Realite ou Fiction - No 01 - 1976

Magazine Overview

Title: Réalité ou Fiction
Issue: N° I
Date: 1976
Publisher: Le GPUN (Groupe Privé Ufologique Nancéien)
Type: Revue sur les OVNI (Unidentified Flying Objects)

Presentation of Le GPUN

The magazine opens with a presentation of Le GPUN, a private ufological group founded on August 4, 1972, in accordance with French law. The group's mission is to study the UFO phenomenon and collect testimonies from anyone wishing to share their observations, with the goal of establishing a comprehensive file. The publication of this review is intended to share the fruits of their work with the public. The magazine aims to provide objective information with commentary from Le GPUN, rather than being strictly scientific. They invite reader feedback, critiques, suggestions, and topics for future issues. Readers interested in expanding the information network are encouraged to contact them by mail.

Table of Contents (Soitfaire)

• The table of contents lists the following sections:
• Editorial
• Histoire Ufologique
• UFO-Pub
• Flash-OVNI
• GPUN
• UFO-Nouvelles
• Astronomie
• L'énigme des étoiles du mois
• Courrier des lecteurs
• Annonces

Editorial

The editorial, signed P. L., questions the nature of UFO study: is it a pleasant pastime or a scientific problem worthy of interest? It acknowledges serious scientific efforts, such as those by the CNRS with researchers Claude Pohor and Pierre Guérin, but notes that many individuals undertake global studies relying solely on their courage. The editorial criticizes the lack of support for such private initiatives, contrasting them with the creation of official groups, reviews, and detection posts. It sarcastically suggests 'nationalizing' private study groups and making their researchers civil servants as a 'final solution.' The author ponders how long this would take, noting that optimists predict ten years, while pessimists and rationalists are dismissive. The editorial questions whether a government or authority's 'prise de conscience' is merely a matter of principle.

UFO-Pub

This section features a review of a three-volume comic book series titled "Les Soucoupes Volantes" by Lob and Gigi, published by Dargaud. The review praises the series for its presentation of facts drawn from official documents with a focus on authenticity and accuracy. Album I recounts the first witness testimonies, while Album II, "Ceux venus d'ailleurs," explores mysteries with an 'anti-science fiction' approach. The third album, "OVNI Dimension Autre," is noted for showing an evolution in the phenomenon's portrayal.

Key Incidents and Reports

The Mantell Case

The issue details the case of Captain Thomas F. Mantell, who pursued a UFO on January 7, 1946, near Fort Knox, USA. He reported the object as metallic and enormous before it ascended rapidly. His pursuit ended when his F-51 plane crashed. Initial official explanations suggested he was chasing the planet Venus or collided with a weather balloon, which ufologist Desmond Leslie dismisses.

The case was investigated by the "Project Sign" commission, which concluded the UFOs were not Soviet but extraterrestrial. This conclusion led to the dissolution of "Project Sign" and the creation of a new commission, "Project Grudge," in February 1949.

French UFO Sightings - April 29, 1975

Under the heading "Flash-OVNI," the magazine reports on numerous UFO sightings across France on the evening of April 29, 1975. In Nancy, witnesses described blue elongated shapes and round objects moving at high speed. Other sightings included a green and red ball of light with sparks over Nancy, and a bright, fast-moving object over Champ-le-Boeuf. The GPUN investigated these reports in the Nancy region.

Other French Sightings

• Additional reports include:
• A couple in Ludres saw a blue elongated shape describe a curve before disappearing.
• Two people in Nancy observed a blue elongated shape.
• Five adolescents in Champ-le-Boeuf saw a green ball followed by a red trail.
• Two children in Nancy saw an oval or round shape.
• A person in Nancy observed a white ball with a tail of sparks.
• Michel Loclet in Laneuville saw a ball with a green and red trail.

The meteorological station of Saint-Dizier also observed the phenomenon.

UFO-Nouvelles (UFO News)

• This section presents UFO reports from the press:
• On July 7, 1975, a couple in Sorgoin-Jallieu (Isère) witnessed a brilliant point of light that expanded into a large, serpentine object with rainbow colors, disappearing at high speed.
• On July 21, 1975, a UFO reappeared above the village square in Sorgoin-Jallieu.
• On August 29, 1975, several people on the coast observed bright triangular lights moving at high speed.

January 1976 Sightings

• In Grenoble, a child reported seeing a UFO land, with a blonde-haired being emerging.
• A student in Venon (Isère) observed a bright light.
• A ball of light was seen landing in a field near Bains-les-Bains.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The recurring themes in this issue are UFO sightings, investigations, and official responses to them. The magazine highlights specific cases, both historical (Mantell) and contemporary (French sightings). There is a clear skepticism towards official explanations that dismiss UFOs as conventional phenomena like Venus or weather balloons. The GPUN positions itself as an organization dedicated to serious, objective study and collection of evidence, contrasting with what they perceive as a lack of official support and a tendency to downplay the phenomenon. The editorial stance suggests a belief in the reality and significance of UFOs, urging for more open and thorough investigation.

