Phenomene OVNI - No 18 - janvier 1985

Magazine Overview

This issue of CSERU, identified as NUMERO 18 and dated January 1985, is published by AIHPI from BRUNOY Cedex, France. The ISSN is 0180-2011, and the price per issue is 10 French Francs. The cover prominently features the title 'le phénomène O.V.N.I' (the UFO phenomenon) and the logo of CSERU, the 'Comité Savoyard d'études et de Recherches Ufologiques' (Savoyard Committee for Ufological Studies and Research).

Table of Contents

• The table of contents lists the following sections:
• Sommaire (Contents), page 1
• Le Billet du president (The President's Letter), page 2
• Le "projet NABOKOK", par Bertrand MEHEUST, pages 3 to 13
• Echos du CSERU (CSERU News), page 14
• Observations Inédites (Unpublished Observations), pages 15 to 26
• Humour, pages 27 and 28
• Tribune libre (Free Tribune), page 29
• Structures, page 30

A quote from Miguel de Unamuno is featured: "La véritable science enseigne, par dessus tout, à douter et à être ignorant."

The President's Letter (Le Billet du president)

Nicolas Greslou, the president of CSERU, reflects on the magazine's seven-year journey since its first issue. He recalls his initial editorial concerns about the publication's survival and financial health. Greslou notes that the magazine has persevered despite numerous challenges. He reiterates the four target audiences for the review:

1. CSERU Members: To serve as a liaison bulletin and internal communication tool for the society's adherents.
2. General Public: To initiate and inform the public about the UFO phenomenon, particularly its implications in the Savoy region, requiring a broader reach beyond the immediate group.
3. Experienced Ufologists: To provide articles of a higher level or on more specific topics that might not appeal to a general audience.
4. French Scientists: To engage with the few scientists who are willing to study the problem, balancing the risk of boring them with familiar information against the risk of appearing pretentious by proposing new research.

Greslou states that these objectives remain relevant and that the magazine has strived to maintain this course for seven years. He thanks the many ufologists who have shown confidence, courageous scientists who have contributed articles, and numerous readers who have provided financial support. He concludes by emphasizing that the task remains immense and noble, and that they will continue their work with the same commitment.

The Nabokok Project (Le Projet Nabokok) by Bertrand Meheust

This article explores the challenge of testing the validity of the socio-psychological model for UFO phenomena. Meheust proposes an alternative method to large-scale international surveys, which he argues are insufficient for understanding how the phenomenon was perceived in culturally 'virgin' environments before widespread information contamination.

The Problem with Standard Surveys

Meheust explains that a vast survey conducted today in Western countries, which are heavily influenced by UFO information, would struggle to reveal how the phenomenon was perceived in truly isolated areas. It would not uncover the origins of the phenomenon as effectively as a survey conducted in the 1950s might have.

An Alternative Method: Investigating Culturally Virgin Terrains

Meheust suggests a more artisanal approach: examining cases that occurred in culturally virgin territories. The underlying idea is to test the consequences of the socio-psychological model. The model's fundamental postulate is that all humans, regardless of culture, possess the mental framework to generate perceptual distortions, spread rumors, and create hoaxes. However, if UFO phenomena are truly global, the model must explain how this occurs in non-Western contexts.

Meheust presents two hypotheses:
1. All humans are contaminated by the UFO imagery, and there have never been any virgin zones.
2. If not all humans are contaminated, then non-Western cases either originate from areas influenced by Western culture or have been distorted by Western investigators.

The Gabon Study: Nabobok Village

Meheust, residing in Gabon, conducted a test in Nabobok, a small village in North Gabon, near the Cameroonian border. The region is characterized by dense equatorial forest, sparse population, subsistence farming, and a population that is largely illiterate and speaks Fang. The village is isolated, with a laterite track connecting it to the main road, which is impassable for five months of the year. Contact with Western civilization is minimal, primarily through local radio broadcasts; international radio is not understood due to language barriers.

The Experiment

Meheust, not being a socio-psychologist, used a simple method. He had four drawings, depicting a classic 'third kind' encounter (a woman meeting small, big-headed figures who enter a flying saucer), interpreted by the villagers. A bilingual student translated the responses. The villagers were asked to comment on each drawing and then interpret the scene globally.

