Ovni Presence - No 32

Magazine Overview

Title: Ovni Présence
Issue: No. 32
Date: December 1984 / February 1985
Publisher: Association d'Etude sur les Soucoupes Volantes (AESV)
Type: Quarterly Bulletin

Editorial: E.T. contre (big) brother

The editorial, signed by Yves Bosson, introduces the magazine's new electronic typewriter, an Olivetti ET 115, humorously referred to as 'ET'. The editor uses this as a springboard to discuss the financial realities of publishing, emphasizing the need for reader support. He reassures readers that this is not an announcement of price increases or reduced content but a plea for continued readership, without which the magazine would have to cease publication.

Article: The Luc Case Investigation (VAR: SURVOL D'UN CAS)

This section details an investigation into a reported UFO sighting in Le Luc, Var, France, on October 22, 1984. The event involved a large white sphere observed by two witnesses, accompanied by a white beam of light illuminating the landscape. The initial reports in local newspapers, Nice-Matin and Var Matin République, described a white sphere hovering at low altitude. The investigation, spurred by regional investigator M. Eric Kalmar, involved contacting military authorities and meteorological services.

Military Involvement: The French Army's EAALAT (Ecole d'Application de l'Aviation Légère de l'Armée de Terre) was consulted. They explained that military helicopters conduct exercises, including 'voltac' (tactical flight) and night training, often at low altitudes and with minimal lighting for stealth. They confirmed that helicopters can direct their searchlights downwards and perform complex maneuvers. The Puma SA 330 helicopter was identified as a likely candidate.

Witness Testimony: The primary witnesses, a 36-year-old woman and her 14-year-old daughter, initially described the object as not being a helicopter, citing the light and the sphere. However, they were aware of night exercises involving helicopters. The second group of witnesses included a 35-year-old woman and her 10-year-old son. The investigation revealed that the phenomenon occurred around 18:50, with the object moving across the road and disappearing towards Le Cannet-des-Maures.

Official Investigation: The local gendarmerie in Le Luc opened an inquiry, leaning towards the helicopter hypothesis. They contacted various military bases to confirm their suspicions. The article notes the gendarmerie's diligence in seeking a definitive explanation.

LDLN's Perspective: M. Kalmar from LDLN excluded the helicopter hypothesis for three reasons: the lack of noise, the low altitude (around 100m) being dangerous and subject to sanctions, and the inability of a helicopter's spotlight to be directed upwards or to illuminate the ground without the helicopter itself being visible.

Resolution: The investigation concluded that the 'OVNI' was indeed a Puma SA 330 helicopter from the Phalsbourg-Le Cannet-des-Maures airbase. It was on a flight path via Valence, performing approach procedures near Flassans at around 18:45-18:50, when it activated its 600W spotlight. The noise of car engines and closed windows likely masked the helicopter's sound, and the distance made altitude estimation difficult.

Article: 'mini-flap' qui fait flop

This section reviews a series of events in late 1984 in the South of France, starting with the Le Luc case. It then discusses observations in Toulon, where two women reported seeing a bright, round object and a second craft. This report originated from an anonymous letter to the Var Matin République newspaper. The article notes that many of the subsequent witness testimonies were difficult to verify.

It then moves to other reported incidents:

• Corse: A sighting in Patrimonio on November 23, 1984, described a 12-meter long 'strange OVNI' with red and green lights, hovering at 100 meters. The article notes that aircraft are equipped with such lights.
• Provence: On December 5, multiple witnesses reported a phenomenon described as a 'plane on fire' or a meteorite. While initially thought to be a Geminid meteor, further investigation suggested a different origin.

The article concludes by stating that ongoing investigations suggest the origin of this phenomenon might be unrelated to the Geminid meteor shower.

Article: The Army's Involvement

This article explores the hidden world of military activities and their potential connection to UFO sightings. It highlights that many UFO reports might stem from the public mistaking military helicopters for unidentified objects. The author notes the frequent UFO reports in the Var region, attributing them partly to the numerous military bases in the area.

Special Exercises: The article details two types of helicopter exercises conducted by the ALAT base at Le Luc: 'voltac' (tactical flight at low altitudes, below 60m) and night training. Night training is facilitated by special micro-channel intensifier binoculars that amplify ambient light, allowing pilots to fly at night without lights and with full visibility.

