1979 12 21 Paris Match

Magazine Overview

This issue of the magazine features a prominent cover story titled "HUIT JOURS AVEC LES BOULES QUI PARLENT" (Eight Days With The Talking Spheres), detailing the alleged abduction of Franck Fontaine by unidentified flying objects (UFOs).

The Franck Fontaine Abduction Case

The central narrative revolves around Franck Fontaine, an 18-and-a-half-year-old who claims to have been taken by mysterious extraterrestrial beings for eight days. The report, penned by Marie-Thérèse de Brosses and Jean Ker, recounts Fontaine's story after he reappeared near the Cergy-Pontoise electrical plant on December 3rd, having been missing since November 26th. Fontaine describes being surrounded by a luminous sphere that landed on his car's hood, followed by a period of unconsciousness and then finding himself in a white laboratory.

He recounts seeing "little spheres" of light, about the size of an orange or a tennis ball, which he claims can take on any form and speak with male or female voices. These beings, which he refers to as "men-spheres," communicated with him, and he felt no fear, describing the experience as calm and happy. He believes he was chosen for contact and that these beings are highly intelligent and wise, possessing advanced science.

Fontaine states that the beings intentionally removed details from his memory to prepare him physically and mentally. He was told that they are hesitant to make direct contact with Earthlings because humanity might misuse their advanced science, potentially leading to destruction. He also mentions that direct contact is carefully managed, and those contacted are chosen with care. He claims he was forbidden from undergoing hypnosis or scientific experiments, as past contacts who did so became mentally unstable or suffered amnesia.

Fontaine's account is presented with a degree of skepticism, with the article noting that he refused regression under hypnosis to make his story more credible. The report acknowledges the potential for mystification or collective delusion but highlights the sociological interest in the case and the wave of credulity it generated.

Witness Accounts and Investigation

The article provides details of the events leading up to Fontaine's disappearance. On November 26th, around 4 AM, Fontaine, along with his friends J.P. Prévost and Salomon N'Diaye, were preparing to sell jeans. While Fontaine went to get their Ford break car, Prévost and N'Diaye saw a luminous trail in the sky. When they went to meet Fontaine, they found his car abandoned, its front end engulfed in a bright, luminous fog from which four smaller spheres emerged before the phenomenon dissipated.

Fontaine reappeared eight days later, disheveled and with only a hundred francs in his pocket, the same amount he had when he disappeared. The gendarmerie conducted an investigation, initially exploring rational explanations such as electrocution near the electrical plant or a blow to the head causing amnesia. They searched the area and the nearby Oise river. When Fontaine reappeared, the gendarmerie had exhausted all hypotheses of a hoax or crime.

Official Stance and UFO Phenomenon

The article includes statements from the gendarmerie, specifically Commandant Cochereau, who centralizes UFO information in Paris. He confirms that the gendarmerie systematically collects UFO testimonies, averaging 150 to 200 per year since 1974. This information is shared with the Air Force and transmitted to Gepan (Groupe d'études des phénomènes aérospatiaux non identifiés), a department of the Centre National des Etudes Spatiales, for scientific analysis. Gepan reportedly finds 23-24% of cases to be unexplained annually.

Cochereau emphasizes the importance of witnesses coming forward, as only 10-20% of actual UFO sightings are reported. He acknowledges that the phenomenon is real and disruptive, particularly because it is not yet fully explained. He also notes that while convinced UFO proponents advocate for extraterrestrial vehicles, former Gepan director Claude Poher expressed skepticism about the extraterrestrial hypothesis, stating that no one can definitively claim to know what is happening.

The article also touches upon the financial and legal situations of the three friends, suggesting that their precarious circumstances might make them targets for scrutiny, yet the gendarmerie's investigation did not lead to charges of contempt of court.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The magazine appears to be exploring the intersection of UFO phenomena, witness testimony, and societal reactions, including credulity and potential misinterpretation. The editorial stance seems to be one of cautious reporting, presenting the extraordinary claims of Franck Fontaine while acknowledging the need for verification and the involvement of official investigative bodies like the gendarmerie and Gepan. The article highlights the difficulty in definitively explaining such events and the ongoing efforts to understand the UFO phenomenon. The theme of advanced alien science and humanity's readiness to receive it is a recurring point, as is the fear of misuse of such knowledge.