OVNI INFO 34 - No 04 - 3e trim 1979

Magazine Overview

This document is the July 1979 issue (N° 04) of the bi-monthly bulletin "Bulletin d'Information du GROUPE PALMOS", volume 34. The cover features a stylized graphic and the headline "OVNI INFO". The price is 5 Francs.

Editorial

The editorial, dated June 30, 1979, from Nancy, France, is written by Bernard DUPI, President of Groupe Palmos. He expresses hope that the bulletin is meeting reader interest and encourages feedback and articles. He acknowledges past difficulties with printing, including issues with ink and defective rollers, which led to a delay and the coupling of issues N° 2 and N° 3. Despite being assigned to Eastern France, he intends to dedicate his leisure time to the group's activities. He notes the group's desire to focus on strictly regional activities but hopes their work will lead to fruitful outcomes and strengthen ties with other national and international groups. He encourages members to enjoy the summer nights for sky observation and mentions planned astronomy camps and PSI experimentation, with dates available from the secretariat upon request. He anticipates sending a convocation with the meeting and observation night schedule along with issue N° 5 in September and wishes readers happy holidays.

Investigations and Articles

Investigation: Observation near Aigues-Vives (Hérault) in 1974

This section details an investigation conducted on February 10, 1974, by members of Groupe Palmos, including B. DUPI and J.P. CHARTON, following a witness report from January 18, 1974. The investigation involved interviewing the primary witness, M. Hubert, a 65-year-old viticulturist and former aeronautics enthusiast, and a second witness, Gilbert Boyer (11 years old at the time), who corroborated the observation.

The observation took place on January 18, 1974, around noon, on the road between BIZE and AGEL, near the resurgence of the Cesse river. The weather was clear.

The primary witness, driving towards Agel, noticed a reflection from a glass-like surface on a rocky mountain. Initially thinking it was a glider, he then distinguished a shape resembling the nose of a large aircraft, with a thick bar extending about a meter on each side, like a DC-3 with its wings cut off. He noted the absence of a rear stabilizer and a striking immobility.

He stopped his car and observed the object more closely. It was a thick platform, about 60 centimeters high and 6 meters long, suspended about 50 meters above the reefs. It remained perfectly still despite a south wind that should have caused dynamic updrafts. No sound was heard.

The witness described the object's surfaces as vertical and perfectly smooth, with a grey-green metallic color. He could not discern any windows or glass. The object then moved off, first slowly, then very rapidly, crossing a vineyard and stopping about 500 meters further down the road, opposite the path to BIZE. It remained stationary for about two minutes before turning east and accelerating away at extraordinary speed, appearing as a small ball before disappearing.

The witness was astonished, comparing the experience to a science-fiction film. He checked the sky for other aircraft but found none.

Later, the witness reported that his grandson, Gilbert Boyer, had also seen the object from a vineyard. The object had hovered above Gilbert for about a minute, emitting a faint whistling sound upon departure. The child described a violet glow around the object and two V-shaped antennas at the rear, each with small balls at the ends. He estimated its size to be comparable to a bus.

Complementary details from the investigation suggest the object's dimensions were approximately 6 meters in length, 2.5 meters in height, and 4.5 meters in width. The distance from witness 1 was about 200 meters, and from witness 2, about 50 meters. The observation lasted between 7 to 8 minutes in two phases for witness 1, and 2 minutes for witness 2.

Article: "What I Think Today About UFOs (3)" by Pierre PARISELLE

This article, the third in a series, delves into the scientific and philosophical implications of UFOs. Pariselle posits that the advanced capabilities of UFOs—their speed, silence, intense lights, and apparent intelligence—suggest a science far beyond our own, likely originating from beings much more advanced than humans. He dismisses the idea of extraterrestrials living secretly on Earth, suggesting their origin is likely from other star systems.

He contrasts humanity's current self-perception as "mediocre" with the vastness of the universe. Drawing on scientific understanding of star and planet formation, he highlights that planets are common, and the essential molecules for life are found throughout interstellar dust. He references the Miller experiment, which showed that amino acids can form spontaneously under favorable conditions, suggesting that life, based on carbon, water, and electromagnetic waves, is a universal evolutionary process.

While cautious about claiming direct similarity to humanoids, he notes that several testimonies are particularly troubling, hinting at the possibility of recognizable forms of life elsewhere.

