Inforespace - No 63 - 1983

Magazine Overview

Title: Inforespace
Issue: No. 63
Date: June 1983
Volume: 12th year
Publisher: SOBEPS (Société Belge d'Etude des Phénomènes Spatiaux)
Type: Quarterly Review

Content Summary

This issue of Inforespace delves into the complexities of ufology, with a particular focus on defining and analyzing Unidentified Flying Objects (UFOs) and Unidentified Aerial Phenomena (UAP).

Article 1: OVNI-OVI: sur un certain état de la question (1)

This extensive article, the first part of a series, tackles the fundamental issue of defining what constitutes a UFO or UAP. It begins by referencing B. Meheust's discussion on the 'elusiveness' of the phenomenon, highlighting the paradox of indirect proof versus direct proof. The author notes that while the impossibility of refuting the phenomenon and the impossibility of providing conclusive proof are widely accepted premises, some ufologists are beginning to question the inherent 'structure' of UFOs.

The article then meticulously dissects the terminology surrounding UFOs, acknowledging the diverse interpretations by skeptics, the general public, and proponents of various theories (HET, parapsychologists, etc.). It emphasizes the need for precise vocabulary to avoid ambiguity. Several attempts at definition are reviewed, including those from the Condon Commission and A. Hynek, critiquing their limitations. The author finds the GEPAN's tetrahedral model and A. Schmitt's analysis of four levels (stimulus, witnesses, investigator, physical/sociopsychological milieu) to be valuable.

A personal, multi-stage 'definition' is proposed, distinguishing between:

1. The witness(es): physiological, psychological aspects.
2. The sociopsychological environment: cultural context, scientific paradigms, media influence.
3. The testimony: written or oral accounts.
4. The physical environment: traces, photos, radar echoes, topography, geology, meteorology.

This leads to the concept of a 'pre-OVNI' (presumed UFO), which is any observation that intrigues the witness or is labeled as such by others. The broader 'UFO phenomenon' (ph. OVNI large) is then defined as the referential for sociological study, interacting with socio-cultural contexts, scientific paradigms, and related phenomena like parapsychology and cryptozoology.

The article further categorizes cases into:

• Class D: Natural or human psychic phenomena, currently unknown but potentially integrable into science without major upheaval.
• Class E: Phenomena not easily explainable by current science, further divided into:
• E₁: Natural (physical, biological, human psychic) phenomena requiring a major scientific upheaval.
• E₂: Non-human intelligence (spirits, extraterrestrials, time travelers).
• E₃: Fundamentally unknowable due to limitations of human perception or understanding.

The author stresses that the existence of Class E is not proven and that the 'UFO phenomenon' has a dual nature: potentially original and irreducible, but also socio-psychological.

Article 2: Le combat permanent de l'ufologie pour l'information (2)

This section likely continues the discussion on ufology, possibly focusing on the challenges of information gathering and dissemination within the field.

Article 3: Nouvelles internationales

This section provides international news related to UFO phenomena.

Article 4: Lettre ouverte à T. Pinvidic

This is a letter addressed to T. Pinvidic, likely discussing UFO-related topics or research.

Subscription and Book Service

The magazine also includes information on subscriptions to Inforespace and a 'Service Librairie' (Book Service) offering several titles related to ufology published by or available through SOBEPS. These include:

• *Des Soucoupes Volantes aux OVNI* by Michel Bougard (SOBEPS)
• *La Chronique des OVNI* by Michel Bougard (J-P Delarge)
• *A Identifier et le Cas Adamski* by Jean-Gérard Dohmen (Travox)
• *Science Fiction et Soucoupes Volantes* by Bertrand Méheust (Mercure de France)

Prices are listed in Belgian Francs (FB).