Reactions from Nabobok Villagers:

• Woman (b. 1934) and daughter (12-13): Described men as resembling pygmies, holding knives, and dressed in white. They saw figures ascending stairs and incomprehensible events. Interpretation: The daughter thought it was an airplane; the mother found it incomprehensible, possibly a 'bird of iron' that cannot land in the bush, or assassins appearing and disappearing.
• Woman (b. 1945), planter: Related the figures to Americans (whites) seeking precious materials. Interpretation: The figures were angels or souls, possibly because she was one of the few literate villagers who read the Bible.
• Man (50), planter: Saw men with weapons, something dazzling like the sun. Incomprehension of subsequent drawings.
• Man (40), planter: Saw white children with something they directed at the woman, and a house shaped like a colonial helmet. Interpretation: Children playing, woman bringing them into a flying house.
• Man (b. 1919), planter: Saw children in a suit, holding sticks, with a structure resembling a termite mound or house. Interpretation: The house flies, which is impossible, so it must be God making it fly.
• Man (age unknown, 40-45?): Saw people emerging from a cave, whites doing research, calling the cave their home. They re-enter the house, which then flies. Interpretation: None given.

Reactions from Young Men and Students:

• Man (55), planter: Saw a boat and chimpanzees. The boat flew into the sky. Interpretation: None.
• Young man (19), worker in Minwal: Identified figures as cosmonauts attacking the woman with a sword. They escape in the craft, which ascends. Interpretation: They are not from Earth; they came from space to see Earth. This young man was the only one in the village to have completed middle school and spoke French. He had read a science fiction novel and was unaware of the term 'OVNI'.
• Young man (20), driver in Minwal: Saw white children with sticks and a house shaped like a hat. The house is on stilts. Interpretation: None. Note: This student may have seen a karate comic book.

Meheust then tested a group of 'Terminale D' students (the future elite of Gabon), who have more contact with Western civilization through the lycée in Oyem and access to publications like L'Express and Paris-Match. Despite this exposure, their 'Westernization' remained superficial.

• 20-year-old, father, planter (Minwal): Encountered two small figures who re-entered a saucer and flew away. Interpretation: The student was unaware of the UFO context and used the image due to the craft's shape, without providing a general interpretation.
• 21-year-old, father, entrepreneur (Bitam): Saw two children, a house, and the woman scolding them. They enter the house via stairs. An apparatus appears, a spaceship. The woman observes its departure. Interpretation: The woman met men who came to explore nature, spies from the USA.
• 22-year-old, father, driver (Oyem): The woman meets strange beings disembarking from an apparatus. She is surprised by the modern technology. Interpretation: A contrast between bush life and a modern technological vessel from the West.
• 19-year-old, father, professor (Oyem): Saw two frightened military men with weapons. They flee into the house. A flying apparatus. Interpretation: Cosmonauts from Mars. Note: This student had seen a science fiction film in Douala and was unaware of the UFO context.
• 21-year-old, son of the Prefect (Oyem): Saw two strange characters, a helicopter, bizarrely dressed, dazzling the woman with a torch. The apparatus ascends, leaving smoke. Interpretation: They came from the Beyond to explore Earth (no knowledge of the UFO phenomenon).
• 20-year-old, father, planter (Bitam): Saw a bizarre apparatus with occupants carrying torches. The apparatus flies away. Interpretation: An apparatus from developed countries to exploit underdeveloped countries.
• 19-year-old, father, driver (Bitam): Saw people who did not seem terrestrial, coming from another planet due to their strange attire. Interpretation: Small-headed Martians in a spaceship. Note: This student ignored the UFO context and interpreted through elements from the 'Fleuve Noir' comic books.
• 22-year-old, father, planter (Mitzic): Saw two armed gangsters dressed as commandos. The apparatus resembled a flat house with an opening. Interpretation: Whites who came to conquer the country.
• 21-year-old, father, planter (in the bush): Described a classic saucer. Note: The student knew the UFO context from a book read at the Oyem Radio library, leading to immediate identification.
• 21-year-old, father, planter (in the bush): The mother accompanied her children to the plane. The plane, resembling a sombrero, takes off. Interpretation: Americans came in a flying saucer to prospect the area. Note: The student knew the term 'OVNI' from a newspaper article but did not fully grasp the context, believing UFOs were American machines.
• 20-year-old, father, planter (in the bush): The woman encounters a UFO from another planet. Note: Immediate identification. The student knew the UFO context from a Voice of America broadcast.

