1954 10 23 Paris Match

Magazine Overview

This issue of "LE MATCH DU MONDE" features an in-depth article by Raymond Cartier titled "RAYMOND CARTIER RESPONDS TO 5 QUESTIONS THAT WE ASK YOU ABOUT FLYING SAUCERS." The magazine's focus is on the phenomenon of unidentified flying objects (UFOs), commonly known as flying saucers.

Question 1: Is there enough credible testimony to take the 'flying saucer' phenomenon seriously?

Answer: YES

Cartier asserts that the sheer volume of sightings worldwide, particularly since 1947, warrants serious attention. While the term "Flying Saucers" emerged in the United States, sightings have been reported globally, with only communist countries like Russia and China denying them, or attributing them to American propaganda. The article notes a significant increase in European sightings around 1950-1954. Despite official Soviet explanations blaming American military strategy, the fact that Moscow addresses the issue suggests they also take it seriously. While precise global statistics are unavailable, estimates suggest tens of thousands of sightings since 1947. The frequency of sightings has varied, with peaks in 1947 and 1952, followed by declines. Public belief in the phenomenon is growing, with many historical accounts, such as those from Jesuit missionaries in 17th-century Canada, being re-examined. The article highlights that many credible witnesses, including pilots (like Kenneth Arnold, Chiles, Whitted, Gorman, Mantell, Cavasse, Clément), meteorologists, and even astronomers (like Tombaugh), have reported sightings. The US government established a scientific commission in 1947 to study these phenomena, which provided explanations for most cases but left a percentage unexplained.

Question 2: Do reliable testimonies provide a consistent description of flying saucers?

Answer: NO

Cartier explains that descriptions of flying saucers are inconsistent, particularly regarding their size and speed. While some witnesses like Lieutenant Gorman described a "ball of light," Captain Mantell reported pursuing a "terrifying" object before his fatal crash. Other accounts, like those of Chiles and Whitted, estimate lengths of around thirty meters, while Captain McLaughlin's measurements suggested a thirty-five-meter diameter. However, some reports describe much larger objects, up to 120-150 meters in diameter, or even larger than aircraft carriers. Conversely, some witnesses who claimed to see saucers landed on the ground described them as small, like the one reported by a customs officer in Marignane, measuring about 4-5 meters long and 1 meter thick. José Casella in Biot described an oval, aluminum-colored mass about 5-6 meters in diameter. Sightings can be isolated or in groups, with some reports of smaller saucers being absorbed by larger ones. Radar traces of UFOs are noted, comparable to those of conventional aircraft, though the article cautions that radar can be subject to mirages. The simultaneous detection of UFOs by radar and visually lends some credibility to their material existence.

Question 3: Are there satisfactory explanations for flying saucers?

Answer: NO

Despite investigations, a significant portion of flying saucer sightings remain unexplained. The US Air Technical Intelligence Center (ATIC) explains about 70% of reported cases, deems 20% too imperfectly observed for analysis, and leaves 10% unexplained. Meteorological balloons are cited as the cause for 80% of explained cases, with their large size, reflective surfaces, and high-altitude visibility contributing to misidentification. Other explanations include meteors, halos, mirages, high-altitude aircraft, flocks of birds, and hoaxes. However, the persistent 10% of unexplained cases, consistent since 1947, fuels speculation. Critics like Major Donald E. Keyhoe accuse government agencies of deliberately concealing evidence of extraterrestrial origins to prevent public panic. Conversely, scientific bodies like the Paris Institute of Astrophysics view the phenomenon as a commercial or political hoax. Donald Menzel, a Harvard professor, attempted to explain sightings through natural phenomena, but his work was met with criticism. The article suggests that the unexplained 10% warrants further scientific investigation, even if it means confronting uncomfortable truths.

Question 4: Are there reasons to believe flying saucers are impossible?

Answer: YES

US aviation technical services state that despite numerous sightings, no unknown physical material, radiation, or inexplicable emanations have ever been collected. Claims of debris, like that by Harold Dahl, were later revealed as fabrications. The lack of detected emissions or radiation makes propulsion by known means improbable. The reported speeds and accelerations are considered physically impossible within the atmosphere due to extreme heat generation and the immense forces involved, which would be lethal to any occupants. The silence of these craft is also deemed impossible, as any object moving at high speed through the atmosphere should produce significant noise. Lieutenant Plantier proposes a theory involving cosmic particles and energy fields to explain these phenomena, suggesting that the air is manipulated along with the craft, negating acceleration effects and noise. However, this theory is considered highly speculative and unlikely to be accepted by the scientific community, as the technology to generate such fields is currently beyond human capability.

Question 5: Is it possible that flying saucers come from another planet?

Answer: ? (Undetermined)

Cartier posits that it is not impossible for life and civilization to exist elsewhere in the universe, given the vast number of celestial bodies. While conditions on planets like Mars and Venus may seem inhospitable to humans, it's conceivable that different forms of life could adapt. The article acknowledges the possibility of life on other planets within our solar system and beyond. However, it cautions against anthropomorphizing potential extraterrestrial beings. The immense distances involved in interstellar travel are not an absolute barrier, especially considering the relativity of time. If flying saucers are not terrestrial in origin and are not optical illusions or hallucinations, then an extraterrestrial source is the only remaining possibility. However, the article concludes that while the origin of flying saucers remains a profound mystery, there is no concrete evidence to definitively prove they are from another planet. The vast majority of unexplained phenomena might be attributed to poorly understood atmospheric events, with only a minuscule possibility of them being interstellar craft.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The recurring themes in this issue revolve around the mystery of flying saucers (UFOs), the credibility of witness testimonies, the limitations of scientific investigation, and the potential for extraterrestrial visitation. Raymond Cartier adopts a balanced approach, acknowledging the sheer volume of sightings and the persistence of unexplained cases, while also highlighting the scientific and physical impossibilities presented by many reports. The editorial stance appears to be one of cautious inquiry, urging for continued investigation while remaining grounded in scientific principles and avoiding unsubstantiated speculation. The article implicitly critiques both the dismissive skepticism of some scientists and the more sensationalist claims of UFO proponents, suggesting that the truth lies somewhere in between the mundane and the extraordinary.