Extraterrestres, Les - Series 2 - No 12 - octobre 1979

Magazine Overview

Title: Les EXTRATERRESTRES
Issue Date: October 1979
Issue Number: 12
Price: 10 Frs (France), 15 Frs (Other countries)
ISSN: 0399-5216

This issue of "Les EXTRATERRESTRES" magazine delves into the realm of unidentified flying objects (UFOs) and extraterrestrial phenomena, with a strong emphasis on investigative reporting and witness accounts. The cover prominently features the subtitle "-Objets Volants Non Identifiés-" against a striking graphic of radiating lines converging on a central dark circle, hinting at the mysterious and cosmic themes within.

Key Articles and Features

Rencontre Rapprochée du 3ème Type à Sturno (Italie)

The lead article details a remarkable close encounter of the third kind that allegedly occurred on August 31, 1977, near Sturno, Italy. The incident involved seven witnesses who reported seeing a luminous red light, followed by a green light and two white lights. They then observed a metallic-looking humanoid entity standing between bushes and trees. The entity moved towards them, prompting the witnesses to flee. After several attempts to approach the site, the witnesses, now seven in number, managed to observe the entity more closely. They described it as approximately 2 meters tall, with a body proportionate to its height, a head seemingly without a neck, and covered in a silver metallic suit. The entity had two red-orange eyes that blinked synchronously. It was also noted that the creature moved without bending its knees, resembling a robot. Strange sounds, described as a modulated and continuous noise like Morse code, were also heard. The entity emitted an intense beam of white light from its head, temporarily blinding the witnesses. The event lasted for about 15-20 minutes, and later, physical traces were discovered, including three circular impressions and footprints. The article includes a drawing of the object by one of the witnesses and discusses the analysis of soil samples from the site, which revealed traces of metallic substances. The case was investigated by MM. Umberto Telarico and Giorgio Russotillo.

L'affaire du Cessna Australien

This section discusses a case where an Australian Cessna aircraft allegedly encountered a UFO. The article implies that the encounter was significant enough to warrant investigation and discussion within the ufological community.

Ca c'est l'ufologie!

This piece critically examines the phenomenon of "contactees" – individuals who claim to be in direct communication with extraterrestrials. It highlights the cases of Forilhon and Miguères in France, noting that many such claims have been dismissed as hoaxes. The article mentions a dispute involving Jean Pierre Petit, Jimmy Guieu, and Guy Tarade, who allegedly demanded 150,000 Francs from a group for exposing an alleged fabrication by Jean Miguères. The author expresses skepticism about Miguères's claims of being teleported, citing an investigation by the Association pour l'Etude des Soucoupes Volantes (AEST) that found inconsistencies, such as the non-existence of a specific highway mentioned in the account.

OVNI et philatélie

This section explores the connection between UFOs and philately (stamp collecting). It highlights stamps issued by Grenada featuring UFO imagery, including a depiction of the Nuremberg UFO sighting of 1561 and the Adamski saucer. It also mentions a Soviet stamp featuring a craft that was identified as the Mars 3 probe. The article expresses hope that more countries will issue UFO-themed stamps, seeing it as a sign of growing collective awareness of the issue.

Mouvements astronautiques et phénomènes anormaux dans l'espace

This extensive article investigates anomalous events and phenomena observed during space missions and related to astronautics. It begins by noting that since the advent of high-altitude experimental aircraft and satellite launches, unusual events have occurred. The author aims to provide a comprehensive overview, acknowledging that it is only a small part of the vast UFO phenomenon. The article focuses on events from 1962 onwards, a period marked by significant advancements in space exploration. It lists several incidents: John Glenn's sighting of three objects in 1962; Scott Carpenter's photographs of firefly-like objects; the mysterious reactivation of the ANNA-1B and TELSTAR-2 satellites; Gordon Cooper's sighting of a greenish UFO; Walter Schirra's report of luminous masses; and the GEMINI 1 mission where four objects of unknown origin accompanied the spacecraft. The article also discusses the analysis of photographs taken by astronauts, including those by James McDivitt from GEMINI 4, which showed an object with "prolongements or arms." It also mentions the RANGER 8 mission, which transmitted images of objects in a lunar crater, and the VOSKHOD 2 mission where an unidentified object was observed.

Recommandations aux Enquêteurs

This section provides practical advice for UFO investigators. It emphasizes the importance of rapid intervention and thorough documentation. The article lists essential equipment for an investigation, including a camera, tape recorder, measuring tools, a compass, and a notebook for sketches. It outlines a structured approach to interviewing witnesses, covering details such as the date and time of the observation, weather conditions, the object's angular dimensions, height, geographical position, duration, shape, color, brightness, and any associated sounds or smells. The importance of obtaining witness drawings and comparing them with known UFO typologies is also stressed.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The magazine consistently adopts a stance of serious inquiry into the UFO phenomenon, presenting detailed accounts and encouraging reader participation in investigations. There is a clear interest in documenting sightings, analyzing evidence, and exploring potential connections between UFOs and space exploration. The editorial team appears open to various hypotheses, including extraterrestrial origins, while also maintaining a critical perspective, as seen in the analysis of contactee cases. The publication serves as a platform for disseminating information, fostering discussion, and supporting the work of ufological researchers and groups like GEOS.