Conclusions

1. In a psychically 'virgin' context (like Nabobok), the imagery of UFOs evokes the same themes as it does for us. Such contexts exist wherever isolation conditions are met. However, people use analogous or neighboring images (colonial helmet, sombrero, plate, saucer, children, etc.) to describe the scenes presented to them.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The recurring theme in this issue is the exploration of the socio-psychological aspects of UFO sightings, particularly in non-Western or isolated cultural contexts. The magazine's stance, as articulated by the president, is to inform, engage, and research the UFO phenomenon from multiple perspectives, including scientific and public engagement. The Nabokok project exemplifies this by attempting to deconstruct common UFO narratives by examining them through the lens of a culture less exposed to conventional media representations.

This issue of "Phénomènes Spatiaux" (Spatial Phenomena), identified as issue N° 70 and volume N° 12, published by CSERU, focuses on UFO sightings and related phenomena, with a significant emphasis on cases from Africa and historical accounts.

Cultural Influence on UFO Perception

The article by Bertrand MEHEUST explores how cultural context shapes the interpretation of UFO (S.V. - Soucoupes Volantes) sightings. It posits that in regions with limited exposure to such phenomena, like parts of Africa, interpretations are often filtered through existing cultural references or, in cases of partial Westernization, through science fiction tropes. A survey conducted among 120 high school students in Gabon revealed that a majority had never heard of S.V., and those who had often conflated them with science fiction imagery, associating them with American technological power and even colonization. Only a small fraction possessed a clear understanding of the phenomenon's context. This suggests that witnesses may lack the mental framework to accurately interpret and report S.V. events, challenging purely socio-psychological models that assume a pre-existing capacity for 'denaturation' of perception.

Proposed Investigation Methodology

Meheust proposes a rigorous counter-investigation of 'close-up' cases, suggesting a "Projet Magonia" or "Projet Nabobok" approach. He argues that the initial investigations of many older cases were neglected in terms of environmental context, leading to the loss of crucial information. He advocates for a meticulous re-examination of these cases, emphasizing that the questions posed by modern researchers, informed by decades of study, differ from those of earlier investigators. This paradox means older cases, while potentially less distorted by modern interpretations, are also less precisely documented.

Historical Case Studies

The magazine presents a collection of historical UFO sightings, emphasizing witness accounts to preserve their authenticity:

• 1923/1924: A witness observed four to five pale, yellowish, greenish circles moving in a zig-zag and then right-angle pattern.
• 1954: Two gendarmes reported seeing a star-like object detach from the sky, approach at high speed, hover, and then depart rapidly.
• 1958: A young girl and her dog were terrified by the sighting of a small, white-headed man resembling a Chinese person near her home. The dog's extreme fear was noted as unusual.
• 1974 (The Marsh of the UFOs): A couple observed an oblong, orange, luminous object hovering over a marsh. Police later found a reddish, dry, and hot area on the ground, suggesting a physical trace.
• 1947: An object of brilliant yellow-orange color was seen resting on a plateau, with rotating palettes, before ascending vertically at extraordinary speed.
• 1953 (The Wagon): An object resembling a train wagon with multiple lights and a bright rear light was observed.
• 1957 (The Men): A luminous yellow-orange light transformed into a cigar shape, then a car-like object. Later, figures of men linked by a luminous cord were seen moving towards a dark mass, followed by a disc that ascended vertically.
• 1957 (The Fear of Dogs): Witnesses were momentarily blinded by intense projectors, heard a faint whirring, and saw a large red-orange circle move away, change color, and disappear. Dogs in the vicinity exhibited extreme, uncharacteristic fear.
• 1973 (The Metallic Disc): A metallic disc, estimated to be 6 to 10 meters in size, was observed hovering vertically, described as having a flat base and multiple orifices emitting a bright, neon-like light, with no audible sound. It ascended rapidly.
• 1974 (The Ballet of the Stars): During a dark, rainy night, two bright 'stars' were observed. One moved to the other's position, and they engaged in a pendular movement. Later, a small point moved between them, and eventually, the 'stars' transformed into two horizontal cigars emitting a silvery light, each with four rose-colored points resembling portholes, before disappearing at dawn.

