Hypotheses Extraterrestres - No 17 - janv 1981

Magazine Overview

This issue of "Hypothèses EXTRATERRESTRES" (ISSN 0399-5216, Number 17) from January 1981, published in France, focuses on "Objets Volants Non Identifiés" (Unidentified Flying Objects). The cover features a striking yellow design with a sunburst motif and the main title.

Editorial and Administration

The editorial and administrative details are provided, listing the publication director as Gérard LEBAT. The magazine acknowledges the contributions of various individuals for its realization, including Noel PAULIN, Patrick BOITTIAUX, Chantal GARNIER, Romaine BARILLOT, Jean-James MIGNOT, Pierre Jean FROMENT, Michel PICCIN, Benjamin LISAN, Alain PRIEUL, Guy BERTAUX, Alon MARTIN, Thierry DRONKA, Patrick COULET, Guy DILCHER, Serge RIOU, and the GEOS administration team led by Gérard LEBAT, Michel PICCIN, and Patrick POTTIER.

Call for Collaboration

The magazine solicits collaboration from its readers, encouraging investigators, technicians, scientists, and academics to submit serious articles on the UFO phenomenon to advance ufology. Submissions are to be sent to the review's editorial office, and publication implies free use of the material, with the editors disclaiming responsibility for content. Reproduction is authorized with clear attribution to the source, author, and the review's address. Readers are also asked to send press clippings about UFOs and to include a self-addressed stamped envelope for replies.

Articles and Features

The Investigator's Equipment

This section provides guidance on equipment for UFO investigators and amateur observers. It emphasizes the importance of calibrated measuring devices and advises that complex measurements are best handled by specialized organizations like GEPAN. For amateurs, it suggests equipment for investigations, including a portable tape recorder, a comparator for apparent size, a Pantone color chart for defining colors, detailed maps (1:50,000 or 1:25,000), a measuring tape, and a camera. For observation sessions, it recommends a sky map, a flashlight, a compass, a legible watch with a second hand, and a tape recorder. It also mentions advanced equipment like spectrographic gratings and high-field binoculars.

Reflections on UFO Intelligence

This article critically examines the common equation of UFOs with extraterrestrial flying saucers piloted by Martians. It suggests that this popular theory stems from the widespread diffusion of such ideas and the human fascination with superior beings. The author discusses the contributions of J. Keel and J. Vallée in introducing new interpretations. The article notes that the extraterrestrial hypothesis has waned, partly replaced by parapsychology, which is also seen as a passing trend. It posits that UFO phenomena might adapt to our technology or be a product of our intellect, reflecting our hopes and expectations. An alternative hypothesis suggests an "interplanetary exigency," driving humans towards knowledge. Another idea is that extraterrestrial intelligences deliberately create confusion, adapting their characteristics to our understanding. The author lists several points against the extraterrestrial hypothesis, including vast interstellar distances and the lack of logical consistency in ufology. The current situation is described as ambiguous, with no single explanation being satisfactory. The conclusion is that all hypotheses are relative, and the mystery remains unfathomable.

The Position of the Royal Australian Air Force on UFOs

This article details the RAAF's involvement in investigating unusual aerial observations, which began in 1950 due to concerns about national security. The RAAF's investigations, spanning from 1960 to 1976, examined 1023 reports. The article highlights that the RAAF, like the USAF, heavily relied on the Condon Report's conclusions, which found no evidence of extraterrestrial phenomena despite years of study. However, the RAAF continued to investigate, viewing it as a service to the public to alleviate fears. The investigation process involves initial reports at Air Force bases, followed by detailed reports compiled by intelligence officers. The article presents a table of RAAF statistics on UFO reports from 1960 to 1976, showing a low percentage of unidentified cases. It critiques the official explanations provided by the RAAF, suggesting they sometimes lack scientific rigor and may be based on insufficient data or misinterpretations, citing examples like the Cressy and Noè cases. The article also mentions that significant RAAF investigations into UFOs have not always been publicly disclosed, and access to detailed civilian reports is restricted.

