Gazette des Mousquetaires - No 74 - Pauvre Avenir de l Ufo

Magazine Overview

Title: La Gazette des Mousquetaires De l'Ufo
Issue: Numéro 74 bis
Date: December 12, 2019
Theme: Ufology, UFOs, Research, History

This issue of "La Gazette des Mousquetaires De l'Ufo" features a critical review of Thomas Margout's doctoral thesis on "soucoupisme" (UFO culture) in France from 1945 to 2012, alongside a discussion of the "Phoenix Lights" incident.

Review of Thomas Margout's Thesis

The article, written by Bruno Mancusi, analyzes Thomas Margout's history thesis from the University of Bretagne-Occidentale. Margout's thesis, titled "Le soucoupisme français : 1945 - 2012", defines "soucoupisme" as a form of religion that unites people under a common belief system, encompassing ufologists, witnesses, and contactees.

Mancusi points out several criticisms of Margout's work:

• Broad Definition: Margout is criticized for lumping together diverse groups like ufologists, witnesses, and Raelians under the single term "soucoupistes," which is seen as a mischaracterization by some in the field.
• Methodological Issues: The author questions Margout's methodology, suggesting he did not always use adequate instruments to study his defined field and that his definition of an ufologist as merely a witness who interviews other witnesses is simplistic.
• Historical Inaccuracies: Several specific errors are highlighted, including:
• Referencing 1945 instead of 1947 for the start of the first generation of ufology.
• Omitting the role of Ray Palmer and "Amazing Stories" in the early development of UFO literature.
• Incorrectly stating that UFOs are not studied in France, when it is a country that officially studies them.
• Misidentifying a celestial object as a comet when it was likely a meteor or bolide.
• Confusing the acronym GEPA with GEPAN.
• Inaccuracies in dates and the description of René Hardy's involvement.
• Misinterpreting Jacques Vallée's concept of "second-degree UFO hypothesis."
• Incorrectly characterizing the second generation of ufologists as primarily sociologists and psychologists, with few from hard sciences.
• Misrepresenting the testimony of Serge Hutin regarding a "man in black" encounter.
• Making generalizations about the masculine dominance in the third generation of ufologists without sufficient data.
• Minor errors in names and terminology (e.g., "Unknown Flying Object" vs. "Unidentified Flying Object," spelling of Allan Kardec's pseudonym, names of individuals like William Brazel and Roger K. Leir).
• Structure of the Thesis: The thesis is divided into two volumes, with the first covering four generations of ufology (1945-2012) and the second containing statistics from LDLN. The author notes the unusual inclusion of bibliography and index as separate chapters.

Mancusi concludes that while the thesis contains interesting information and statistics from LDLN, it is ultimately confusing and lacks a clear focus, potentially due to the perceived lack of seriousness surrounding the UFO topic.

The Phoenix Lights Incident

The latter part of the magazine discusses the "Phoenix Lights" incident, primarily through a debate between "C." (presumably the author of the section) and Gildas Bourdais, regarding the testimony of former Arizona Governor Fife Symington.

• Symington's Testimony: Symington reported witnessing a large, delta-shaped, luminous object over Phoenix on March 13, 1997. His account is detailed, describing a massive, solid structure with geometric contours and constant shape, unlike flares or conventional aircraft.
• Debate on Credibility: "C." expresses skepticism about Symington's testimony, suggesting it is inconsistent and potentially fabricated or conflated with other events, especially given the time elapsed since the observation. "C." also questions the timing of Symington's decision to investigate, suggesting it wasn't solely triggered by TV reports.
• Bourdais' Defense: Gildas Bourdais defends Symington's credibility, stating that his testimony is compatible with other credible accounts and that Symington's belief in an extraterrestrial hypothesis for the Phoenix Lights should not be a reason for "C." to doubt him.
• Tim Ley's Testimony: The testimony of Tim Ley, describing a "chevron"-shaped object with lights, is also presented. Ley's initial report, made six days after the event, is contrasted with later, more elaborate accounts, suggesting how myths can be constructed over time.
• Other Witnesses: Several other witnesses to the Phoenix Lights are listed, with their locations and approximate times of observation.
• Possible Explanations: One proposed explanation for the earlier sightings (around 8 PM) is the presence of five Air National Guard A-10s flying in formation, though this is deemed unlikely by some due to the witnesses' descriptions.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The magazine's stance appears critical of academic approaches to ufology that it deems flawed or overly broad, as seen in the critique of Margout's thesis. There is a strong emphasis on detailed analysis of witness testimonies and historical accounts within the ufology community. The debate around the Phoenix Lights highlights a division between those who accept certain testimonies at face value and those who apply rigorous skepticism, even to prominent figures. The publication seems to champion a more grounded, yet passionate, pursuit of truth within the field of ufology, while also acknowledging the challenges and potential for misinterpretation.

