h) and silently at an altitude of about 40 meters on Rue Masson around 21:45 on October 12, 1989. He described a sensation of a massive object above the lights. The phenomenon disappeared quickly. Later, a young man, M. 'S', who had also witnessed the event, described a large saucer-shaped object (see drawing, page 10). A couple from Olne also reported seeing a similar phenomenon that evening, moving slowly towards Verviers.

OVNI au pays des Soviets (UFO in the Land of the Soviets)

This article discusses the extraordinary announcement by the Soviet news agency TASS on October 9th regarding the landing of an unknown spacecraft in a park in central Russia. The report notes contradictions in various press dispatches from agencies like Reuter, Associated Press, AFP, and TASS, making it difficult to ascertain the precise sequence of events on September 27, 1989, in Voronej.

The Facts

On September 27, 1989, around 18:30, in Voronej, a city of 900,000 inhabitants known for its chemical and aeronautical industries, three young boys playing football in a park noticed a pink light in the sky. This evolved into a Bordeaux-colored sphere, about 10 meters in diameter, described by some as a banana-shaped object that rotated and then hovered above the park. A hatch opened, and a tall being (approximately three meters) with three eyes, wearing a silver suit and bronze boots, emerged. The being was accompanied by a smaller entity, possibly a robot. The humanoid spoke, and a luminous triangle appeared on the ground. The being touched the robot's chest, and the robot moved. The crowd reacted with fear, and the sphere, with its occupants, took off. It reappeared five minutes later. This time, the being was armed with a half-meter-long rod, which it pointed at an adolescent who then disappeared, reappearing only after the humanoid boarded the craft and it took off.

Residents of Poutiline Street reportedly observed UFOs multiple times between September 23rd and 29th.

The article highlights the discrepancies in witness numbers (from forty to a crowd) and the description of the object (banana-shaped versus sphere). Reuter reported three successive landings, while other dispatches mentioned three flyovers.

Investigation or Bio-Localization

Following the landing, M. Guenrikh Silanov, head of the investigation commission, reportedly used a copper rod (radiesthesia) to reconstruct the path of the humanoid. Investigators identified a landing site with a diameter of about 20 meters. Within this area, they found indentations 4-5 cm deep and 14-16 cm in diameter, forming a diamond shape. A commission member suggested these corresponded to an 11-ton craft. Magnetic anomalies were detected, and a 20 cm deep hole was found where the being had interacted with the adolescent. Ludmilla Marakova, a local militia official, reported abnormally high radioactivity levels (three times the normal rate) at the site.

Lena Sarokina, one of the few children who came forward, provided statements that did not add new elements.

Don't Believe Everything TASS Says!

Guenrikh Silanov refuted claims by TASS that rock samples found at the site indicated an unknown substance. According to Silanov, the material was iron ore, and the landing trace could be due to a leaking underground pipe, reservoir, or a geological phenomenon.

Il n'y a pas eu d'extra-terrestres à Voronej (There were no extra-terrestrials in Voronej)

This article summarizes the findings of a Soviet investigation commission in late October, led by Igor Sarotsev, vice-rector of Voronej University. The commission concluded that no anomalies were found in the soil or vegetation at the site. The elevated cesium levels were attributed to the Chernobyl catastrophe. Sixteen radiometric analyses, nine soil examinations, nine micro-organism studies, and twenty spectro-chemical analyses yielded no positive results.

Commentary

Patrick Vidal notes the difficulty in determining the true version of events due to contradictory information from news dispatches. He points out that the young witnesses admitted to being science fiction fans, and the adult testimonies were vague. While the local rumor mill may have exaggerated the facts, Vidal argues that this does not negate the possibility of a UFO event. He questions whether the commission's reductionist approach denies the reality of a ufological fact or represents a return to reality and scientific rigor.

Sources consulted include press dispatches from Reuter, TASS, Associated Press, AFP, Soviet press (SOVIETSKAIA KOULTURA), West German press (BILD), and correspondence with T. Mehner.

Discovery, Quoi de Neuf? (Discovery, What's New?)