Specific Case Studies from Australia

The article details three specific Australian cases:

1. Ben Lomond Incident: A cigar-shaped object was observed, followed by several smaller discs emerging from the clouds. The objects hovered and then rapidly departed.
2. Moe Incident (February 15, 1963): A "tornado"-like object with a transparent dome and a chrome antenna was observed hovering before disappearing.
3. Vaucluse Incident (July 19, 1965): A large, disc-shaped object was seen resting on the sand, emitting a yellow-orange light and a loud noise before rapidly ascending. The incident left unusual marks on the ground.

The article also mentions a case near North West Cape (October 25, 1973) involving an enormous aerial object that accelerated and disappeared.

UFO Sightings in France

Several French sightings are reported:

• Observation sur Melun: On July 25, 1980, a police patrol observed an oval-shaped light with an apparent diameter of 10 cm for 15 minutes before it disappeared.
• Observation sur Gasny: On June 23, 1979, a witness observed a clear red-pink ball of light, comparable to a russet moon, hovering and then disappearing towards the north.
• Beton-Bazoches: An intriguing circular object of violet color, emitting powerful luminous beams, was observed at an altitude of 200 meters.
• Un Cas Ancien (1948 or 1949): A witness reported seeing a large, oval-shaped object with green and yellow lights moving at high speed.
• Témoignage (Saumur, October 1974): Several transparent discs, similar in size to a plate, were observed hovering near a chicken coop.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The recurring themes in this issue revolve around the investigation of UFO phenomena, the critical analysis of various hypotheses (particularly the extraterrestrial hypothesis), and the presentation of eyewitness accounts and official reports. The magazine appears to maintain an open yet analytical stance, encouraging reader participation and providing practical information for those interested in ufology. There is a clear emphasis on presenting documented cases and encouraging rigorous investigation, while also acknowledging the inherent mysteries and the limitations of current explanations. The editorial stance supports the continued study of UFOs as a valid area of research, despite the challenges and the often inconclusive nature of the findings.

This issue of the magazine, dated June 1980, focuses on the broken promise of U.S. President Jimmy Carter regarding the release of UFO information and explores various UFO-related topics, including a significant landing case and the scientific probability of extraterrestrial life.

The Broken Promise of Carter

The lead article, "LA PROMESSE ROMPUE DE CARTER" (Carter's Broken Promise), discusses a statement made by President Carter during his election campaign: "I would make available to the public and scientists all information gathered by the country on UFO sightings." The article references an interview with Carter in the National Enquirer in 1976 where he reiterated this intention. However, the magazine notes that despite attempts by organizations like 'CAUSE' (Citizens Against UFO Secresy), this promise was not fully kept. The 'CAUSE' organization wrote to the White House in December 1979, reminding them of Carter's declarations. In response, a letter dated March 19, 1980, from the Presidency stated that due to the volume of mail, the President had asked federal departments to respond to such questions. The letter also mentioned that NASA was asked to reopen the UFO dossier, but the administration refused, stating no evidence of UFO existence. The US Air Force, which was also involved, claimed to no longer deal with UFOs, causing surprise and suspicion for 'CAUSE'.

On March 28, the US Air Force provided a response to 'CAUSE' that was described as full of vague jargon, avoiding direct answers. They confirmed the dissolution of the Blue Book commission and the transfer of documents to the National Archives. The Air Force also stated they no longer received public UFO information, and no official body was tasked with investigating the matter. The article concludes that the US remains 'embarrassed' by the UFO issue, and neither the government nor Carter, despite his promise, has provided a satisfactory solution.

