Extraterrestres, Les - Series 1 - No 14 - juillet 197

Magazine Overview

Title: LES EXTRATERRESTRES

Issue: N. 14

Date: JUILLET (July) 1971

Publisher: REVUE INTERNATIONALE

Type: BIMENSUEL (Bi-monthly)

Price: 3 F Francais

Country of Publication: France

Original Language: French

Cover Headline: SPÉCIAL ROUMANIE: Ce que les Roumains pensent des UFO's

Special Romania: What Romanians Think About UFOs

This section details the burgeoning interest in UFOs within Romania and Eastern Europe, contrasting it with the situation in Western countries. It highlights the publication of Ion Hobana's book, "Ozn O Sfidare Pentru Ratiunea Umana," in Romania and its collaboration with Juli en Weverbergt in Holland. The article notes the scarcity of UFO literature in Eastern Europe, mentioning only two known books: Dr. Menzel's "Flying Saucer" (available only on the black market in Russia) and Wenceslas Patrovsky's "Het Raadsel Van de Vliegende Schotels" (which sold out quickly).

Ion Hobana and Julien Weverbergt planned to publish a book on the history of UFOs worldwide after 1966. The article anticipates that Hobana's new book, with an initial print run of 20,000 copies, would sell out in just two days, indicating a significant public interest.

The author, Julien Weverbergt, states that his opinion on the public's interest is based on the general climate rather than sensational observations. He notes that in 1967, UFOs were not a topic of discussion in Romania, and due to foreign currency restrictions, foreign publications were not imported. This meant Romanians were unaware of global UFO discussions and observations occurring at the time.

UFO Observations and Media Coverage in Romania

Julien Weverbergt explains how information spreads rapidly through word-of-mouth in Western countries, a phenomenon that also began to influence Romania. He recounts how Ion Hobana, the science editor for "Scinteia," cautiously began publishing articles on UFOs in 1967. Hobana's writings, including those in "Science Fiction," led him to frequently visit Western Europe and become a passionate believer in UFOs.

By 1967, the USSR had lifted its ban on UFO publications, and even published its own articles, leading Romanian authorities to permit Hobana's publications. Hobana wrote about UFO history as it unfolded in other countries, receiving hundreds of letters detailing observations. His most interesting accounts attracted further correspondence, creating a significant volume of communication.

Romanian UFO observations were described as similar to those reported globally, involving various witnesses like civilians, military personnel, engineers, and pilots. A key event was the photography of a UFO in the shape of a saucer in Cluj in August 1968. These photos were considered very clear and resembled a UFO photographed by Heflin in California in 1965. One of these photos was published in "Vrij Nederland" in January 1970, and the full series appeared in "Flying Saucer Review" in November/December 1969.

Engineer Florin Gheorghitsa examined the Cluj sighting. In September 1969, another UFO was filmed above Cluj by Romanian TV (16mm black and white) and by the Buftea film industry (35mm color). While the object was clearly conical, the author suggests it could have been a balloon, though it remained stationary for too long. Notably, no balloons were released in Romania at that time, and the theory of a Hungarian balloon for atmospheric radioactivity measurement was rejected by meteorologists.

This film was confiscated by Romanian authorities, along with the 35mm color film. The author expresses skepticism about a "grand conspiracy," attributing the loss to "incapacity and indifference."

A healthy ufological climate began to develop in Romania, with discussions held respectfully. Romanian authorities permitted these discussions as long as foreign governments were not criticized. Public interest was further heightened by a televised debate in February 1970, featuring Ion Hobana and the director of the Bucharest Observatory. Spectators could participate by phone, and Hobana remained calm and composed, citing the "Condon Report" in his responses.

The debate highlighted common remarks from astronomers and spectators: no astronomer had observed a UFO, no radar sightings were reported, and no photos were taken seriously by investigators. The "Condon Report" offered standard answers to these points, similar to those in a letter by Professor Hynek published in "Science" in October 1966.

The astronomer's performance was criticized, while Hobana's calm and self-critical attitude gained him support. The article notes that no private or official ufological groups existed in Romania at that time, as private associations were prohibited. The formation of such a group would require official recognition, which authorities were hesitant to grant without approval from Moscow.

Intercontinental Network for UFO Research and Analysis: The Mathews Case

This section details a significant UFO case involving a film taken by Mathews in Alberton, Australia, in the spring of 1968. Mathews, a 37-year-old building contractor, filmed what reputed UFO experts believe to be an interplanetary spacecraft. He was initially unaware of the significance of the footage, which was shot on a Bolex 8mm camera.

Mathews did not attach importance to the filming at the time and could not recall the exact time or date. He remembered filming a family outing in the Adelaide hills earlier that day. Later, between 8 and 10 PM, while checking his camera equipment, he noticed the film charger's spring was too tight. He pointed his camera at a bright spot in the sky and zoomed in, thinking it might be a star.

When the film was developed in January 1969, the Mathews family watched the projection. Between shots of bees and children playing, a brief, bluish, luminous flash appeared on the screen for about 3 seconds. Mathews initially dismissed it as a film defect. Upon closer examination, he realized the object was annular, emitting a bright bluish light and appearing stationary with several round lights on its periphery. He speculated it might be a UFO with "portholes."

He showed the film to the secretary of a UFO research center, who was astonished and suggested Mathews contact Captain Bruce L. Cathie in New Zealand.

Captain Cathie, a highly qualified UFO expert and former pilot, was then a consultant for the New Zealand government on UFO affairs. He received 20 of the 52 images from Mathews' film and declared, "It is certainly not a hoax. It is an authentic photo of an extraterrestrial space vehicle. It is the most interesting photo I have seen in 17 years of UFO research."

Cathie presented the film and his observations to Major Colman Von Keviczky, founder and director of ICUFON (Intercontinental UFO Research and Analysis Network) in New York, an organization with 100,000 international members. ICUFON took charge of investigating the phenomenon.

Major Von Keviczky, a former Hungarian officer with a background in science and mechanical engineering, specialized in photographic techniques. He worked to enlarge the images from the 8mm film, which showed the object as a "pinprick." The Zeiss company, known for its microscopes, assisted by advising Mathews to take the film to Julius Weber Laboratories for specialized photographic analysis.

After extensive work, the laboratory produced black and white prints of each frame, enlarging the "pinprick" a thousand times. Major Von Keviczky concluded that the object appeared to be an "annular vehicle without wings, propelled by a turbine engine," emitting a bluish light. He stated that it could not be identified as any known terrestrial vehicle, military or civil, and its self-illumination was unlike standard aviation lights. He also noted that a meteor or satellite could not remain stationary for such a brief period or appear so clearly on film.

Based on the complete analysis of the original film and the photographer's position, ICUFON concluded that the photographed vehicle "most probably has an extraterrestrial origin."

Other UFO experts, including Karl L. Veit (President of a major European research group) and Harrison A. Hoffman (an engineer with 20 years of UFO study), also participated in the analysis.

Ellis Mathews expressed his satisfaction with the event, hoping his film would contribute to solving the mystery of UFOs for science and humanity.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The magazine consistently focuses on UFO phenomena, with this issue specifically highlighting the situation in Romania and Eastern Europe. There's a clear interest in documenting UFO sightings, photographic and film evidence, and the analysis of such materials by experts. The editorial stance appears to be one of open inquiry into the UFO phenomenon, presenting evidence and expert opinions without outright dismissal, while also acknowledging the need for rigorous scientific analysis. The magazine also seems to promote international collaboration in UFO research, as evidenced by the Mathews case analysis involving researchers from multiple countries and organizations like ICUFON.