Specific Cases and Data

The issue references several specific cases and sources:

• Gabon Case (1963): A report from Libreville, Gabon, is mentioned, citing sources like "L'Etoile du Congo" and Radio France Culture.
• Goias Case (August 13, 1967): Ignacio de Souza reportedly died of leukemia after being irradiated by a UFO beam. The investigation into this case is discussed, highlighting the lack of detailed documentation.
• Lome, Togo (October 31, 1983): A group of tourists witnessed three luminous points forming a light that moved inland and then towards the ocean.
• Moscow, URSS (June 1984): Two postcards sent by a tourist on the Trans-Siberian railway, addressed to CSERU and a correspondent, went missing.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The recurring themes in this issue revolve around the nature of UFO sightings, the reliability of witness testimony, and the critical analysis of investigative methodologies. The editorial stance appears to favor a rigorous, evidence-based approach to UFO research, questioning simplistic explanations and advocating for thorough, context-aware investigations. There is a clear emphasis on the impact of cultural background and prior knowledge on how individuals perceive and report anomalous phenomena. The author, Bertrand Meheust, positions himself as a proponent of detailed, empirical research, urging readers to contribute information on cases from 'virgin' regions to further understand the phenomenon's origins.

Title: TRIBUNE LIBRE
Issue: 29
Date: October (raw date)
Document Type: Magazine Issue

This issue of "Tribune Libre" features a collection of personal accounts detailing UFO (Unidentified Flying Object) and UAP (Unidentified Aerial Phenomena) sightings, spanning from 1940 to 1984. It also includes a review of a television program that discussed UFOs, hosted by M. Polac.

Personal Sightings Accounts

The magazine presents numerous individual testimonies of encounters with unexplained aerial phenomena. These accounts are organized chronologically by year, detailing specific observations.

Année 1940 - Le Fantôme bleuté: The author recounts waking up to a dazzling white light penetrating his room. He initially feared German intruders. The light changed to red, and a blueish human-like form appeared in the kitchen, emitting a buzzing sound. The form floated and moved, eventually disappearing.

Année 1973 - La peur en ville: While cycling, the author observed a vertical luminous ray that progressed in jerks. Later, he found himself under a large, dark, silent mass described as a red rectangle, approximately 20 to 50 meters in size, hovering at the height of a few electric poles.

Année 1973 - La toupie: Witnesses observed a bizarre craft in the sky, described as a spinning top formed by two circles, illuminated by yellow and red/green lights. The object moved at a brisk pace without noise.

Année 1974 - Le disque rouge: While stargazing, the author saw a red-lit mass with a dark disc. The object moved from south to north at high speed, then stopped, vibrated, and moved away at an astonishing speed.

Année 1965 - Un drôle de phénomène: The author's wife pointed out a light that approached, then transformed into a square with a luminous red perimeter, and later into a large vertical rectangle with three intense red lines. The object moved silently towards them before disappearing.

Année 1974 - Le phare dans la tempête: During a severe storm, the author's mother observed a large, very white luminous halo with three white points. The object was immobile despite the strong wind. The author's father and son also witnessed it. A powerful spotlight swept the hill, and the object then transformed into a luminous cone that disappeared.

Année 1958 - La masse rectangulaire: The author saw a vehicle-like object, about 4 meters high and 3 meters wide, with a powerful headlight and a red rear light. It illuminated a large area on the ground as it passed.

Année 1972 - Le cigare sous les nuages: A cigar-shaped object, dark orange with a white top, approximately 2 meters in diameter and 8 meters high, was observed. It did not produce light around itself and disappeared behind a cloud.

Année 1973 - Le triangle lumineux: Streetlights went out as a luminous triangle approached. It had rounded white corners and a fixed red light. The object hovered, pivoted, and then changed direction sharply before disappearing.

Année 1960 - Les quatre Etres lumineux: While in a field, the witnesses saw a luminous craft with red, blue, and green spots. Luminous white beings, described as resembling neon tubes, moved around the craft. The craft was described as resembling a "saucer."

Année 1974 - Fantaisie en zig-zag: The author observed five to six oval-shaped objects moving at high speed in a zig-zag pattern. They were small and not very bright, moving independently of each other.

Année 1952 - La mitre: A large, saucer-like object, described as a bishop's hat, was seen at dusk. It emitted an orange, red, and yellow glow.

Année 1973 - Le rouge et le noir: An engine-like object, red and black, was observed for about eight minutes. It moved slowly, then disappeared at a vertiginous speed.