'CAUSE' also announced legal action against various US government agencies, including the NSA, DIA, and FAA, on June 24, 1980, to make UFO-related documents public, citing the Freedom of Information Act. This action was prompted by the NSA's claim that 18 UFO documents transmitted by the CIA could not be published due to national security concerns, despite the official stance that UFOs do not exist and pose no danger.

The Mendoza Landing

The article "ATTERRISSAGE PRES DE MENDOZA" (Landing Near Mendoza) details a case from the mid-1950s, coinciding with the 1954 European UFO wave. The event involved a UFO landing and was observed by a group of people, including Mrs. Maria Luisa Garcia Molgado De Amaya, who was interviewed twice.

On December 28, 1954, Mrs. De Amaya and a group of Spanish artists were traveling on Route 143 near San Rafael, Mendoza, Argentina. Around 3:30 AM, they noticed a bright light in a field about 150-200 meters from the road. Initially mistaken for a campfire, it was soon identified as a luminous object emitting an intense, non-blinding blue light, described as resembling pure alcohol flame or an autogenous weld. The object was shaped like two hollowed-out plates joined at the rim, with a fog-like substance emanating from its equatorial fringe. It was described as large, like a bus, but no details of its structure, such as doors or windows, were visible.

Two human-like occupants were observed near the object. They wore dark, one-piece suits with hoods and appeared to have transparent head coverings. Their faces were obscured, and their movements were described as rigid. They entered the object through a sliding door that opened onto a luminous interior, requiring them to step high as if climbing a step.

After the occupants entered, smoke, gas, or vapor emerged from the object's equatorial zone. It then rose vertically in complete silence, hovering about two meters above the ground. Two red lights, one above the other, alternated on and off, possibly on antennas. The witnesses hurried back to their car as the UFO began a series of erratic maneuvers, including zig-zagging and sharp right-angle turns. The object then pursued their vehicle, moving alongside and above it with incredible speed and instantaneous position changes.

The pursuit ceased at dawn with the rising fog. The witnesses initially mistook the planet Venus for the UFO. Upon arriving in Mendoza, the artists' impressario suggested they document their experience independently to avoid public suspicion.

The witnesses unanimously described the object as a non-terrestrial aerial vehicle, noting its immense power and incredible, gravity-defying movements. While initially curious, they became frightened when the UFO began to follow them.

Evaluations:

• Astonishment: The case contains numerous unusual elements, including proximity to the object, detailed descriptions, favorable observation conditions (clear night, flat terrain), and a prolonged observation period (30 minutes to 1 hour). This minimizes the possibility of misinterpreting a natural phenomenon or a man-made object.
• Credibility: The negative aspects include the long delay between the incident and its recording (1977), potentially affecting memory. Also, Mrs. De Amaya's account could not be corroborated by the other witnesses who were no longer in Argentina. Positively, Mrs. De Amaya is described as a married history professor and concert pianist with no prior interest in UFOs, exhibiting a realistic, non-mystical character, and conveying sincerity, responsibility, balance, and culture. The object's characteristics, such as the blue light and fog, and the occupants' rigid movements and difficulty with their lower limbs, are noted as being consistent with other UFO encounter reports, suggesting a level of detail unlikely to be fabricated.

Extraterrestrial Hypothesis

This section, "HYPOTHESE EXTRATERRESTRE" (Extraterrestrial Hypothesis), by Professor Oscar Adolfo Uriondo, translated by Louis De Troya, discusses the scientific basis for believing in extraterrestrial life. It notes that while direct proof of UFO existence remains elusive, their characteristics suggest a high-level intelligence behind them. The article highlights the scientific recognition of extraterrestrial life through astronomy, which confirms the plurality of worlds. It then delves into astronomical data, describing our solar system, the Milky Way galaxy (estimated to contain 300 billion stars and existing for 15 billion years), and the vastness of the universe with billions of galaxies.

