Realite ou Fiction - No 00 - 1975

Magazine Overview

Title: RÉALITÉ OU FICTION?
Issue: n°0
Date: 1975
Publisher: Le GPUN
Country: France
Language: French
Price: 2F

This is the inaugural issue (n°0) of 'RÉALITÉ OU FICTION?', a review on UFOs published by Le GPUN. The cover poses the question 'REALITY OR FICTION?' and features a stylized depiction of a UFO. The magazine aims to explore the reality of UFO phenomena through eyewitness accounts and historical research.

Editorial: Presentation of the UFO Phenomenon

The editorial board states that they do not claim to provide irrefutable material proof of a problem that surpasses contemporary scientific knowledge. However, they express their conviction in the existence of UFOs, relying on testimonies rather than scientific evidence. They acknowledge the general division of the question into imaginary phenomena (hallucinations, hoaxes) and real phenomena, asserting their belief in the latter. The group's study is directed towards moral and humanist goals, acknowledging that their means and knowledge do not permit a rigorous scientific study. They consider hypotheses that UFOs are intelligently piloted or tele-guided craft of unknown origin, with differing views on this origin: extraterrestrial, temporal (time travelers), terrestrial (unknown civilizations), or dimensional (parallel universes). The editorial promises to elaborate on these propositions in future issues.

Presentation of Le GPUN

Le Groupe Privé Ufologique Nanceien (Le GPUN) was founded on August 4, 1975, as an association of young people dedicated to the study of UFOs. Their method involves collecting testimonies to establish a file for cross-referencing. The magazine is intended to share the results of their work, aiming for objective information with author commentary. A section for reader feedback ('Courrier des Lecteurs') is announced for the next issue.

Ufological History

This section traces the history of ufology, noting that 1947 marked the beginning of the science. It highlights the first use of the term 'flying saucer' ('Coucoupe Volante') and mentions earlier descriptions of luminous phenomena in 1864 and 1878. The pivotal event described is Kenneth Arnold's sighting on June 24, 1947, near Mount Cascade, USA, where he observed a formation of nine shimmering metallic discs flying at high speed. Arnold described them as looking like 'saucers skipping on water,' thus popularizing the term 'flying saucer.' The article notes that this observation led to numerous other testimonies and prompted the US government to create a special commission in December 1947, initially named 'Project Sign' or 'Project Saucer,' to study UFOs. The article suggests the commission's primary goal was to investigate potential foreign threats, particularly Soviet ones. The death of an American pilot in January 1948 is mentioned as having reignited the UFO debate.

The article also clarifies terminology: 'UFO' (Unidentified Flying Object) is equivalent to 'OVNI' (Objet Volant Non Identifié) in French. 'Ufology' is defined as the science that studies UFOs, and a 'Ufologist' is a person who practices this science. An 'Ufonaut' is described as an inhabitant of a UFO. The magazine's approach is defined as ufological, studying phenomena through scientific principles (physics, mathematics) using equipment like computers and relying on competent individuals.

It is mentioned that the prevalence of observations in the USA led the American government to create a special commission on December 30, 1947, whose objective was the study of UFOs. The commission's code name was 'Project Sign' or 'Project Saucer.' The article points out that this commission had a primarily defensive objective, as the possibility of a new foreign threat (specifically Soviet) was the main cause for such a study. The death of an American pilot in January 1948 would relaunch the UFO controversy.

UFO-News: Latest French Observations

This section details recent UFO sightings in France:

