Ovni 43 - No 01 - janv 1978

Magazine Overview

This document is the first issue of the bulletin from the Groupement Langeadois de Recherches Ufologiques (G.L.R.U.), titled 'OVNI 43'. It is a bi-monthly publication, edited by the G.L.R.U. and printed by students of the Lycée S. Weill. The issue is dated January 1978, with a price of 4.00. The cover features a striking black and white illustration with multiple flying saucer-like objects and the prominent text 'SOBEPS' and 'OVNI 43'. The publication is associated with the Belgian Society for the Study of Spatial Phenomena (SOBEPS).

The Birth of a Groupement

The issue begins with an article by Gilbert Peyret, detailing the genesis of the Groupement Langeadois de Recherches Ufologiques. He recounts how the idea was born in 1975 in Langeac, France, during a conversation about 'flying saucers' after watching the film 'The War of the Worlds'. His initial motivation was to create a local group for ufological research. He emphasizes that the process was simple, starting with a conversation with friends and the enthusiastic agreement of a fifteen-year-old named Thierry to form a group. Peyret also acknowledges the crucial support received from the Association des Amis de Marc Thirouin, particularly from its president, Monsieur Duquesnoy, and its secretary-general, Monsieur Bonnaventure, who provided essential help and advice. The association was officially declared on September 29, 1977. This first bulletin is presented as the 'birth announcement' of the association.

Membership and Correspondence

Information is provided for interested individuals to join the G.L.R.U. Membership requires being of legal age (or having parental authorization) and being approved by the bureau. Correspondence and subscription requests should be addressed to M. Peyret Gilbert in Moutoulon, Langeac. Contact details for the Association des Amis de Marc Thirouin (Commission d'enquête sur les O.V.N.I.) in Valence are also included.

Compilation of UFO Sightings

A significant portion of the bulletin is dedicated to a collection of UFO sighting reports, compiled by correspondent Eric Bitterly from Epinal. These reports, sourced from various French newspapers, primarily from early 1974, cover numerous incidents across France:

• Roville-aux-Chênes (Vosges): An employee observed an immobile, bizarre object, described as parallelepiped with an orange glow, about 30 cm at the base, hovering above trees.
• Plaine de Chanteloup (Yvelines): An engineer from Simca-Chrysler reported an unknown craft with two powerful headlights moving at an altitude of 300 meters. Gendarmes found no trace.
• Plaine de Chanteloup (Yvelines): Another witness reported an illuminated, immobile object at 500 meters altitude, with powerful spotlights directed at the ground. Gendarmes found no evidence.
• Between Tarbes and Toulouse: A young couple saw two red lights in their rearview mirror, and an object stabilized in front of their car, not varying its distance with their speed.
• Douai: Witnesses reported a sun-like object with a triangle at its base, observed for a long time before disappearing rapidly.
• Bagnol-sur-Ceze (Gard): An inhabitant observed a phenomenon evolving in a sinusoidal trajectory over Marcoule.
• Haute-Marne (Chaumont, Semoutier, Chamarandes, Clerciefond): A dozen people saw a crescent moon-shaped object of yellow-orange color.
• Quetigny: A military man, a groundskeeper, and children saw an orange object moving east to west.
• Neufmanie (Ardennes): Several people observed an ovoid object, appearing to be in fusion, moving south.
• Agluzelles-Courcelles (Marne): A family saw a demi-lune shaped object with eight small orange lights.
• Spicheren: A woman and two police officers witnessed a reddish object moving very slowly.
• Esperazza (Aube): A farmer, his wife, and children saw a fluorescent crescent object land in a field. The next day, traces and holes were found.
• Timogne (Ardennes): A general councillor and his family observed a ring-shaped object of bright orange color.
• Grenoble: A dozen UFOs with distinct contours and a slightly green color were observed, some making backward movements.
• Julienrupt (Vosges): Monitors at a holiday camp observed a luminous phenomenon with a sphere of bright green color, followed by a trail ending in an orange flash, moving rapidly north-east.
• Flers: A fireball, the apparent diameter of a plate, moved north-south. Neighbors also saw a blinking white and red star.
• Cambrai: A 20-year-old woman reported seeing an incandescent ball rotating like a top and drawing a spiral. Residents of Niergnies noted that nearby beet leaves became flaccid and soft, as if cooked by heat.
• Near Thionville: Two young factory workers saw a triangular object of very bright red color that became rounded, with its center turning yellow, moving away and disappearing.
• Kirschaumen (near Thionville): A young man saw a bluish star, very bright, at about 400 meters altitude, accompanied by a whistling sound.
• Aingeville and Saulxure-les-Bugnéville: Two women saw a large red glow descend rapidly towards the ground, followed by a multitude of sparks.
• Bourganeuf: An object radiating a pretty green hue was spotted, moving with considerable speed.