The article presents the Drake Equation (N = R* fp ne fl fi fc L) as a method to estimate the number of communicative civilizations in our galaxy. It then provides a detailed breakdown of estimations based on the principle of mediocrity, suggesting that within our galaxy alone, there could be hundreds of millions of planets with life, and tens of millions of technological civilizations. The calculations suggest that only a small fraction of these civilizations are as primitive as ours, with the vast majority being more advanced.

It posits that if 390 million civilizations exist in our galaxy, the average distance between them would be about 40 light-years. The article also touches upon the possibility of supra-human intelligences.

Are We Alone in the Universe?

Authored by Vladimir G. Azhazha, a scientist from the USSR Academy of Sciences, this section explores further evidence and hypotheses regarding UFOs and extraterrestrial life.

It mentions fragments of objects found after an explosion over Brazil, analyzed to be an alloy of magnesium oxide and strontium, currently unachievable on Earth. It also references a UFO sighting by Professor J. Piccard from a submarine and an account by explorer Thor Hayerdahl of a UFO surfacing near his research vessel.

The article suggests that UFO activity might be related to humanity posing a "risk of explosion" to the space environment, implying that extraterrestrial civilizations might be intervening to ensure Earth's safety. Another hypothesis proposed is that human psychic energy or "PSI field" could be creating an independent existence in space that troubles extraterrestrials.

It discusses scientific inconsistencies, citing astrophysicist I. Shlovsky's initial claims about relativistic particles from quasars exceeding the speed of light, which he later retracted. The article also mentions that the late Minister Loginova distributed documents with UFO descriptions to aviation institutes.

Edward Condon, who led the UFO committee, is quoted as admitting before his death that a significant portion of UFOs were optical illusions, despite his committee's conclusion. The article suggests that the Soviet Union will soon be more informed about UFOs, citing extensive serious literature available abroad.

It references reports from American astronauts who visited the Moon, referring to UFOs as "Father Christmas." These astronauts were reportedly impressed by what they saw, with one transmitting an uncoded message about "other spacecraft observing us." Aldrin is said to have filmed UFOs on the Moon, though NASA has reportedly contradicted these claims.

The article notes that the Apollo missions left a capsule on the Moon with the UN Declaration of Human Rights and the international agreement on space. However, efforts for contact with extraterrestrial civilizations have not been successful, and this information was kept secret. The Moon is described as a transit point for UFOs, with each Apollo mission reportedly being monitored by them.

Global UFO Activity and Research

This section highlights the significant global interest in UFOs, mentioning the establishment of a UFO study center in Toulouse, France, in April 1977. It refers to approximately 100 reported abductions by UFOs over 30 years, citing the case of the Hill couple who were allegedly taken from their car and examined by aliens. The article also notes a recent UFO sighting in the USSR in October 1977 near Sharapova Ikhota.

It addresses questions regarding the opinion of the Soviet Academy of Sciences, mentioning academician Artsimovitch's opposition to UFO existence, influenced by Menzel's book and Condon's conclusions. The Tunguska meteorite event is deemed unlikely to have been a UFO. The article also critiques an article by science-fiction writer Yeremey Parnov, who criticized a UFO conference, suggesting Parnov's critique was based on incomplete information.

Finally, it confirms the existence of pilots who have seen UFOs, citing Valentin Ivanovich Akkurstov, a polar pilot, who reportedly filed four observation reports addressed to the Minister of Civil Aviation.

Notes from the Translator

A section of footnotes provides context and references for the articles, including details about press conferences, books, and specific UFO incidents mentioned.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The magazine consistently promotes the idea that UFOs are real phenomena, often linked to extraterrestrial intelligence. There is a strong emphasis on government secrecy and the efforts of civilian organizations like 'CAUSE' to uncover the truth. The editorial stance appears to be one of advocating for transparency and public awareness regarding UFOs, often critical of official denials and obfuscation. The scientific exploration of the possibility of alien life is presented as a valid and important field of study. The magazine also highlights various UFO sightings and encounters, treating them as credible evidence of non-human activity.