This section briefly covers a few unrelated UFO-related news items.

• Radio Transmission: A radio amateur reportedly intercepted a transmission from the space shuttle Discovery on March 14, 1989, stating, "Houston, Discovery. We still have the 'alien' spaceship in sight!" The NASA response on April 12, 1989, dismissed this as a hoax by a radio amateur on frequency 147.47 MHz. Ufologist Bruce Maccabee's comparative analysis of crew voices suggested the voice might belong to Dr. Bagian, a medical specialist, but NASA and Dr. Bagian's truth remains unconfirmed.
• LDLN: The magazine praises LDLN, issue 299, for a Polish investigation case described as a model of analysis.
• UFORIC: A new Canadian group, UFORIC (Union of French-speaking UFO Investigators), specializing in abduction cases, is introduced.

L'humanoïde d'Ikley Moor, un agent d'assurance? (The Ikley Moor Humanoid, an Insurance Agent?)

This article revisits the RR-3 case of Ikley Moor from December 1, 1987, in the UK. It mentions that investigators from NUFON and MUFORA presented a detailed article in their publications. John Rimmer, director of the magazine MAGONIA, expressed his belief that the case was likely a hoax. An article in the British newspaper 'Star' on July 2, 1989, suggested the photographed humanoid was actually Jack McHale, an insurance agent, photographed without his knowledge while making his rounds. The article questions how experienced investigators could have been fooled by such a mundane explanation.

Book Review: Autres Dimensions by Jacques Vallée

This section reviews Jacques Vallée's book, which examines twenty years of UFO research. Vallée proposes a theory of 'triple camouflage' for these phenomena, concluding that 'visits from another world' are neither imaginary nor of extraterrestrial origin. The review describes Vallée's conclusion as original, surprising, and provocative, potentially altering our conception of science and ourselves. The book is available for 650 FB via SOBEPS bank accounts.

Enquête à Verviers: "Toi aussi tu as vu la soucoupe...?" (Investigation in Verviers: "You saw the saucer too...?"')

This article details an observation on October 12, 1989, at 21:45 in Verviers. Monsieur 'C', a shopkeeper, noticed a crowd and police vehicles near a fire at the Tandy store. He observed people looking not at the fire, but upwards. He then followed a group towards Rue Masson, where he witnessed a startling phenomenon: a circle of six to eight large white lights, 30-40 cm in diameter, moving slowly (10-15 km/h) and silently at an altitude of about 40 meters. He felt a sensation of a massive object above the lights. The phenomenon disappeared quickly. Later, a young man, M. 'S', approached 'C', asking if he had seen the 'saucer'. M. 'S' described a large saucer-shaped object from a nearby vantage point, corroborating 'C's' estimated altitude and the phenomenon's location. The article notes that M. 'S' is a science fiction enthusiast. A couple from Olne also reported seeing a similar phenomenon that evening, moving slowly towards Verviers. The article concludes that the phenomenon, given the number of witnesses and descriptions, remains unidentified, despite official explanations suggesting it might have been an AWACS aircraft, which the authors find unlikely given its low altitude, slow speed, and silence.

En Bref (In Brief)

• Blackpool, UK (July 5, 1989): A witness reported seeing an orange sphere-like object moving rapidly, then stopping and moving again at high speed. Shortly after, a 'Tornado' interceptor jet was seen flying low, followed by a flash and smoke. The witness claims the jet fired an air-to-air missile at the UFO.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The recurring themes in this issue are the detailed reporting of UFO sightings, particularly the wave in Belgium in late 1989, and the investigation into specific cases, such as the Voronej incident. The magazine emphasizes the importance of witness testimony, the challenges of verification due to conflicting reports, and the role of organizations like SOBEPS in collecting and analyzing data. The editorial stance appears to be one of open inquiry, presenting evidence and witness accounts while acknowledging the difficulty in definitively identifying the phenomena. There is a clear effort to present a scientific approach, even when discussing seemingly extraordinary events, and to critically evaluate information from various sources, including official agencies and news outlets.