Lettre d'Information Ufologique - Vol 1 No 4 - juin 1990

Magazine Overview

This issue of "Lettre d'Information Ufologique" (LIUFO), Volume 1, Number 4, dated June 1990, is a French-language publication from Canada, focusing on ufology. It includes a cover headline about an object that causes nightmares, a report of a personal UFO sighting, and a significant survey of retired military officers' views on the phenomenon.

Un Objet Qui Donne des Cauchemars (An Object That Causes Nightmares)

This section details a UFO sighting by Annie Theriault, then eleven years old, in July 1982, near Rouyn-Noranda, Canada. While watching jet contrails, she observed a metallic, disk-shaped object appear between the vapor trails. The object descended briefly before rapidly moving away at high speed, disappearing from view. Theriault estimated the object to be about 5 meters in size and at an altitude of approximately 260 meters. She recounts having a nightmare about a polished metal object the night before the sighting. The report notes that Annie, like many witnesses, has been deeply affected by this experience.

Groupements Internationaux (International Groups)

This section provides updates on various international ufological organizations and events:

• MUFON: Mentions interesting articles in the March 1990 MUFON UFO Journal concerning men in black (MIB), Paul Devereux's earthlights, and crop circles.
• HYNEK: Announces the international symposium "UFOs The Impact of E.T. Contact Upon Society" to be held at the Pensacola Hilton in Florida from July 6-8. Contact information for Art Hufford is provided.
• OMEGA COMMUNICATIONS: Details the third "The UFO Experience" colloquium in North Haven, scheduled for October 13-14. Registration details and cost are given.
• CUFOS: Provides the address for the Journal of UFO Studies: Michael D. Swords, Editor, Western Michigan University, Kalamazoo, MI 49888, USA. The journal is published annually and costs $15 USD.
• AESU: Reports on the fourth AESU ufological conference held in Lyon, France, from April 28-30, 1998. Information on obtaining conference summaries is available.
• Claude Mauge: Is currently compiling a commented bibliography of French-language books on the UFO phenomenon and is validating titles from Quebec and Canada.
• AAII (Aerial Anomalies International): Offers publications by William R. Corliss, who has studied geological anomalies, underwater canyons, and ancient vestiges.

Activités Québécoises Récentes (Recent Quebec Activities)

This section highlights recent activities and individuals involved in ufology in Quebec:

• Bernard Guénette: Aims to establish a system for the public to report UFO events, potentially under the MUFON umbrella, suggesting methods like FAX, phone lines, and police liaisons. He seeks collaborators willing to train in strict procedures based on MUFON questionnaires.
• Denis Cloutier: Has not resumed activities since his involvement with CCUQ.
• Gaétan Loignon: Has subscribed to LIUFO, and his contribution is welcomed.
• John MacLean: Has also subscribed to LIUFO. Despite being more comfortable in English, his skills are valued, and texts he wishes to publish will be translated.
• Claude MacDuff: Has joined "Les Sceptiques du Québec" and will participate in their bulletin. Contact information for the group is provided.
• Jean Vézina: Continues to analyze statistics of UFO sightings in Quebec, examining temporal and locational data in relation to observation types.
• André Parent: Along with J. P. Plouffe, is revisiting 10 "Malboeuf" cases (humanoids on a house roof).
• Jean-Pierre Plouffe: Has organized several meetings over the years and is recommended for those interested in his activities.

Un Rapport de Sondage Auprés d'Officiers Militaires à la Retraite (A Survey Report Among Retired Military Officers)

This extensive report by Jean-Pierre Plouffe details a survey conducted on August 29, 1988, involving 86 retired Canadian military officers to gauge their perspectives on the UFO phenomenon. The survey aimed to understand their conception of UFOs. The names of these officers are published in the Canadian Who's Who, representing various ranks from General to Major-General.

The survey received 28 responses. Key findings include:

• Reading about UFOs: 57% had read at least one book on the subject during their careers.
• Military Information/Training: 29% received military information or training on UFOs, and 4% received directives concerning UFOs.
• Witness Testimony: 11% reported witnessing UFOs during their careers.
• Reporting: Of those who witnessed UFOs, 33% filled out a report.
• Awareness of Others' Reports: 25% had heard of UFO observations made by other military personnel.
• Perception of the Phenomenon: Among the respondents, 21% believed UFOs do not exist, 43% considered the phenomenon real and worthy of study, 8% felt it should not be discussed by military personnel, and 21% were indifferent.

Of the respondents, 43% added comments, 11% mentioned a UFO observation, and 39% signed their names on the questionnaires, with 29% also providing their phone numbers.

