1956 05 17 Paris Match

Magazine Overview

This issue of Paris Match, dated May 17, 1956, features a prominent cover story titled "LES SOUCOUPES VOLANTES" (Flying Saucers), accompanied by a striking photograph of a formation of unidentified flying objects. The magazine delves into the mystery of UFOs, presenting a detailed account of a radar detection incident at Orly Airport and referencing findings from the US Air Force's Project Blue Book.

Radar Alert at Orly and Major Ruppelt's Report

The lead article recounts a mysterious event on the night of February 19, 1956, at Orly Airport. An operator in the radar cabin noticed an anomaly on the screen: an "echo" twice the size of a normal aircraft, exhibiting highly unusual behavior, including rapid changes in course, slowing down to a near standstill, and then accelerating at incredible speeds. The object's trajectory was tracked over a significant area around Paris, covering distances at an estimated speed of 3600 km/h.

Simultaneously, the crew of a Paris-London flight, an F.B.A.X. cargo plane, reported seeing a dark mass with red reflections through their porthole. The commander, Desavoi, stated in his report to the Secretary of State for Civil Aviation that they observed the object for thirty seconds but could not determine its exact volume or shape due to altitude limitations. The object lacked standard navigation lights, leading the crew to believe it was not a commercial aircraft.

The report highlights that while Orly's radar detected the phenomenon, other radar stations like Bourget and the Paris Observatory did not. The mysterious object continued to be tracked by Orly's radar for nearly four hours, covering a radius of over fifty kilometers.

The article then introduces Major Edward J. Ruppelt, former head of Project Blue Book, and his book "Rapport sur les objets volants non identifiés" (Report on Unidentified Flying Objects). Ruppelt, an engineer, led the ATIC (Air-Technical Intelligence Center) commission responsible for studying UFO reports for the U.S. Force. His work involved extensive data collection, including air traffic control, astronomical observatory data, and balloon launch information.

Ruppelt's findings, based on 44,000 declarations and 1,593 detailed reports, indicated that 26.94% of cases remained unexplained after thorough investigation. This figure is presented as significantly higher than the 10% of cases that were considered inexplicable in 1954, a year described as the most active for UFO sightings.

Notable Cases and Hypotheses

The magazine details several classic UFO cases mentioned in Ruppelt's book, including the incident involving Captain Pilot Mantell in Kentucky in 1948, who pursued a UFO and was later found dead with his burned F-51 aircraft. Another case involves a pilot who fired his machine guns at a UFO, which then disappeared. The report also mentions pilots Chiles and Whitted who witnessed a UFO near their DC-3 aircraft.

A particularly striking case is that of a boy scout leader in Florida who reported being burned by a "fireball" and smelling gas. While initially dismissed due to the witness's questionable background, subsequent investigation revealed that the roots of the grass where he claimed to have been affected were carbonized, a phenomenon that could be caused by a magnetic field or induction furnace, which also produces ozone – the gas he reported smelling.

This case lends support to the hypothesis of French Air Force Lieutenant Plantier. Plantier theorizes that flying saucers might use a magnetic field, possibly derived from atmospheric cosmic rays, to achieve extreme speeds and accelerations without harming the occupants or breaking the sound barrier audibly. This theory addresses common criticisms of UFOs, such as the human body's inability to withstand high G-forces, the impossibility of current propulsion systems achieving such speeds, and the lack of sonic booms.

Conclusion and Editorial Stance

Major Ruppelt, despite his initial skepticism and the collapse of many reports under scrutiny, concludes that he does not believe these "unidentified flying objects" do not exist. He acknowledges the numerous reports from experienced pilots, radar operators, and scientists who claim to have witnessed inexplicable phenomena. Ruppelt even suggests the possibility that Earth might be visited by craft from other planets.

The article contrasts this cautious but open-minded stance with previous official dismissals of UFOs as mere weather balloons or birds. It draws a parallel to Admiral Leahy's past assertion that the atomic bomb would never explode, implying that current skepticism towards UFOs might also be proven wrong over time.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The magazine adopts a serious and investigative tone, presenting the Orly incident and Ruppelt's findings as credible evidence of unexplained aerial phenomena. It highlights the scientific and military interest in UFOs, moving beyond mere speculation to consider potential explanations and the possibility of extraterrestrial contact. The editorial stance appears to be one of open-minded inquiry, acknowledging the limitations of current scientific understanding while not dismissing extraordinary claims outright. The recurring theme is the persistent mystery of flying saucers and humanity's ongoing struggle to comprehend them, even in an age of advanced technology.