Other Sections

• Service de Presse: A section dedicated to press coverage related to UFOs.
• Mots Croisés: A crossword puzzle.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The recurring themes in this issue are UFO sightings, detailed investigations into specific cases, and the scientific and philosophical exploration of the phenomenon. The editorial stance, as expressed by Bernard DUPI, is one of active engagement, encouraging reader participation, and striving for a scientific yet open-minded approach to UFO research. The publication aims to inform and connect individuals interested in the subject, fostering a community dedicated to understanding the mysteries of UFOs.

This issue of OVNI-INFO, identified as issue number 36, delves into the scientific approach adopted by GEPAN (Groupe d'Etudes des Phénomènes Aérospatiaux Non Identifiés) for investigating unidentified aerospace phenomena (UAP).

Communication in the Universe

The issue begins by posing fundamental questions about the origin and meaning of the universe, questioning whether its creation and evolution towards life suggest a transcendent divine intelligence or if it's merely a product of chance. It references Paul Misraki's supernatural hypothesis and invites readers to form their own conclusions. The author expresses a belief in the existence of numerous life forms in the universe, potentially far more evolved than our own. This leads to three key questions regarding extraterrestrial life: Do they seek to communicate with us? What do they seek on Earth? How do they manipulate space and time? While acknowledging these are difficult questions often explored in science fiction, the text touches upon past hopes of receiving "messages" via radio telescopes, which now seem premature. It also mentions a coded message sent from Earth to distant stars, noting the unlikelihood of a response due to vast distances and the need for compatible receiving and understanding instruments. The author suggests that the OVNI phenomenon itself might be a more probable manifestation of a desire for communication.

GEPAN: Towards a Scientific Approach

The core of the issue is dedicated to GEPAN's methodology for studying UAP. It outlines the organization's problem definition, data collection, treatment, and study processes, aiming for a global approach.

I - What Problem? What Data?

GEPAN's initial tasks in 1977 and 1978 focused on improving investigation methods and statistical analysis of testimony documents, building on previous work by C. Poher. Two fundamental aspects of the problem were identified:

• The immediate non-reducibility of certain "unidentified" phenomena to classical physical or psychological schemas.
• A strong presumption of a physical component in reported phenomena.

Supporting evidence for the physical component includes Claude Poher's statistical studies, which found that the laws describing unidentified phenomena align with classical perception rules of sensitive physical phenomena. While not definitive proof, it supports the physical hypothesis. Additionally, investigations in 1977 and 1978 with generally independent witnesses yielded testimonies that were largely coherent, sincere, and credible.

The psychological component is inherent in the data, which are typically witness accounts influenced by perception and memory mechanisms. This includes witness reactions during and after observations, and subjective public responses often mixed with anticipation, fear, and hope.

II - What Treatments? What Studies?

GEPAN cannot conduct systematic investigations for every observation; in 1978, only about ten were carried out. Analysis of traces and spectra is ongoing, awaiting future data. The work primarily relies on external investigation reports.

#### a) Analysis - Interpretation - Classification

The primary task is to interpret documents as known or unknown phenomena and classify them into four categories:

• A - Identified phenomenon
• B - Probably identified phenomenon
• C - Unidentified phenomenon, but the document lacks interest (detail, cohesion...)
• D - Unidentified phenomenon, and the document is coherent, complete, and detailed.

This classification requires a deep knowledge of natural and artificial physical phenomena. GEPAN personnel, with diverse physical science backgrounds, can identify classical phenomena like meteorites, aircraft, and balloons. For non-classical phenomena, the task is more complex, with three categories mentioned:

• Phenomena related to air ionization (e.g., ball lightning).
• Phenomena linked to atmospheric thermodynamics (e.g., whirlwinds in calm weather).
• Phenomena related to optical effects (e.g., diffusion, multiple diffraction through cloud masses).

One of the most important tasks for GEPAN is collecting and analyzing scientific documents related to these phenomena, a challenging endeavor due to their succinct and dispersed nature. Currently, about a quarter of the analyzed documents are of type D.

