UFO Quebec - No 16 - 4e trim 1978

Magazine Overview

This issue of UFO-QUEBEC, number 16, is the fourth year of publication, dated December 1978. It is a quarterly magazine of information and research on unidentified flying objects. The editorial notes a delay in publication due to the printer closing for the holidays and aims to correct this with the next issue. The editor highlights that this issue focuses on two in-depth cases rather than a variety of subjects, seeking reader feedback on this approach. The cases involve significant efforts from Wido Hoville, Philippe Blaquière, and Don Dondéri.

Editorial

The editorial by Norbert Spehner reflects on the current wave of UFO sightings reported globally, noting their spectacular and widespread nature. He expresses skepticism towards media reports, citing an example of astronomers attributing New Zealand UFO sightings to meteorites, which he deems dishonest and dismissive of facts. Spehner announces plans for a 1979 colloquium to foster interaction between UFO-QUEBEC collaborators and members, soliciting suggestions for activities and discussion topics. He concludes by wishing readers a happy new year.

Contents

The table of contents lists several articles:

• EDITORIAL: Norbert Spehner (Page 3)
• ENQUETES AU QUEBEC: (Page 4)
• RENCONTRE RAPPROCHEE DU PREMIER TYPE PRES DE VARENNES: Wido Hoville, Ph. Blaquière (Page 4)
• RENCONTRE RAPPROCHEE DU DEUXIEME TYPE PRES DU RESERVOIR BASKATONG: Wido Hoville, Don Donderi (Page 8)
• CATALOGUE U.F.O QUEBEC: (Page 11)
• EN BREF: (Page 23)
• STATISTIQUES PARTIELLES POUR L'ANNEE 1974: Marc Leduc (Page 24)
• DESSIN DE LA COUVERTURE: Jacques Dupont

La Corporation U.F.O.-Quebec

UFO-QUEBEC is described as a non-profit association directed by its founding members, assisted by collaborators. Its mission is to study the phenomenon of unidentified flying objects, publishing results in the quarterly review UFO-QUEBEC. The issue lists the general management and administration, including Marc Leduc (Director), Wido Hoville (President), Philippe Blaquière (Vice-President), and Norbert Spehner (Secretary). It also details the various sectors of activity, such as editorial, subscriptions, archives, general information, translation, accounting, and investigations, listing the individuals responsible for each.

Case Study: Varennes (August 31, 1978)

This section details a close encounter of the first kind near Varennes, Quebec, involving three witnesses who wished to remain anonymous. The observation occurred between 5:15 AM and 5:40 AM. Witness #1, having breakfast at home in McMasterville, noticed his house lights flickering and heard a strange pulsating sound. Looking north towards Mont Saint-Hilaire, he saw two "flying saucers" between the mountain's peaks. The disks were described as two plates stacked on top of each other, approximately 17 meters in diameter for the larger one and one-third smaller for the second. They flew at low altitude, tilting from left to right, heading north towards Saint-Amable.

Witness #2, leaving his house in Varennes at 5:20 AM, heard the same strange sound. He observed two disks tilting and moving towards the Saint-Laurent River. He described their metallic grey surface and lack of surrounding luminosity. He then proceeded to a restaurant, "Chez Noël," where he met Witness #3, a truck driver who had also seen the two disks pass in front of his truck minutes earlier.

The three witnesses then went to a location near high-tension power lines (735 KV and 330 KV) of Hydro-Québec, about 2 km from Varennes. At 5:40 AM, the two disks, which had been hovering with a continuous oscillation, tilted to a 30-degree horizontal position. They became luminous and departed at incredible speed, leaving a trail of ionized air. The disks were positioned about 30 meters above the water, directly below the 735 KV line.

Investigation of the Varennes Case

Investigator Wido Hoville reported that he conducted his inquiry on October 15, 1978, with Witness #2 and Philippe Blaquière. They visited the site and examined the area near the power line towers. The report notes that the witnesses' description of the disks' size (17 meters) seemed appropriate. The investigation also considered the possibility of interference with the high-tension lines, as many UFO literature claims UFOs "suck" power or cause blackouts. UFO-QUEBEC contacted Hydro-Québec for tension recordings during the observation period.