Expert Analyses and Theories

The bulletin also features more in-depth discussions on the nature of UFO phenomena:

• The UFO and the Trawler: A report from Lisbon describes a UFO disrupting the electrical system of a Portuguese trawler, activating its sirens and then departing at high speed.
• UFOs at the UN: Sir Eric Gairy, Prime Minister of Grenada, affirmed before the UN General Assembly that he had seen a UFO and called for the UN to systematically study UFOs, proposing the creation of a research institute.
• Jean-Claude Bourret's Article: An article from 'Armées d'aujourd'hui' discusses UFOs as a challenge to human science. It recounts an incident in Thonon-les-Bains where a woman, Simone X., reported seeing a robot in her park, which paralyzed her and then called her name.
• Colonel Gaston Alexis's Statistics: He stated that about 8% of UFO testimonies are truly unexplained, and the important question is whether these unexplained cases resemble the resolved ones.
• Jacques Vallée's 'Triple Phenomenon': Vallée proposes that UFO phenomena are triple-natured: a physical aspect involving electromagnetic energy, an interface with the witness (psychological effects), and a social aspect concerning the impact on modern society. He suggests that the extraterrestrial hypothesis is just one possibility and advocates for studying the collective conditioning effect of UFO waves.
• Pierre Guérin's Perspective: Guérin defines UFOs as luminous forms or structured objects associated with humanoid entities, whose characteristics defy current human science. He notes their consistent behavior towards witnesses and the physical evidence they can leave. He leans towards the extraterrestrial hypothesis, acknowledging the immense challenges of interstellar travel.
• Aimé Michel's 'Intelligent Phenomenon': Michel, a long-time ufologist, describes UFOs as an unknown physical phenomenon that is 'intelligent' and escapes current investigative methods, but whose effects are observable. These effects include physical (electromagnetic, electrical), psychological (unreliable witnesses), and socio-historical aspects (the rapid rise of UFO obsession). He initially favored studying UFOs through civilian research but later changed his mind, believing the military's resources are necessary for serious investigation.
• Call for Funding: Michel mentions his repeated requests since 1974 for modest funding to enable scientists to study the problem seriously.

Specific Cases and Locations

• Turin Affair: Mentioned as a case that convinced the author of the reality of UFOs, involving radar detection, pilot sightings, and pursuit by an aircraft, which rationalists explained as a weather balloon, despite its impossible performance.
• Normandy Sighting: A doctor in Normandy reported seeing a UFO land twice in a field, leaving behind three deep holes forming a perfect triangle.
• Brazilian Story: A bus driver in Rio de Janeiro claimed to have been inside a 'flying saucer' for an hour with about fifty 'little men', experiencing a temperature of 42 degrees Celsius afterward.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The recurring themes in this issue are the reporting of numerous UFO sightings from various locations, the analysis of these phenomena by experts, and the persistent question of their origin and nature. The G.L.R.U. appears to adopt a serious, investigative stance, presenting witness accounts and expert opinions without dismissing the possibility of unexplained phenomena, while also acknowledging the need for rigorous scientific inquiry. The editorial stance leans towards the belief that UFOs represent a genuine, potentially intelligent phenomenon that warrants further study, possibly of extraterrestrial origin, but also emphasizes the importance of distinguishing between explained and unexplained cases and the need for scientific resources to investigate them.