Misidentification Potential: The author suggests that the military's discretion and the nature of these exercises could easily lead to misidentifications. The article references a book by J.-F. Boëdec claiming Puma SA 330 rotors are inaudible at 300m, but this is disputed by the manufacturer and military personnel, who state that while modern helicopters are quieter, they are not silent. The author concludes that such claims might be fictional.

Article: Traces: Some are False!

This extensive article delves into the phenomenon of fabricated UFO traces. It categorizes false traces into two types: those specifically constructed for a hoax and those that exploit existing features of a location.

Construction Methods: Hoaxes can involve burning the ground, creating holes and depressions using tools, or using unusual substances to create strange effects. The article notes that the construction of such traces is not difficult, especially given the public's familiarity with UFO lore.

Motivations: The motivations for creating false traces are varied, ranging from deliberate deception by individuals or groups to seeking attention, financial gain, or even psychological needs. The article also points out that some 'investigators' might fabricate cases to maintain their reputation or to fill a lack of genuine evidence.

Examples of False Traces: The article provides several examples of alleged UFO trace cases that were later exposed as hoaxes:

• Maisoncelles-en-Brie (France, 1954): Three triangular traces.
• Toulouse (France, 1954): A circular area with greasy condensation and trapezoidal imprints.
• Alleyrat (France, 1954): Disturbed earth.
• Rural Victoria (Australia, 1966): A large incision in the terrain.
• Saint-Vincent (Italy, 1977): A circular imprint with burned grass, transparent material, and a liquid.
• Gallarta (Spain, 1977): Numerous round and rectangular holes and depressions.
• Gello (Italy, 1981): A circular area with burned earth.

The article emphasizes the importance of critical analysis and thorough investigation to distinguish genuine phenomena from fabricated ones, noting that the lack of proper investigation can lead to many false cases being accepted as authentic.

Article: The Implication of the Army

This section continues the discussion on the military's role in UFO sightings, emphasizing the vast, often hidden, world of military activities that can intersect with ufology. The author reiterates that many UFO reports may stem from the public's misinterpretation of military helicopters, particularly during exercises like 'voltac' and night flights. The article suggests that the discreet nature of military operations makes it difficult to definitively ascertain how many UFO cases are actually misidentified aircraft.

Conclusion on 'Voltacs': The author concludes that 'voltac' exercises, combined with light-intensifying equipment, present a significant potential for UFO misidentification. The article questions the claim of 'inaudible rotors' for Puma SA 330 helicopters, suggesting it might be fictional, while acknowledging that modern helicopters are indeed becoming quieter.

Readers' Corner

This section features correspondence from readers:

• Thierry Pinvidic responds to criticisms regarding his research methodology and the challenges of accessing information and publishing findings in ufology. He argues for the importance of rigorous research and criticizes the perceived lack of serious scientific inquiry into UFOs, contrasting it with funding for less critical subjects.
• Rémy Chauvin (from the Laboratory of Animal Sociology at the Sorbonne) writes in response to a critique of his book. He expresses frustration with ufologists who he feels do not take his work seriously and accuses them of selectively discrediting positive testimonies. He also defends his own research approach.
• Thierry Pinvidic replies to Chauvin, refuting the accusation of discrediting testimonies and asserting that the magazine has published articles supportive of the UFO hypothesis. He also addresses specific points raised by Chauvin regarding research and publication.

Bibliography

A comprehensive list of references is provided, citing books, articles, and personal communications related to UFO sightings, investigations, and hoaxes.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The magazine consistently adopts a critical and investigative stance towards UFO phenomena. It emphasizes the importance of rigorous research, evidence-based analysis, and the debunking of hoaxes and misidentifications. There is a strong focus on distinguishing between genuine unexplained events and those that can be attributed to known phenomena, particularly military aircraft and psychological factors. The editorial team appears committed to providing a platform for detailed case studies, scientific analysis, and open discussion within the ufological community, while also acknowledging the financial challenges of independent publishing. The magazine encourages readers to engage critically with the subject matter and to support its continued publication.