• July 14: In Flin (Meurthe-et-Moselle), a couple observed an unusual object in the sky, described as unlike any known aircraft.
• July 16: In Limoges, Alain Fradot, a lithograph designer, witnessed a long luminous trail in the sky that condensed around a disc, followed by a smaller disc. The phenomenon vanished, and multiple witnesses reportedly observed it.
• August 8: In Clairefontaine (Vosges), a vacationer saw a fireball with a phosphorescent tail (green, blue, yellow), about 20 meters in diameter, with no sound. The object extinguished at the end of its trajectory.
• August 16: In Andolot (Haute-Marne), Dominique Samio observed a luminous object near a road. The object disappeared and reappeared, was photographed, and approached the witnesses before vanishing. The event was also witnessed by others, and gendarmes were alerted.
• August 29: Near Saint-Jean-de-Luz (Pyrénées-Atlantiques), multiple witnesses observed several triangular lights with a faint glow, possibly eight in total, which disappeared at high speed.
• September 26: In Saulx-les-Chartreux (Yvelines), a large luminous disc (estimated 250-300m) was seen hovering over a private airfield. Witnesses approached, and the object's presence caused their vehicle's engine to stop. The object then disappeared.
• September 28-29: Near Saint-Dié (Vosges), a young motorist observed a cigar-shaped object with red and white lights that seemed to be following him. The object remained stationary for a moment before disappearing behind a forest.

Flash-UFO: Testimonies collected by Le GPUN

This section presents two testimonies:

• June 12, 1975: In a village near Lunéville, a gardener named Monsieur T. observed a large red sphere moving in a curve across the sky.
• June 11, 1975: In Nancy, an adolescent saw a red sphere with a white trail pass overhead and descend towards a house before disappearing.

Complete Account of the B-D (narrated by a witness)

This is a detailed account from August 1975, near Bouxières-aux-Dames. The witness, along with their cousin and her fiancé, encountered a bright white being while walking at night. The being moved very quickly and silently, about 50 cm away from them. After it disappeared, they searched for it and later saw a whitish form in the distance, which then vanished. The witness's family and relatives were informed, and they returned to the location but found no trace of the being. The witness compares the being to a robot, and the article notes that similar beings have been observed elsewhere. The witness is described as not being particularly interested in UFOs, making their testimony seem more credible.

This account is accompanied by a comic strip titled 'OVNIA' depicting the encounter.

Astronomy

This section provides a classification of celestial structures within the universe:

• STAR: A celestial body that emits light due to its own brilliance or reflected light.
• STAR: A star that shines with its own light.
• PLANET: A celestial body that does not emit light on its own but orbits a star, sometimes with satellites (e.g., Saturn).
• SOLAR SYSTEM: A collection of celestial bodies including a star (the Sun), planets orbiting the star, and possibly asteroids and comets.
• GALAXY: A collection of solar systems in motion, forming various shapes like spirals or discs. The Milky Way galaxy is described as a disc approximately 100,000 light-years in diameter and 2000 light-years thick.

The article also lists the planets in our solar system: Mercury, Venus, Earth, Mars, Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus, Neptune, and Pluto.

UFO-PIB (Public Information Bureau)

This section contains several short items:

• OUR BADGE: Information about ordering a personalized adhesive badge from Le GPUN for 3 Francs.
• LE GPUN LISTENS TO YOU: Announcement of a 33 cm vinyl record titled 'VISITORS' by DEXCL, featuring photos, a UFO inhabitant's portrait, and a mushroom-shaped atomic mushroom. The record contains two tracks (English and French) detailing fantastic adventures and contacts with aliens.
• LE GPUN READ FOR YOU: A review of the book 'Le Vague de Soucoupes Volantes' ('The Wave of Flying Saucers') by journalist J.C. Boerret, published by Editions Trans-Europe. The book, 297 pages long, compiles testimonies published in 1974 on the program 'Pas de Panique' and includes opinions from scientists, politicians, and religious figures.

THE PHENOMENON OF THE MONTH

This section describes an incident that occurred on September 17, 1975, in Stiring-Wendel (Moselle). A family reported hearing strange noises and seeing a bright light. The father, a truck driver, was woken by what he initially thought was his truck malfunctioning. The event involved a luminous phenomenon and a possible entity. The article notes that the witnesses were surprised and that gendarmes were alerted. It also mentions that the family wishes to remain anonymous.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The magazine's stance is clearly in favor of the reality of UFO phenomena, emphasizing eyewitness testimony and exploring various hypotheses for their origin. The editorial board positions itself as investigators of the phenomenon's nature rather than scientific proof providers. Recurring themes include recent UFO sightings in France, historical accounts of UFO events, and the classification of celestial bodies. The publication aims to inform the public and foster discussion on the subject, positioning itself as a platform for sharing testimonies and exploring the mysteries of UFOs.

