Circulaire CNEGU - No 09 - Series 1 - 1987 07

Magazine Overview

Title: CIRCULAIRE CNEGU
Issue: No. 9
Date: July/August 1987
Publisher: CNEGU
Country: France
Language: French

Content Summary

This issue of the CNEGU circular, dated July/August 1987, is largely dedicated to the 40th anniversary of the first widely publicized UFO sighting by Kenneth Arnold on June 24, 1947. The cover headline boldly states, "Les ovnis ont quarante ans" (UFOs are forty years old).

Messages Section

The "MESSAGES" section is a prominent feature, containing numerous requests from individuals seeking specific information. A. GAMARD is looking for articles on S.V. in TINTIN No. 309 (September 23, 1954), a case from Lewarde and Ecaillon in the GNEOVNI bulletin No. 2, and a bulletin from adeps No. 13 concerning "Les Hameaux du soleil." C. SOUDET is searching for diagrams of a high-sensitivity toroidal magnetometer and a spectrographic network filter. Y. BOSSON is actively seeking a copy of RADAR from October 10, 1954, for photographic reproduction, an article about the CORCELLES (Switzerland) case in Le Figaro (March 13-20, 1951), an article from "ICI-PARIS" (October 11, 1954) on Frémanon, and references or copies of articles on the MALMONT (1973), ARC-SOUS-CICON (1967), and LES HAMEAUX DU SOLEIL (1975) cases. RAFFEL has received no response to message 6-1. A note indicates that messages marked with an asterisk (*) are urgent or important and warrant active research.

Vu à la Télé (Seen on TV)

This section highlights recent television programs related to UFOs. On August 15, 1987, the Bugs Bunny Show featured an animated saucer with humanoids and a disintegration ray. On August 16, 1987, Canal+ aired the clip "Les envahisseurs" (The Invaders).

Presse (Press)

The circular announces that this "PRESSE" section will be discontinued starting with the next issue. This is because the service OVNI FRESSE-SERVICE now systematically covers all press articles through a subscription service. Interested parties are directed to subscribe through Gilles DURAND at AIHEI, sending 100 French Francs for 100 clippings.

Livres (Books)

A book review mentions "Les guetteurs des étoiles" by Robert Silverberg, published by Presses Pocket, which discusses UFOs.

Pub (Advertisement)

An advertisement for "Mondial Moquette" features a 2x3m poster with a drawing of a flying saucer piloted by a small green man, promoting low prices.

Minitel LTO

This section promotes the Minitel service "SOS ovni," highlighting its extensive information on French and foreign UFO cases, a message system, and direct dialogue capabilities. It suggests that users can find all recent UFO news on "RUN"tel, and this information will no longer be reprinted in the circular.

Observations

Several recent UFO observations are detailed:

• January 30, 1987: In Seine maritime, France, a witness observed a black oval object with a bright front light and two red rear lights for 15-20 seconds. The object then accelerated rapidly, its front light becoming more dazzling.
• June 10, 1987: Near the SCHLUCHT pass (88), France, four witnesses observed a luminous oval object with an imprecise contour, appearing as large as half a sun. The phenomenon diminished in size and a small, seemingly swaying ball appeared below it. Four photos were taken with an Instamatic camera and were being developed. Further investigation is underway to rule out a weather balloon or a German-made montgolfière.
• May 23, 1987: A case previously mentioned in Circular No. 4, involving photographic evidence, yielded no particular results upon development, and the ongoing investigation is considered uninteresting in this regard.
• Switzerland: The circular refers to press articles related to recent observations in Switzerland.
• August 6, 1987: A recent case of teleportation in Italy is recalled, where three witnesses were reportedly moved 90 km in 10 minutes by an 8-meter long lens-shaped object emitting reddish rays. Their vehicle's engine had stalled upon the object's arrival and restarted on its own after the event. Sources cited are "Liberté de l'est" and "Corriere della Sera," also reported on R.M.C.

L'Impartial Article: "Les ovnis ont 40 ans"

This article from "L'Impartial" (June 24, 1987) commemorates the 40th anniversary of the Kenneth Arnold sighting. It recounts Arnold's observation of nine bright discs near Mount Rainier, Washington, estimating their speed at 2700 km/h and diameter at 30 meters. The article notes that while previous sightings existed, Arnold's description, particularly the term "flying saucers" (soucoupes volantes), captured public imagination and led to widespread media attention. Kenneth Arnold passed away on January 16, 1984, at the age of 68. The article mentions that ufologists now commonly use the term "UFO" (objet volant non identifié) and that the Swiss review "Ovni-présence" is publishing a special 40th-anniversary issue. Ufologists in Switzerland are invited to call (037) 61 35 16 in the evening.

UFOs in the Canton of Neuchâtel

Two recent cases from the Neuchâtel region are presented:

• April 23, 1976: In La Chaux-de-Fonds, four children observed an orange semi-sphere land on a snow-covered field, melting the snow and yellowing the grass. This is tentatively attributed to ball lightning.
• January 3, 1984: In Neuchâtel La Coudre, a 79-year-old retiree observed a zigzagging light in the sky and managed to photograph it through a telescope. The article clarifies that this was actually the planet Venus.

Observation of Flying Saucers (Sur La Côte)

Switzerland has also experienced "third kind" encounters. The first was in Zurich in 1954, with recent events in March and April 1987 in the La Côte region. Bruno Mancusi, representative of the Sezione ufologica fiorentina in Switzerland, is quoted. He states that the 40th anniversary of the first UFO observation is being marked. In March 1987, a family in Begnins saw a very bright light and a woman in Morges observed an immobile, sparkling yellow fireball. A grey saucer with three red headlights was seen in Le Vaud. In mid-March, a woman from Morges observed a flame on Lake Geneva, and two other inhabitants of the same town saw a white elliptical object. In early April, four women in Rolle saw a golden light approach within forty meters of their building. Investigations into these phenomena are ongoing, according to Mancusi.

Curiosité UTO-PUB

This section reproduces an advertisement from "L'EST REPUBLICAIN" (October 2-3, 1954, page 8) for SILCA, offering 5 million (currency not specified) for discovering the mystery of Flying Saucers. A contest was open to 15-year-olds for the launch of "l'ARONDE," and a "Grand concours des Kartions" ran from October 1st to 31st, 1954. The advertisement included a drawing of a creature with a helmet and a chain. The text notes that this advertisement was timely, as the same journal featured three articles on "Soucoupes Volantes." It is unknown what the contest entailed, but it required picking up a dossier from Shell service stations or SLICA garages.

Back Cover Note

A note at the bottom of page 3 asks readers to send any information or requests for documentation to F. DIOLEZ for the September circular, as the holidays are ending.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The circular consistently focuses on UFO phenomena, historical cases, and recent sightings. There is a strong emphasis on information gathering, with numerous requests for articles and data. The publication appears to serve as a communication hub for French and Swiss ufologists, facilitating the exchange of information and research. The editorial stance is one of serious inquiry into UFOs, evidenced by the detailed reporting of observations and the active pursuit of historical data. The discontinuation of the "PRESSE" section suggests a shift towards more specialized information services and a reliance on subscription-based news dissemination for press coverage.