#### b) Computerized Treatments

After classification, documents are coded for computer processing. The core principle is that the only objective fact is that witnesses have testified; the information unit is the testimony itself, not necessarily the observed phenomenon. Physicists are primarily interested in type D cases, while psychologists examine all testimonies, whether of known or unknown phenomena. Coding must serve both document management and statistical analysis functions. GEPAN is actively working on defining coding rules, with statistical studies broken down into three areas:

• Spatio-temporal studies.
• Studies of witnesses (types and behavior).
• Studies of descriptions (types and behavior).

Psychologists are primarily involved in the second area, and physicists in the third, with an understanding of their interactions.

#### c) Studies and Reflections in the Field of Physics

Since witness testimony cannot be considered objective data for a physicist, the question arises about the physicist's role. Physicists can contribute by reflecting on advanced physical theories, from elementary particles to universe models, to understand current limits and potential new interpretations of unidentified phenomena. They can also study observations, but must first make a crucial hypothesis: that the witness's psychological screen is non-deforming and that the subjectivity of descriptions does not alter the objectivity of perceived phenomena. This opens up avenues for research, as ordinary observation conditions should adhere to classical physical laws. The key question then becomes: are the described phenomena contradictory to known physical laws?

It is not about apprehending these phenomena globally but point by point. Recurring themes include truncated or angled light beams, silent movements without aerodynamic effects, and interactions with the environment (engine failures, witness malaise). These can be approached separately regarding their compatibility with theory, technological feasibility, and experimental possibility. While technological aspects may be currently inaccessible, the primary goal is to determine if the described phenomena are truly as "aberrant" as claimed.

If the answer is negative, it does not confirm the reality of the phenomena, as the initial hypothesis remains. A positive answer, however, necessitates a return to theoretical reflection and the psychological component. Regardless of the conclusion, these findings will be valuable for situating the phenomenon relative to known physical theories.

III - Conclusion: Towards a Global Approach

It is evident that unidentified aerospace phenomena pose a problem, and that both physical and psychological components are present. The current phase of study and research aims to "situate" the problem within the framework of physical and human sciences through systematic data collection, focused studies, and global reflection based on particular findings.

Only after this phase can the problem, more precisely defined, be addressed with resources determined by the nature of the results. GEPAN's current resources are limited but commensurate with the current level of understanding. It would be premature to demand substantial resources before a clear, coherent approach is defined. However, it would be equally dangerous to abandon the problem due to insufficient means. The path forward lies in navigating between these extremes, which is essential for future progress in understanding the problem.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The recurring themes in this issue revolve around the scientific investigation of UAP, emphasizing a dual approach that considers both physical evidence and psychological factors. The editorial stance is one of cautious optimism and methodical inquiry, advocating for a systematic, evidence-based approach to understanding these phenomena. There is a clear emphasis on the importance of rigorous methodology, data analysis, and interdisciplinary collaboration between physicists and psychologists. The publication appears to support the idea that UAP are real phenomena that warrant serious scientific study, moving beyond mere speculation.

Title: OVNI-INFO
Issue: 34
Publication Date: 3rd Quarter 1979
Publisher: GROUPE PALMOS
Country: France
Language: French

Exclusive Survey on Flying Saucers

This issue of OVNI-INFO presents an exclusive survey conducted by SOFRES, published in the weekly "LE PELERIN" (issue n° 5035, June 3, 1979). The survey, which served as the theme for a special dossier titled "The Mystery of Flying Saucers," provides insights into French public opinion on Unidentified Flying Objects (UFOs).

Key Survey Findings:

• Extraterrestrial Belief: 25% of French people believe that UFOs are extraterrestrial craft.
• Youth Belief: 40% of young people believe in the existence of flying saucers.

Explanations for UFOs:

The survey asked French people how they explain Unidentified Flying Objects. The results are as follows:

• Natural phenomena: 30%
• Flying craft from another planet: 25%
• Flying craft sent from Earth: 21%
• Hallucinations: 12%
• Don't know: 20%

The survey was conducted by SOFRES on a national sample of 2000 people, representative of the French population aged fifteen and over, during April 1979.

Age and Belief:

Belief in UFOs is higher among younger demographics:

• 40% of those under 25 explain the OVNI phenomenon by the presence of extraterrestrials.
• This figure drops to 26% for the 25-34 age group.
• For those aged 65 and over, the belief rate is only 16%.

The article suggests that the generation that grew up with the moon landing may naturally perceive a universe with expanded dimensions, extending to the limits of our solar system, galaxy, or cosmos.