Editorial Stance and Collaboration

The editorial notes that the magazine is produced by volunteers and that the publication schedule may have occasional delays. It strongly encourages members to collaborate by sharing information, promoting the society, and contributing to research, translation, writing, investigations, or secretarial work. Members are also urged to report any unusual aerial phenomena they observe or become aware of.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The recurring themes in this issue revolve around the rigorous scientific study of UFO phenomena, the critical analysis of evidence, and the importance of clear terminology. The editorial stance emphasizes a rational, evidence-based approach, encouraging collaboration and open inquiry within the ufological community. There is a clear effort to move beyond sensationalism and towards a more structured, academic understanding of the subject matter, as evidenced by the detailed definitional work and the examination of case reliability.

Title: Inforespace
Issue: nº 44
Date: September 1978
Content Type: Magazine Issue

Main Articles and Content

III. The Fear of Fear - Repression and Censorship in Official US Information

This section details the early stages of UFO investigation in the US, starting with Kenneth Arnold's 1947 sighting. It describes the formation of the "Commission Soucoupe" (Project Sign, later Grudge, then Blue Book) in late 1947, tasked with investigating UFOs. The commission's dual mission was to inform the government and reassure the public by minimizing the issue. The article argues that this created a linguistic and functional camouflage, mirroring the perceived actions of UFOs themselves.

In April 1949, the "Commission Soucoupe" published a communiqué suggesting UFOs might be extraterrestrial spacecraft, given their superior technology, thus ruling out Soviet origin. This was seen as politically more reassuring than the Soviet weapon hypothesis.

However, the article highlights a conflict in 1949 when a special US Air Force team investigated "green fireballs" near atomic bases. Scientists like Teller and La Paz concluded they were not meteorites and requested further technical research. The US Air Force refused, stating "These objects did not exist, they could not exist," demonstrating a triumph of censorship over science.

Subsequent years saw the "Commission Soucoupe" presenting statistical tables that reduced the percentage of unexplained UFO cases. By 1953, unexplained cases were down to 26.94%, and by 1954, to 10%. While not necessarily false, this method distorted the perspective, suggesting that the remaining unexplained cases were few, while overlooking the possibility of actual UFOs within the probable or possible categories.

In 1956, the Air Force officially stated there was no proof of interplanetary vehicles, based on these statistical manipulations. The article points out that this was an equivocation, as while established proof was lacking, there were beginnings of proof and inexplicable cases.

6. Reduction and Refoulement of Inexplicable Cases by the Experts of the CONDON Commission

The Condon Commission, established by the Air Force at the University of Arizona from 1960 to 1969, employed a similar methodology. Despite having 22 professors and engineers, the commission, led by Mac Donald (a specialist in atmospheric physics), selected cases without clear criteria, excluding significant ones like Levelland (Texas) in 1957. They achieved a high percentage of explained or explainable cases and a minimum of inexplicable ones.

Mac Donald stated that only about a dozen cases remained inexplicable, while Richard Greenwell listed 23. Among these were significant cases like Forst Wosh (Texas, 1957), Beverly (Mass., 1966), Falcon Creek (Canada, 1967), Ashland (Nebraska, 1967), and McMinnville (Oregon, 1950).

Unlike the Los Alamos experts, the Condon Commission experts did not request further research but reacted like the military in 1956. The report concluded that 21 years of UFO study had yielded no new scientific knowledge and that further study was unlikely to benefit science.

IV. Effecting System and Official Reactor System

The article posits that whether UFO phenomena are solely natural illusions orchestrated by the unconscious or a mix of natural and tactical illusions, the result is a "blockage of consciousness" in ambiguity and procrastination for over 35 years. This phenomenon affects not only eyewitnesses but also auditory witnesses and terminal witnesses (readers, commentators, critics), creating a cycle.

The fear experienced by individual witnesses is mirrored by governmental fear of popular fear, and the fear of ridicule among scientists regarding an elusive problem that straddles psychiatry, astronomy, and gendarmerie.

This ambiguity in scientific expertise, engaging both human and physical sciences, is a major cause of confusion. Some believe the problem can be solved by asserting that extraterrestrial scientists would seek contact. However, the article questions when the terrestrial scientific community has rushed to discover extraterrestrial scientists.