Année 1974 - Bonne année... sidérante: On New Year's Day, a bright orange luminous ball rose into the sky and disappeared. Later, a whistling sound was heard, followed by a 'clack' and more whistling. A white object then moved at high speed.

Année 1972 - ...C'est d'être toujours là...: A bright red light appeared in the sky, initially thought to be a plane. It then transformed into a large, flamboyant mass that expanded significantly before disappearing.

Année 1954 - L' OVNI à bielles: The author saw a red-orange object shaped like a square with what appeared to be connecting rods moving like locomotive pistons. It moved horizontally without sound.

Television Program Review: "La Pêche à la Cuillère"

This section reviews a televised program hosted by M. Polac that discussed UFO phenomena. The program featured witnesses and experts, including M. Vélasco and M. Darget. The review is critical, suggesting that the program was poorly managed, with interruptions and a lack of focus on fundamental questions. The reviewer notes that witnesses seemed to distance themselves from the topic, and the discussion devolved into trivialities, such as the use of a spoon.

Letters and Contributions

Two letters are included:

• Silvère's contribution: This is a poetic account of a farmer named Jacquou whose cow is taken by "saucer"-like visitors. The poem describes the cow's reaction and the farmer's distress.
• Jean-Pierre Petit's contribution: This is a technical explanation of a proposed method for achieving extremely high speeds using electric winches and rockets, claiming to surpass the speed of UFOs.

Question on Crashes

A brief section raises questions about the declassification of secret documents related to UFO crashes, specifically mentioning incidents in Roswell, Laredo, Kingman, and Holloman AFB.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The recurring theme throughout the issue is the documentation and personal experience of UFO/UAP sightings. The editorial stance appears to be one of open inquiry into these phenomena, presenting a variety of accounts and perspectives, while also offering critical commentary on media coverage of the subject. The inclusion of technical proposals and questions about government secrecy suggests a broad interest in the UFO topic.

Title: CSERU BLOC NOTES
Issue Date: January 1985
Publisher: CSERU
Country: France
Language: French

This issue of CSERU BLOC NOTES serves as an informational bulletin for the organization, detailing its operational structure, membership, and contact points. It emphasizes the volunteer nature of its collaborators and the reinvestment of any profits back into the revue and operational expenses.

Organization and Operations

The revue is printed in France, with Marcel Petit serving as the Director of Publication. The printing is handled by CSERU itself using a duplicator at the association's headquarters. The main office and correspondence address is CSERU, 266 quai Charles Ravet, 73000 Chambery, with a contact telephone number of (79) 33-43-85.

Subscriptions and Membership

Information regarding subscriptions and membership is clearly laid out. An annual subscription to the revue (3 issues) costs 30 French francs, with a slightly higher rate of 35 francs for international subscribers. Membership, which includes the subscription, costs 50 French francs. Payments for subscriptions and memberships can be made via bank check payable to CSERU, via CCP (without specifying account or beneficiary details), or by using postage stamps.

Permanences and Contact Information

The organization holds regular 'permanences' (office hours) on the 2nd and 4th Wednesdays of each month, from 6:00 PM to 7:30 PM, at 7 rue Métropole, 73000 Chambery. For any strange observations, investigations, or testimonies, the CSERU encourages individuals to contact them via mail, during the permanences, or by reaching out to their designated investigation contacts.

Investigation Contacts

• Several individuals are listed as investigation contacts across different locations:
• Edmond Bogéat in Chignin (Tormery), reachable at tel 28-14-97.
• Marcel Petit at 9 avenue du Petit Port, 73100 Aix les Bains, tel (35-31-78).
• Charly Bec at 1 rue des Bains, 73100 Aix les Bains, tel (35-26-93).
• Jacques Pavy at Grand-Village, 73160 Vimines, tel (69-45-78).

Affiliation and Legal Deposit

The CSERU is a member of the French Federation of Ufology (F.F.U.). The legal deposit for this issue is January 1985, and it is registered under Commission Paritaire number 60.409.

Call to Action

The bulletin concludes with a call to action for readers to recruit new subscribers, emphasizing that a larger membership base will lead to better-informed members. It also encourages readers to submit their articles and utilize the 'tribune libre' (free tribune) section.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The recurring theme is the operational and administrative framework of the CSERU, focusing on transparency regarding finances and volunteer contributions. The editorial stance is one of encouraging community involvement, information sharing, and growth through active participation and subscription drives. The emphasis is on building a stronger network for ufological research and information dissemination within France.