This issue of "La Gazette des Mousquetaires de l'Ufo" (Issue n°74 bis, dated 11/15, likely December 12, 2019) focuses on debunking the widely reported 1997 Phoenix UFO sighting, particularly the testimony of former Arizona Governor Fife Symington. The magazine presents a critical analysis of Symington's account, drawing on interviews and investigations by UFO researchers like Norio Hayakawa and Robert Sheaffer.

The Phoenix Lights Incident: Symington's Account and Scrutiny

The core of the issue revolves around the events of March 13, 1997, in Phoenix, Arizona, where a large, delta-shaped craft with enormous lights was reportedly observed. Fife Symington, a former Air Force pilot and governor, described the sighting on the Larry King Live show a decade after the event, calling it a "massive, delta-shaped craft" that moved silently over Squaw Peak and was "definitely not an airplane... from another world." He emphasized that the event was witnessed by many people, making it a compelling and dramatic occurrence.

However, the magazine presents a strong counter-argument, primarily through the analysis of Robert Sheaffer and Norio Hayakawa. Sheaffer argues that Symington's claims were made "belatedly" and "opportunistically" to keep his name in the news and promote his business ventures. He points out inconsistencies in Symington's timeline, particularly regarding when he claimed to have seen news coverage of the event. Sheaffer highlights that the first event, the V-shaped lights (possibly Air National Guard A-10s), occurred between 8:00 PM and 8:45 PM, while a second event, a flare drop, began at 10:00 PM. Symington's claim to have seen news coverage by 8:20 PM is presented as impossible, suggesting his sighting occurred after 10:00 PM and was likely a fabrication.

Norio Hayakawa adds further arguments against Symington's credibility. He notes a contradiction in Symington's claim to have gone out at 8:20 PM after seeing TV news, when journalists were reportedly unaware of the event until around 10 PM. Hayakawa also suggests that Symington might have invented the observation in 2007 during an interview with James Fox to gain free publicity for his new business ventures. Furthermore, Symington's past conviction on seven felony counts of fraud (later overturned and pardoned) is cited as a reason to doubt his testimony.

The article also addresses the location from which Symington claimed to have viewed the event, noting that from Sumida Park, the Estrella Mountains are not visible at 10 PM, and the area is heavily wooded. The analysis suggests a lack of precise memory of the location and a potential misunderstanding of the sequence of events, leading to a "quiproquo" (misunderstanding) during interviews.

Related Discussions and Alternative Explanations

The issue includes links to further discussions and articles, including one titled "Were Canadian Pilots Pulling a Hoax" concerning a V-formation sighting, and another on visual identification. It also references a discussion about the "North Fork Incident" and other observations in Iowa and Nebraska, indicating that the Phoenix event was not isolated but that Symington's specific account is being questioned.

Near-Death Experiences and Hallucinations

In a section titled "V - Un point de vue cartésien sur l'EMI" (A Cartesian point of view on NDEs), Gilles Lorant discusses near-death experiences (NDEs) and hallucinations. He references an international study suggesting that the last electrical discharges in the brain during the dying process might cause hallucinations, including the common "light at the end of the tunnel" phenomenon reported by survivors of cardiac arrest. This section appears to offer a scientific, non-UFO-related explanation for some phenomena that might be misinterpreted as paranormal.

Editorial Stance

The editorial note at the end states that "La Gazette" strives for direct and collective representation, aiming for sincerity rather than pleasing its audience. It concludes with an uncertain outlook for the next issue.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The recurring theme in this issue is the critical examination and debunking of prominent UFO claims, specifically the Fife Symington sighting. The magazine adopts a skeptical and investigative stance, prioritizing factual inconsistencies, witness credibility, and scientific explanations over unverified testimonies. The editorial emphasizes sincerity and directness, suggesting a commitment to presenting a reasoned perspective on UFO phenomena, even if it means challenging popular narratives. The inclusion of the section on near-death experiences indicates a broader interest in consciousness and perception, but within this issue, the focus is clearly on deconstructing a specific, high-profile UFO case.