This issue of OVNI-Présence, dated July 1984, features a primary article titled "la durée des phénomènes ovni: aide à la discernabilité" (The Duration of UFO Phenomena: Aid to Discernibility), which delves into the statistical analysis of UFO observation durations. The magazine also includes correspondence and discussions on various UFO-related topics.

Correspondence and Debates

The issue opens with a letter from Henry Durrant responding to previous editorial notes and articles, particularly those by T. Pinvidic and J. Giraud in OVNI-Présence n°30. Durrant defends his work and challenges Giraud's critique of his invention, the "Sonderbüro 13," and the Kummersdorf UFO case. Jean Giraud's detailed critique of Durrant's article is mentioned, highlighting the historical accuracy and referencing of claims.

Another correspondent, Anne-Vève, shares an interesting anecdote about an Antillean friend's interpretation of a luminous sphere as a Vaudou spirits, suggesting that cultural context can significantly influence how UFO phenomena are perceived and identified. This leads to a discussion on the potential for missing interesting cases due to cultural biases and the suggestion to explore ethnological literature.

Jean-Louis Peyraut contributes a piece further discussing the "Sonderbüro 13" affair, linking it to post-WWII propaganda efforts by the BERIA networks. He argues that the case is an avatar of a mythology designed to maintain vigilance and suggests that such mystifying works are significant in ufology.

Scientific Analysis: UFO Duration and Discernibility

The core of the issue is dedicated to a rigorous statistical study on the duration of UFO observations. The article begins by examining existing research, notably that of C. Poher, which suggests a bell-shaped curve for UFO durations and distinct patterns for OVI (Identified Flying Objects).

The authors critically re-evaluate these findings, questioning the methodology and data sources. They propose testing the hypothesis of OVNI-OVI indiscernibility using observation duration as a variable. The study involves analyzing various UFO case files, categorized into OVI (identified cases), OVNI (unidentified cases), and RR3 (cases with occupants).

Key statistical concepts such as the notion of cumulative frequency and the use of logarithmic scales are explained. The analysis highlights the "attractive effect of round numbers" in witness testimonies and the potential for bias in data classification. The study attempts to construct reference models for OVNI and OVI based on log-normal distributions.

Further extensions of these models involve comparing different UFO case files (e.g., UFOCAT, Air Force, Hendry, Bessé, Poher) and analyzing cases with "strange" characteristics, including those involving alleged humanoids.

The authors conclude that while their statistical models show some degree of discernibility between OVNI and OVI based on duration, the inherent biases in file construction and data selection make definitive conclusions difficult. They suggest that a more robust study would require a single, unbiased file with no selection criteria.

Appendices and Notes

Appendices include a typology of UFOCAT (Unidentified Flying Object Classification) and a list of referenced bibliographical sources. A note from Denys Breysse discusses the challenges of file constitution in ufology and proposes a new approach to classifying cases.

Other Sections

The issue also features a "clips..." section with brief news items, including:

• A mention of the "SKY SHIP 500" airship receiving a certificate of airworthiness.
• An announcement of the book "Oummo, le langage extra-terrestre" by A. Ribera.
• A note on the "Domain organized de l'absurde" book subscription closure.
• Information on the SOS-OVNI contact number.
• A review of the Swiss ufology publication "Il Giornale dei Misteri."
• Mentions of books by Keyhoe and Adamski.
• Anticipation of a new book by Bertrand Méheust.
• A statement from the National Council for Civil Liberties (NCCL) regarding the use of hypnosis in police interrogations.
• News about the suspension of the publication "Ufologia" by the Cercle Français de Recherches Ufologiques (CFRU).
• The launch of a new magazine by the Corporation pour la Collection des Observations Inexpliquées (CCOI).

Advertisements for "inforespace," "OVNI présence," and a guide titled "Clés pour Aix" are also present.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The recurring themes in this issue revolve around the rigorous scientific and statistical analysis of UFO data, the challenges of data collection and classification in ufology, and the critical examination of specific UFO cases and historical claims. The editorial stance appears to favor a methodical, evidence-based approach, while acknowledging the complexities and potential biases inherent in the field. There is a clear emphasis on questioning established findings and encouraging deeper, more critical research.