The blockage of information on the UFO side is met by a similar blockage on the terrestrial side, from states and the scientific community, through censorship and refoulement. This reinforces the fundamental ambiguity of the UFO phenomenon in the relationship between UFOs and eyewitnesses.

The US Air Force's statement, "There is absolutely no proof that we are not being observed by extraterrestrial explorers," is cited. In this context, all actions appear as an intentional system of ambiguity, obfuscation, and blockage of information to enhance security and deter research.

V. Public Reactor System, Independent of the State (Public Opinion and Public Information via the "Private" Sector)

Public opinion reacts differently from state and scientific authorities, driven by a common desire to know what is happening. This contrasts with the state's practice of self-censorship regarding the same news.

Official information is thus only one part of public information. The free and independent press, though private, is of public interest because it provides the public with the other side of public information, that which escapes state censorship.

This opposition between official and private information sources is a classic theme for historians. While radio can alert public opinion, the printed press (newspapers, magazines, books) plays a decisive role in creating archives.

#### 1. Newspapers and Press Agencies

While many witnesses reported UFOs before Kenneth Arnold, his June 25, 1947 sighting was published immediately in newspapers on June 26. This private initiative by the witness and the newspapers' publication of his account brought the "flying saucers" problem into history.

This process involved the transfer and transformation of private verbal testimony into printed documents, leading to irreversible public communication. This process has been repeated, with the press publishing not only testimonies but also parallel series of caricatures, sarcastic chronicles, and ironic headlines, creating a form of liberal censorship alongside the publication of testimonies.

However, this speed means newspapers cannot guarantee the exact content of information. Problems remain regarding witnesses, transmission, and reproduction of testimonies, as information degradation is inevitable.

Despite these issues, the article argues it would be absurd to ask newspapers and journalists to solve the problem. Regardless of criticisms, journalists and newspapers have been the ones to publicly pose the problem through "faits divers" (miscellaneous news), making independent research possible.

#### 2. Individual Private Initiative

This initiative is also evident in collectors who preserve and classify press clippings, dates, and titles, transforming perishable printouts into archives. The first such collection, with 153 clippings from 1947-1950, was published by Scully.

VI. The Demonstration of GEPAN

In France, after years of silence or a priori denial of UFO phenomena by astronomers and psychiatrists, engineer Claude Poher established a report in 1973 filled with statistics on UFO observations.

This report was based on official gendarmerie, police, and Air Force reports, as well as the Condon Commission, and also on numerous private UFO journals and books.

This led to the creation of GEPAN at CNES in 1977. Under Poher's direction, a 1977 report concluded that UFO phenomena were inexplicable by known natural phenomena and current technology. This aligned with the early findings of the "Commission Soucoupe" in 1949.

GEPAN invited representatives from about forty private groups to a meeting on "Formation of Private Groups for the Study of the UFO Phenomenon" on September 12, 1978. This event was detailed in two articles by Bougard and J.-F. Gille in Inforespace nº 44.

The article quotes a characteristic passage from GEPAN's address to the attendees, as understood by J.-F. Gille: "We have the Knowledge - because we are professional scientists. You others, the 'privates', do not have the required qualification, or if you did - by some extraordinary chance we could not take it into account, because you do not have the label of Professional Scientists."

J.-F. Gille concludes that no cooperation would be possible between professionals and privates. Conversely, some private representatives, like Lagarde and Jean Sider, seemed to hear only the program.

The permanent struggle for ufology information (2)

This section continues the discussion on the challenges of UFO information dissemination. It notes that investigators like Major Keyhoe, an independent ufologist, relentlessly questioned authorities. Captain Ruppelt, a former head of the "Commission Soucoupe," revealed that US Air Force chemists had found intact herbs with carbonized roots after the 1952 Desvergers incident, indicating an unknown technological origin.

Contrary to later official statements, this case could not be dismissed as accidental or a hoax. The Encyclopedia of UFO's (1980) reproduced images of these findings, with a note from the US Air Force confirming the impossibility of a normal explanation.