The distribution of respondents by province showed a significant concentration in Ontario (68.5%), followed by British Columbia (12.8%), Nova Scotia (7%), Quebec (5.8%), and a small percentage from the USA (3.5%), Alberta (3.5%), Manitoba (2.3%), and Prince Edward Island (2.3%). International representation included England and Italy (1.2% each).

Analysis of the responses indicated no clear correlation between answers to different questions. However, a contrast was drawn between those who believe the phenomenon is worthy of study and those who believe it does not exist. For instance, among those who think it's worth studying, a higher percentage had read about UFOs, received military training on the subject, and heard of other military reports.

Comments from respondents included:

• A Lieutenant-General who served in National Defence HQ in Ottawa during the 1960s stated that investigations into UFO reports were always explained rationally, and he found it interesting how some people insisted on their "mystification" being believed.
• An Air Vice-Marshal suggested that studies show scientific explanations for UFO reports, comparing them to mediumistic communications with the dead, which could be reproduced by magicians.
• A Vice-Admiral admitted to having only superficial knowledge of UFO observations, primarily from magazines and newspapers.
• A Major-General, who had access to UFO information during his military service at NDHQ Ottawa, believed that most reports, especially those from the southwestern US, were mystifications. He stated that while extraterrestrial objects might exist, probabilities are extremely low, and he does not believe in a military conspiracy to hide information. He pointed to the National Research Council in Ottawa as the primary body for gathering UFO information in Canada.
• A Brigadier-General believed most reports were mystifications by authors seeking publicity.

Other comments included:

• Several observations are honest but simple hallucinations that could be explained by factors like aircraft landing lights.
• Any reflective human should be interested in unexplained phenomena.
• The phenomenon is not yet properly determined, with possibilities including illusion, extraterrestrial, non-conventional, imaginary, or terrestrial clandestine origins.
• Perception is similar to that of ordinary citizens, based on newspaper reports.
• Suspicion of UFO existence is unrelated to military careers.
• While possible, no evidence has been seen, and no one is known to possess it.
• For cases that have been investigated, plausible explanations were found, but unexplained ones remain intriguing.

Specific UFO Observations: Three officers indicated witnessing UFOs. One case involved a clearly visible UFO from an aircraft that was not detected by the ground station of PINETREE LINE. Two other descriptions were summarized:

1. A retired captain submitted a comprehensive report of a 1975 military UFO observation involving students and officers from the Esquimalt, BC, marine artillery school. A report of a cylindrical UFO was filed with the National Research Centre in Ottawa.
2. An Air Vice-Marshal produced a summary report from January 1955 concerning a UFO observed by a judge and his wife in New Zealand. The object was described as cigar-shaped with windows and was discussed at a friendly gathering.

Rapports d'Ouni au Québec (UFO Reports in Quebec)

This section references a La Presse article from April 12, 1990, stating that 141 UFOs were sighted in Canadian skies the previous year. It mentions ground crop circles in Quebec and the case of Sainte-Marie-de-Monnoir, with 62 reports in Ontario and Quebec.

The case of Sainte-Marie-de-Monnoir is highlighted as particularly interesting, with investigations by Christian R. Page and François Bourbeau detailed in the FUSION N. G. magazine (March-April 1998).

Des Ouni dans le Monde (UFOs Around the World)

This brief section notes that UFO activities continue in the Soviet Union. It references a Journal de Québec article from April 13, 1990, about a "UFO ON THE VOLGA." The report describes a large, grey-blue, moon-sized object with two yellow points inside, emitting a blue light, observed on April 6, 1998, near Oulianovsk, Russia. The report is attributed to the Tass agency and the local newspaper Oulianovska Pravda.

Abonnement à LIUFO (Subscription to LIUFO)

Information is provided for subscribing to LIUFO. The subscription costs $5, covering production costs. Checks or money orders should be made payable to Marc Leduc and sent to the provided address in Lac Beauport, Quebec, Canada. LIUFO is published quarterly, approximately every three months, and typically contains more than four pages if collaborators contribute.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The recurring themes in this issue revolve around personal UFO sightings, the scientific and skeptical investigation of the phenomenon, and the collection of data through surveys and reports. The editorial stance appears to be one of open inquiry, presenting various perspectives from witnesses, researchers, and even skeptics, while also highlighting international UFO news. There is a clear effort to document and analyze UFO reports, particularly those with potential military connections, and to engage the ufological community through updates on organizations and events. The publication aims to inform its readers about UFO phenomena in Canada and around the world, encouraging participation and discussion.