This document is an issue of "Les Bonnes Affaires" under the "ANNONCES" (Advertisements) section. It contains various classified ads and a report on a peculiar case. The publisher is identified as GPUN, also known as GROUPE PRIVÉ UFOLOGIQUE NANCÉIEN.

Advertisements

The advertisements section features several listings:

• "LES CLASSIQUES DU CINEMA FANTASTIQUE": A sale of a collection including photos of horror and fiction films, documentaries by J.M. Sabatier, a biography of fantastic cinema, and a 432-page volume. It is in new condition and priced at 50 French Francs (originally 59 Francs). Interested parties are directed to contact Monsieur Lionel Rodé at 15, rue Guilbert-de-Pixérécourt, 54000 Nancy.
• UFO Documents: A request to buy interesting documents on UFOs (OVNI). Contact is to be made with the GPUN.
• Hydraulic Pump: An advertisement for a hydraulic pump for a Flandria. Interested parties should contact Monsieur Benoit Villé at 14, rue Geston Broquet, 55190 Void-Vacon.
• Illustrator Needed: A search for a drawer/illustrator needed for a newspaper. Contact Monsieur Raoul Robé at 15, rue Guilbert-de-Pixérécourt, 54000 Nancy.

The publication states that all advertisements are published free of charge by the GPUN, and readers wishing to submit their requests should write in, providing the content of their ad and their address, as the GPUN will not act as an intermediary between sellers and buyers.

The Danièle Case

A significant portion of the scanned pages (pages -18 and -19) details a case involving a child named Danièle, who was reportedly making strange noises. The report chronicles events over several days:

• Initial Noises: The child's noises are described as persistent and disturbing, heard by neighbors. The mother initially tries to calm the child, but the noises continue.
• Escalation: On the evening of the 17th, the mother, M. Jan'sowiak, seeks help from the priest exorcist, Abbé Gérard, who suggests a mass. The noises cease temporarily.
• Renewed Disturbances: On the 18th, a crowd gathers outside the building due to the noises. Danièle is taken to a "sorcière" (witch) in Cochezea-Dell Roobe. Upon their return, the noises resume, causing panic.
• Police and Medical Intervention: The police arrive and call a doctor. The doctor examines Danièle and states, "I only observed, I think these noises have a physical origin that I cannot determine. The ideal would be to observe the child in a hospital setting!" Since then, the matter has been kept discreet.

Expert Opinions and Speculation

The report then delves into the interpretations of the case:

• The Exorcist's View: The priest exorcist of Metz is cautious but acknowledges the case. He aims for a logical solution, considering it might not be a case of possession but rather "infestation by the spirit Galia." He does not dismiss the possibility of an intervention of "Malin" (evil).
• Police Skepticism: The police are more skeptical. One of the officers reportedly saw Danièle hitting the walls, though his colleagues are not as certain. The report questions whether to attribute the phenomenon to "Malin" or paranormal phenomena.
• Regional Context: The article mentions that Stiring-Wondel is a region known for ground noises, which could provide a natural explanation for some sounds. It also includes a proverb, "Walls sometimes have ears, but they also serve for children's games."

Conclusion and Editorial Stance

The issue concludes with a quote from the Abbé de Stiring-Wondel: "Listen, too much publicity has been given to this case, which simply deserves to be passed over in silence. I will say no more." The editorial stance seems to lean towards discretion and a cautious approach to unexplained phenomena, acknowledging both potential paranormal explanations and the need for further investigation, while also highlighting the possibility of natural causes and the dangers of sensationalism.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The recurring themes in this issue are advertisements for niche interests (cinema, UFOs) and the reporting of unexplained phenomena. The editorial stance, as suggested by the handling of the Danièle case and the quote from Abbé de Stiring-Wondel, is one of caution, discretion, and a balanced approach to investigating the paranormal, acknowledging skepticism while not entirely dismissing extraordinary explanations. The publication of classified ads by a UFO group suggests a focus on ufology and related fringe topics.