Professor Mac Donald revealed that Professor Condon admitted having no personal interest in interviewing witnesses of classic observations but showed a "bizarre interest" in "cultist" and "delusional" aspects of UFO problems. This explains how the scientific research degenerated into reducing inexplicable cases to banal explanations or attributing them to psychiatric issues or mystical sublimation.

The article questions how one can discover unknown technology by ignoring it, stating the distortion is "integral."

Another example is the 1961 Indian Head incident, where Betty and Barney Hill reported radioactive traces on their car. The US Air Force only questioned them by phone and did not investigate. In 1963, Captain Swett advised them to undergo hypnosis, leading to sessions that, while revealing dreamlike "superstructures," strongly confirmed the physical reality of the encounter.

Journalist Fuller's initiative brought this story to light in "The Interrupted Journey." The article laments that this book has not yet been translated into French.

3. The international network of independent groups and their specialized journals.

Given the limitations of state and scientific institutions, the press and individual initiatives alone were insufficient. General press information is partial and discontinuous, while individual initiatives are too restricted and dispersed.

Independent ufologist associations aim to undertake collective, voluntary, and permanent work in UFO information and research. This involves cooperation among researchers, systematic collection of documents for archives, and immediate investigations and counter-investigations.

It also includes critical confrontations and the development of international relations for information exchange. Periodical publications are crucial for informing the public and other researchers worldwide about UFO developments.

Inforespace is highlighted for its significant contribution to gathering and disseminating this information over more than 10 years, fostering international cooperation.

While the efforts and results of groups and journals vary, the article emphasizes that in the face of deficiencies from states and professional experts, these groups and journals have undertaken vital and irreplaceable work in UFO information and research for many years under difficult conditions.

The disappearance of some journals is noted as a loss, but the network needs to be reinforced and developed. Without this network, independent UFO research would be practically impossible, and even official researchers would benefit from the information it provides.

Astrophysicist Hynek acknowledged this to a large extent.

VI. The demonstration of GEPAN.

In France, after years of silence or denial of UFO phenomena, engineer Claude Poher established a report in 1973 filled with statistics on UFO observations. This report was based on official sources (gendarmerie, police, Air Force) and the Condon Commission, as well as numerous private UFO journals and books.

This led to the creation of GEPAN at CNES in 1977. Poher's direction resulted in a 1977 report concluding that UFO phenomena were inexplicable by known natural phenomena and current technology, aligning with the "Commission Soucoupe's" 1949 hypothesis.

GEPAN invited representatives from about forty private groups to a meeting on "Formation of Private Groups for the Study of the UFO Phenomenon" on September 12, 1978. This event was detailed in articles by Bougard and J.-F. Gille in Inforespace nº 44.

The article quotes GEPAN's stance, as interpreted by J.-F. Gille: "We have the Knowledge - because we are professional scientists. You others, the 'privates', do not have the required qualification..."

J.-F. Gille concludes that no cooperation would be possible between professionals and privates. However, some private representatives, like Lagarde and Jean Sider, seemed to focus on the program.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The recurring themes in this issue of Inforespace revolve around the persistent struggle for information regarding UFO phenomena, the role of censorship and official cover-ups by governments and scientific institutions, and the crucial counter-role played by independent researchers, journalists, and the public in collecting and disseminating this information. The editorial stance appears to be critical of official obfuscation and supportive of the efforts of private ufology, highlighting the importance of their work in advancing the understanding of UFOs despite institutional resistance. The issue also explores various hypotheses for UFOs, from the mundane to the extraterrestrial, and critiques the methodologies and conclusions of official investigations, particularly the Condon Commission.

This issue of 'Nouvelles Internationales' (Inforespace hors-série no. 6, November 1983) focuses on the theme of extraterrestrial intelligence, featuring a prominent international petition initiated by Carl Sagan and discussions on the nature of ufological research.

The GEPAN-LDLN Dialogue and the Betty Hill Case

The issue critically examines the interaction between the French UFO investigation agency GEPAN and the independent group LDLN. The dialogue of September 12, 1978, is described as equivocal, leading to a perceived contradiction in interpretations. A later editorial by Lagarde in 1982 reveals GEPAN's consistent inability to provide information, citing unavailability, blockage, and lack of investigation. This is compared to the Betty Hill abduction case, where a similar pattern of equivocal dialogue and unfulfilled promises of information exchange is observed, suggesting a common mechanism of 'bureaucratic' or 'extraterrestrial' communication.