Other Sections

The issue also includes a "sommaire" (table of contents) listing various articles, a section for "Anciens Numeros" (back issues) for sale, and details on "Conditions d'Abonnement" (subscription conditions). There is also a notice about public meetings organized by GEOS concerning UFOs and ufology. A brief mention of a "Cobaye victime des extraterrestres est mort" (guinea pig victim of extraterrestrials is dead) suggests other short reports or news items within the magazine.

This issue of "Les Grands Mystères" (Issue 11) is a French-language publication from Livre de Paris, focusing on unexplained phenomena. The cover headline is "FAUT-IL TUER DESCARTES?" (Must Descartes Be Killed?), questioning the refusal to accept the unexplained and advocating for an objective approach to strange phenomena. The issue presents a collection of books titled "LES GRANDS MYSTERES" as a resource for understanding the strange and unexplained.

Investigation of UFO Phenomena

The first article, "Le bruit de l'OVNI," outlines essential elements for a thorough UFO investigation. It details procedures for documenting landing traces, including preserving the site, taking measurements (pressure, heat, electromagnetic effects), collecting soil samples for analysis, and contacting official bodies like GEPAN. It also touches upon the psychological aspect of witness testimony, emphasizing the need to assess sincerity by inquiring about the witness's background, beliefs, and reactions to the phenomenon. The article stresses the importance of cross-referencing witness accounts with meteorological data and ruling out conventional explanations like satellites, balloons, or aircraft.

The Decline of the Extraterrestrial Hypothesis (ETH)

"QUELQUES REFLEXIONS SUR L'IMPOPULARITE ACTUELLE DE L'HYPOTHESE EXTRA-TERRESTRE" by Benjamin LISAN discusses the widespread discredit of the ETH in ufological circles. Lisan argues that the shift towards "parapsychology" is more appealing to writers because it offers greater creative freedom, as the principles of parapsychology are less defined than those of physics and astronomy. This allows for more speculative scenarios without the constraints of scientific laws. The article suggests that embracing parapsychology also aligns with a more anthropocentric worldview, focusing on the "Self" rather than external interventions.

Lisan also addresses the lack of "hard evidence" like wreckage, attributing it partly to the potential for military seizure of any discovered artifacts, thus preventing public access. He posits that the current scientific understanding of physics and astronomy, while seemingly prohibitive for interstellar travel, might be incomplete, and that phenomena like quantum mechanics offer glimpses into possibilities beyond current comprehension.

The Australian Cessna Affair

"L'AFFAIRE DU CESSNA AUSTRALIEN" details the disappearance of pilot Frederic Valentich in Australia on October 21, 1978. The report includes a transcript of Valentich's final radio communication with air traffic control, where he describes an unidentified large object with four brilliant lights approaching his Cessna 182. The object was not identified by RAAF radar, and Valentich's aircraft subsequently vanished. The article notes that Valentich's father stated his son believed in UFOs. Official reactions suggested disorientation or misidentification, but the case remains unexplained.

New Zealand UFO Film Incident

"A PROPOS D'UN CERTAIN FILM" reports on alleged UFO sightings and a film purportedly captured in New Zealand in December 1978. The incident involved an Argosy aircraft crew and radar operators at Wellington Airport observing strange lights. A film was reportedly taken, and the New Zealand Air Force was put on alert. The article expresses skepticism about the film's authenticity, citing discrepancies between witness descriptions and the visual evidence, and suggesting it might be a hoax or misidentification of celestial bodies like Jupiter.

Case Study: Montbard, France

"CIGARE ET BRANCHES NOIRCIES" presents a case from Montbard, France, in October 1975. A witness reported seeing a luminous, cigar-shaped object with alternating green and red lights. The following day, a branch on a nearby tree was found to be burned and covered in small perforations, with no other vegetation affected. The analysis by a chemist suggests the damage was not due to fire and notes the presence of small holes. The case is presented as an example of potential physical trace evidence, though the investigation was hampered by the delay between the event and the inquiry.

Conference on UFOs

"CONFERENCE A SUP-ELEC" summarizes a conference held on April 26th, organized by the SUP-ELEC alumni association. The event featured speakers discussing UFO phenomena, including the GEPAN representative who presented the case of the "plaine des Caffres." The conference highlighted GEPAN's role in investigating UFO cases, its methodology, and the scientific community's need to engage more seriously with the subject. The discussion also touched upon the possibility of misinterpretations and the potential for advanced technology in UFOs.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The issue consistently questions the scientific establishment's reluctance to address unexplained phenomena, advocating for a more open-minded approach. There is a clear skepticism towards conventional explanations when evidence points towards the unusual. The articles highlight the challenges in UFO investigation, including the difficulty of obtaining reliable evidence, the potential for misinterpretation, and the role of psychological factors in witness testimony. The shift from the Extraterrestrial Hypothesis to parapsychology is presented as a trend driven by intellectual convenience rather than definitive proof. The publication appears to support the idea that UFOs are a genuine phenomenon requiring serious scientific study, while also being critical of sensationalism and potential hoaxes, particularly concerning photographic and film evidence.