Who Believes in Flying Saucers?

The survey also explored demographic correlations with belief in flying saucers:

• Urban vs. Rural: Inhabitants of large cities (31%) believe much more than rural inhabitants (21%).
• Occupations: Executives and employees (32%) believe much more than farmers (18%).
• Regional Differences: People from the South (32%) believe much more than people from the East (23%) or the West (24%).

While positive and scientific minds might attribute UFO sightings to natural causes like meteorites, clouds, terrestrial smoke, or hallucinations (cited by 63% of French people), the article concludes that the proportion of those who believe in the possibility of life on other planets and other intelligences is considerable.

Service de Presse

This section thanks individuals and groups for providing press clippings and reviews. It lists several UFO research organizations and their contact information:

• UFO-INFORMATION: Association des Amis de Marc Thirouin (AAMT), Valence.
• PHENOMENE OVNI: Comité Savoyard d'Etudes et de Recherches Ufologiques (CSERU), Chambéry.
• BULLETIN DU GERO: Groupe d'Etudes et de Recherches sur les OVNI, Besançon.
• GNEOVNI Bulletin: Groupe Nordiste d'Etude des OVNI, Lestrem.
• OVNI 43: Groupement Langeadois de Recherches Ufologiques, Langeac.
• Réalité ou FICTION: Groupement Privé Ufologique Nancéen, Nancy.
• VAUCLUSE UFOLOGIE: Groupement de Recherches et d'Etudes du Phénomène OVNI, Sorgues.
• INFO-OVNI: Groupe 03100 Jean Giraud, Montluçon.
• LUMIERES DANS LA NUIT: M. R. Veillith, Le Chambon-sur-Lignon.
• UFOLOGIE CONTACT: Société Parisienne d'Etudes des Phénomènes Spatiaux Étranges (SPEPSE), Marly-le-Roi.
• APPROCHE: Société Varoise d'Etude des Phénomènes Spatiaux (SVEPS), Toulon.
• INFORESPACE: Société Belge d'Etude des Phénomènes Spatiaux, Brussels, Belgium.
• CHRONIQUE DE LA CLEU: Commission Luxembourgeoise d'Etudes Ufologiques, Luxembourg.

It also mentions "CIEL ET ESPACE," a review from the Association Française d'Astronomie.

"Guide de l'Observateur"

The issue highlights a comprehensive document titled "Guide de l'Observateur" received from SOBEPS (Société Belge d'Etude des Phénomènes Spatiaux). This guide, created by Alexandre Debienne and Maurice Verhoost, is described as a practical manual for sky surveillance enthusiasts. It can be obtained by writing to SOBEPS, with a price of 17 French Francs (including postage) via international postal money order.

Publication Availability:

Readers can regularly find the review "OVNI-INFO 34" and other UFO-related publications (books and reviews) at LIBRAIRIE LA PLANETE, 24, avenue Foch, MONTPELLIER.

Crossword Puzzle

A crossword puzzle titled "MOTS CROISES" is included, with horizontal and vertical clues related to astronomy and general knowledge. The solution to a previous puzzle is also provided.

International Sky Watchings

Announcements are made for upcoming sky observation evenings:

• July 28
• August 26
• September 23
• October 21

These events will take place at Place des Arceaux (Montpellier), in front of the gymnasium, between 8:30 PM and 9:00 PM maximum. An optional observation camp is planned from July 7th to 22nd, and interested individuals are advised to contact the group's secretariat.

Monthly Meetings

Monthly meetings are suspended during the summer and will resume in October 1979. They are held on Saturdays at 9:00 PM at the Centre International des Jeunes, Impasse de la Petite Corraterie, in Montpellier.

Call to Action

The issue encourages readers to spread the word about the PALMOS group and its bulletin "OVNI-INFO-34," stating that a larger group leads to greater effectiveness.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

This issue of OVNI-INFO focuses heavily on public perception and belief in UFOs, particularly highlighting a significant survey that quantifies these beliefs within the French population. The editorial stance appears to be one of open inquiry, presenting survey data and listing various research groups without overtly endorsing or dismissing the phenomena. The inclusion of practical information for observers and meeting announcements indicates an active community-building effort. The magazine also promotes the idea that while scientific explanations exist, the possibility of extraterrestrial life and intelligence is considerable, reflecting a common theme in ufology publications of the era.