Carl Sagan's Petition for SETI Research

A significant portion of the magazine is dedicated to Carl Sagan's international petition, published in 'Science'. The petition, signed by 67 internationally renowned scientists, advocates for a coordinated, systematic, global research effort using radio astronomy to detect extraterrestrial intelligence (IET). It highlights the feasibility of such research with existing technology, the relatively low cost, and the profound implications of positive or negative results for humanity's self-perception. The petition emphasizes that the existence of IET can only be determined through experimental observation, not a priori arguments.

The Interaction of Official and Independent Ufology

The article contrasts the development of official ufology, often influenced by state interests and a desire to reassure the public, with the growth of independent ufology. While official ufology is described as having become 'anti-ufological' due to political pressures, independent ufology emerged from the free press and has been driven by a progressive understanding of UFO phenomena. The piece notes that some official scientists and professionals have contributed to independent ufology, recognizing its value.

Critiques of Ufological Methods and 'New Ufologists'

Michel Monnerie, in a letter to the editor, critiques the current state of ufology, particularly the 'new ufologists.' He argues that many are more interested in respectability and scientific validation than in rigorous investigation. Monnerie criticizes the lack of transparency in reporting, the tendency to present 'miracles' without verifiable data, and the potential for a new wave of paranormal belief. He defends his own approach, which emphasizes sociological and psychological analysis of testimonies, and expresses concern that the field is becoming overly corporatist and susceptible to manipulation.

The Challenge of Indiscernibility

Another section discusses the concept of 'indiscernibility,' suggesting that many UFO cases may be explained by psychological factors and the observer's perception rather than an unknown phenomenon. The author argues against the idea that the absence of clear evidence of extraterrestrial visitation proves their non-existence, proposing that advanced civilizations might communicate in ways we do not yet understand, or that they may choose not to contact us for various reasons.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The issue consistently explores the tension between scientific rigor and the often-unexplained nature of UFO phenomena. It highlights the challenges of communication, both between humans and potentially extraterrestrial intelligences, and within the ufological community itself. The editorial stance appears to favor a more critical, analytical approach to ufology, while acknowledging the importance of continued investigation and the profound philosophical questions raised by the possibility of extraterrestrial life. There is a clear emphasis on the need for empirical evidence and a critique of unsubstantiated claims or a reliance on belief.

Title: Inforespace
Issue: 111
Volume: 11
Date: 1984
Publisher: Inforespace
Country: France
Language: French
Document Type: Magazine Issue

This issue of Inforespace is largely dedicated to a comprehensive review of books concerning UFO phenomena, extraterrestrial encounters, and related mysteries. It serves as a guide for readers interested in the field, presenting a curated selection of significant works and their authors.

Book Reviews

The issue begins with a detailed listing and brief description of numerous books, primarily in French, covering various aspects of ufology. Each entry includes the title, author, publisher, a short synopsis, and the price in French Francs (FB).

Key books reviewed include:

• "Mystérieux Objets Célestes" by Aimé Michel (Seghers), described as a capital work and an awaited reedition, focusing on the 1954 French UFO wave.
• "La Nouvelle Vague des Soucoupes Volantes" by Jean-Claude Bourret (France-Empire), compiling excerpts from a radio emission and interviews.
• "Le Nouveau Défi des OVNI" by Jean-Claude Bourret (France-Empire), presenting Gendarmerie Française files, unpublished investigations, and recent analyses from French researchers, notably Jean-Pierre Petit's work on magnetohydrodynamic propulsion of UFOs.
• "OVNI, L'Armée Parle" by Jean-Claude Bourret (France-Empire), revealing secret files from intelligence services and numerous reports from the Army and Gendarmerie.
• "Mystérieuses Soucoupes Volantes" by Fernand Lagarde and the group "Lumières dans la Nuit" (Albatros), featuring reflections from researchers like Aimé Michel and Jacques Vallée.
• "Le Nœud Gordien ou la Fantastique Histoire des OVNI" by Thierry Pinvidic (Albin-Michel), discussing military and governmental perspectives on UFOs, NASA studies, and the UN's stance, along with eight hypotheses.
• "Et si les OVNI n'existaient pas ?" by Michel Monnerie (Les Humanoïdes Associés), a book proposing a socio-psychological hypothesis for UFO sightings, suggesting misidentifications are common.
• "Les Soucoupes Volantes Viennent d'un Autre Monde" and "Black-Out sur les Soucoupes Volantes" by Jimmy Guieu (Omnium Littéraire), noted as recently reissued French ufology classics.
• "Soucoupes Volantes, 20 Ans d'Enquêtes" by Charles Garreau (Mame), a review of his long experience in serious UFO research in France.
• "Face aux Extraterrestres" by Charles Garreau and Raymond Lavier (J-P. Delarge), including a dossier of 200 landing testimonies in France.
• "Des Signes dans le Ciel" by Paul Misraki (Mame), a reflective work exploring the relationship between UFOs and religious phenomena.
• "Chronique des Apparitions Extraterrestres" by Jacques Vallée (Denoël), presenting the author's personal views and a catalog of 900 landing cases.
• "Le Collège Invisible" by Jacques Vallée (Albin Michel), attempting to link UFOs with parapsychological phenomena.
• "Les Objets Volants Non Identifiés: Mythe ou Réalité ?" by Dr. J. Allen Hynek (Belfond), explaining the importance of serious UFO study and revealing unpublished documents.
• "Aux Limites de la Réalité" by J. Allen Hynek and Jacques Vallée (Albin Michel), a deep exchange on UFO nature, cases, analysis, and current research.
• "Les OVNI en U.R.S.S. et dans les Pays de l'Est" by Julien Weverbergh and Ion Hobana (Robert Laffont), the first French-language dossier on numerous UFO observations from Eastern Bloc countries.
• "Le Livre des Damnés" by Charles Fort (Losfeld), a collection of curious phenomena from space, many of which remain unexplained.

Other Publications and Features

Beyond book reviews, the issue also highlights:

• "Kadath": A review that served as the basis for the anthology "Chroniques des civilisations disparues." It publishes 4 times a year, with 52 richly illustrated pages dedicated to archaeological enigmas. Its address is Boulevard Saint-Michel, 6 boite 9, 1150 Bruxelles, Belgium.

• "FIRST ACADEMIC JOURNAL UFO PHENOMENA": An international annual review devoted to the scientific study of UFO phenomena, with ISSN 0391 - 111X. It is edited by R. Farabone and managed by F. Izzo, published by EDITECS PUB. HOUSE, P.O. BOX 190 - I-40100 BOLOGNA, Italy.

• "LUMIÈRES DANS LA NUIT": A renowned international review dedicated to mysterious celestial objects and related problems, published from F-43400 Le Chambon-sur-Lignon, France. The editorial stance emphasizes complementarity between European ufological publications rather than competition.

Editorial Stance and Themes

The magazine appears to adopt a serious and investigative approach to ufology, presenting a wide range of perspectives from researchers, journalists, and military sources. The emphasis is on providing detailed information and analysis of UFO cases and phenomena. The inclusion of reviews for "Kadath" suggests an interest in the intersection of UFOs with archaeology and ancient mysteries. The editorial note regarding "Lumières dans la Nuit" highlights a desire for collaboration and a comprehensive understanding of European ufological research.

• Recurring Themes:
• UFO sightings and investigations (French and international)
• Extraterrestrial encounters
• Military and governmental involvement/reports
• Scientific and parapsychological research into UFOs
• Historical UFO waves (e.g., 1954)
• Archaeological enigmas and their potential connection to ancient mysteries

Overall Tone: Informative, analytical, and comprehensive, aiming to cover the breadth of ufological inquiry.