1954 05 21 Paris Match No 266

Magazine Overview

Title: Elles et Eux
Section: SCIENCES
Issue Date: August 1954

This article from the "SCIENCES" section of "Elles et Eux" magazine, dated August 1954, focuses on the phenomenon of flying saucers (soucoupes volantes).

Flying Saucers: An Epidemic Predicted for August

The central theme of the article is the prediction by Professor Aimé Michel that the summer of 1954, particularly August, would see a surge in flying saucer sightings. Michel, the author of the first major French study on the subject, "Lueurs sur les soucoupes volantes," bases this prediction on a historical correlation between UFO appearances and the Earth's proximity to the Perseids meteor shower, which peaks in August. He notes that there were already precursor signs, with sightings reported in Burma on April 7th, and in the Puy-de-Dôme and Corrèze regions of France on April 21st and 24th, respectively.

Michel expresses hope that amateur photographers, alerted to this phenomenon, will be vigilant and capture photographic evidence that could help unravel the mystery. He offers a technical tip for photographing celestial objects: avoid overexposure and use a small aperture.

Scientific Investigation and Extraterrestrial Hypothesis

The professor's book is based on an extensive review of extraordinary documents, including reports from French and French Union meteorological stations on flying saucer sightings. Michel finds these dossiers "very troubling" and points out the disturbing fact that, despite warnings from the national meteorological service, no commission or scientific body has ever consulted these records.

Aimé Michel, described as a well-rounded individual with a degree in philosophy and a background in radio technology, shares the view of many astronomers that flying saucers are indeed craft from other worlds. This extraterrestrial hypothesis is also supported by the Soviet academician Liakounov, who believes that the massive meteorite that fell in the Siberian Taiga near the Tungus River on June 30, 1908, flattening trees over vast distances, was an extraterrestrial craft.

The article posits that modern astronomy, by revealing the immense universe composed of billions of galaxies, each containing billions of stars, makes the existence of numerous planets capable of supporting life not just plausible, but almost certain. It is estimated that there are 100,000 such planets in the Milky Way alone, according to English astronomers Hayle and Littleton. The article asserts that life already exists on Mars, specifically plant life, noting that the Martian plains appear green in spring and brown in autumn.

Professor Smith, director of the Canadian observatory of Shirley's Bar, which specializes in unexplained celestial phenomena, is quoted as stating that an attitude of refusing the extraterrestrial hypothesis for flying saucers is unscientific and characteristic of ignorance and pretentiousness.

Historical Experiments and Pilot Concerns

A peculiar experiment conducted in 1901 by Tesla, Todd, and Marconi is mentioned. At a time when Hertzian waves were only produced in laboratories, scientists worldwide allegedly heard the letter 'S' in Morse code clearly. This event occurred when the planet Mars was at its closest point to Earth.

For English aviators, the mystery of flying saucers remains far from resolved. A meeting of pilots from the Royal Air Force (RAF), test pilots, and airline pilots was held in Islington, near London. A motion was passed and sent to the Minister of Air, demanding an end to the "black-out" of information. The majority of pilots, and some who claim to know the truth about the "mystery," believe that flying saucers exist, that the minister is aware of this, and that he also knows what they are.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The article strongly advocates for the extraterrestrial hypothesis regarding flying saucers, presenting it as a scientifically plausible and even likely explanation. It criticizes the lack of official scientific engagement with UFO evidence and highlights the concerns of aviation professionals. The piece aligns with a perspective that encourages open investigation into unexplained aerial phenomena and challenges skepticism.

Themes

• UFOs
• Extraterrestrial Life
• Astronomy
• Scientific Investigation
• Government Secrecy

Tags

Flying saucers, UFO sightings, Aimé Michel, August 1954, Perseids, extraterrestrial hypothesis, astronomy, Mars, Tesla, Marconi, RAF pilots, government secrecy, scientific investigation, meteorite, Taiga, unexplained phenomena, celestial events.