This issue of ASTROKOS, identified by the number 1011, delves into two primary subjects: astronomical data concerning the planets of our solar system and the enduring mystery of the Bermuda Triangle. The magazine is primarily in French, with some content potentially translated or referencing foreign works.

Planetary Data

The issue presents a table detailing key characteristics of the planets. For each planet, it lists:

• Name: Mercury, Venus, Earth, Mars, Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus, Neptune, and Pluto.
• Distance from the Sun: Measured in millions of kilometers (Hillione kma).
• Mercury: 57.91
• Venus: 108.21
• Earth: 149.60
• Mars: 227.94
• Jupiter: 778.30
• Saturn: 1429.40
• Uranus: 2888.30
• Neptune: 4504.80
• Pluto: 5900
• Rotation: Measured in days and hours (j. h. mm).
• Mercury: 87 days, 23 hours, 15 minutes
• Venus: 224 days, 16 hours, 49 minutes
• Earth: 365 days, 1 hour
• Mars: 686 days, 17 hours, 30 minutes
• Jupiter: 4334 days, 20 hours
• Saturn: 10759 days, 23 hours, 31 minutes
• Uranus: 30687 days, 10 hours, 48 minutes
• Neptune: 60182 days, 7 hours, 12 minutes
• Pluto: 90500 days, 7 hours
• Number of Satellites: Indicated by a number.
• Mercury: 0
• Venus: 0
• Earth: 1
• Mars: 2
• Jupiter: 22
• Saturn: 10
• Uranus: 5
• Neptune: 2
• Pluto: 0
• Diameter: Measured in kilometers (kma).
• Mercury: 4,878
• Venus: 12,100
• Earth: 12,756
• Mars: 6,750
• Jupiter: 142,700
• Saturn: 119,700
• Uranus: 50,000
• Neptune: 45,000
• Pluto: 5,500

The Bermuda Triangle Mystery

The magazine dedicates significant space to the phenomenon known as the "Triangle de la Mort" (Triangle of Death) or "Triangle des Bermudes" (Bermuda Triangle). This area, located in the Sargasso Sea between Miami (Florida), the Bermuda Islands, and Puerto Rico, is characterized by numerous unexplained disappearances of aircraft and vessels.

The article highlights several prominent cases:

• December 5, 1915: Five bombers vanished without a trace. A rescue plane sent to investigate also disappeared.
• January 20, 1960: A four-engine Tudor IV Statiger, carrying about thirty people, disappeared.
• October 1964: A Super Constellation with four crew members.
• August 1965: Four four-engine aircraft.
• June 1966: A Sandra cargo ship of 11 meters in length.
• December 1977: A Revonge yacht of 11 meters in length disappeared from the tower.
• Undated: A ship, a cargo of 20,000 tons, with 10 crew members.

Despite the lack of wreckage or bodies, the article notes that sometimes survivors are found, or vessels and planes reach port with inexplicable anomalies.

Theories and Explanations

The article explores various theories attempting to explain these disappearances. While some dismiss the phenomenon, others suggest it is a zone where the space-time continuum is disturbed. One explanation posits that certain individuals or objects are absorbed by a phenomenon, vanishing as if they never existed. The Pentagon is mentioned as having conducted experiments by sending animals into the area, which also disappeared.

There is a suggestion that the Bermuda Triangle might be one of these "portals to the invisible." The text also touches upon the idea of UFOs (OVNI in French) being sighted in the region, leading to speculation about extraterrestrial involvement. Survivors' accounts sometimes describe sudden compass malfunctions, blank radar screens, and a strange white fog.

Reader Correspondence

A section titled "Courrier des Lecteurs" (Letters from Readers) features a letter from P.L. who discusses the "triangle of the Bermudas" and the concept of space-time. The magazine's response thanks the reader and acknowledges that while the exact nature of the phenomenon remains unknown, the position described is the best one can adopt regarding the current understanding of the mystery. The response also mentions that the "Gouli" (likely referring to the magazine or its research group) has observed undeniable facts and that something exists beyond our current comprehension.

Announcements and Research Call

On the final pages, there are announcements seeking correspondents to expand their information network and facilitate research. They are looking for documents related to UFOs (OVNI) and individuals who can translate Portuguese documents. They also invite anyone who has witnessed a UFO sighting to contact them at their social headquarters.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The recurring themes in this issue are the scientific exploration of space through planetary data and the persistent mystery surrounding unexplained events in the Bermuda Triangle. The editorial stance appears to be one of open-minded inquiry, presenting both scientific facts and speculative theories about paranormal and extraterrestrial phenomena, while also actively seeking contributions and information from readers and researchers.