The investigation also explored the link between the UFOs' trajectory and geological features. The report suggests that the UFOs followed minor fault lines originating from Mont Saint-Hilaire and a major fault known as "Faille Bas de Sainte-Rose." The magnetic survey map (1674 G) indicated a magnetic intensity of 4500 gammas in the area where the UFOs were observed, with variations along the fault lines. The report references hypotheses from researchers in France and the United States linking UFO trajectories to fault lines and suggests that the phenomenon might also be connected to Earth's magnetic intensity lines.

Case Study: Baskatong Reservoir (March 11, 1978)

This section details a photographic case involving two men, Jacques Lavoie and Richard Huot from Montreal, who reportedly photographed a UFO near the Baskatong Reservoir on March 11, 1978. The article describes the challenges of investigating this case, including difficulty in contacting the witnesses and the initial refusal of the "Montreal Star" newspaper to provide contact information for its journalist, Nigel Gibson. Wido Hoville eventually located Jacques Lavoie on March 14, 1978.

The witnesses were initially hesitant to allow publication, especially after the "Montreal Star" published an article with three photos on March 13, 1978. The article notes that the published photos were enlargements of the saucer, while the original photos showed the surrounding landscape. The investigator, Wido Hoville, deemed the case to be of high scientific value. He faced resistance from a self-appointed advisor to Jacques Lavoie, who seemed to be a skeptic and suggested monetizing the photos. Hoville also encountered other journalists and an agent from CANADA WIDE FEATURE SERVICE attempting to acquire the photos.

Photo Analysis and Expert Opinion

Following the initial publication, Hoville continued to work with Jacques Lavoie. He later introduced Lavoie and another witness, Rabinder Dhillon, to Dr. J. Allen Hynek, who was visiting Montreal for Expo 78. Hynek recommended detailed analysis of the negatives, including photomicroscopy, to verify their authenticity. Hynek stated that if the tests proved positive, it would be the best photographic case in 30 years. He also offered to help with the dissemination of the case to journals, provided the tests were conclusive and not indicative of falsification.

The report mentions that the investigator's attempts to verify the witnesses' claims, including a request to dig in the snow to check for evidence of a fire before the UFO sighting, were perceived as intimidating by the advisor, leading to a breakdown in negotiations.

Statistics and Other Information

• Partial Statistics for 1974: Marc Leduc provides partial statistics for the year 1974.
• UFO-Quebec Catalogue: A catalogue of UFO sightings in Quebec is mentioned.
• Contact Information: The magazine provides contact numbers for UFO-QUEBEC investigators in various regions of Quebec for reporting sightings.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The magazine consistently emphasizes the importance of rigorous investigation and scientific analysis of UFO phenomena. It highlights the challenges faced by researchers, including media sensationalism, skepticism, and potential attempts to suppress information. The editorial stance appears to be one of open inquiry, seeking factual evidence and exploring unconventional hypotheses, such as the link between UFOs and geological phenomena. The publication aims to provide a platform for detailed case studies and to foster a community of researchers and enthusiasts.

This issue of UFO-QUEBEC is a systematic compilation and summary of unidentified flying object (UFO) reports, collected and investigated by members of the Corporation UFO-QUEBEC and their collaborators. The catalogue aims to be accessible internationally and uses Dr. J. Allen Hynek's typology for classifying cases. For identified flying objects (IFO) after investigation, a summary explanation accompanies the case description. The observations are classified by date, and the catalogue employs specific acronyms like U.F.O. and I.F.O. for international accessibility.

Origins of Observations

Reports of UFO observations originate from various sources, including provincial, national, and international collaborators, international ufological groups and organizations, civilian and governmental agencies (C.N.R.), the general public, and the media.

Definition of UFO Observations

A UFO is defined as any abnormal phenomenon, most often aerial, that cannot be attributed to a known or conventional object due to its appearance, behavior, and effects, following an investigation.

Classification Code for Observations

Observations are classified and coded according to Dr. J. Allen Hynek's typology, using English acronyms:

• NL (Nocturnal Light): Distant lights in the night sky that resist conventional explanations (shooting stars, airplanes, balloons, atmospheric phenomena, etc.).
• DD (Daylight Disc): J. Allen Hynek also includes objects observed during the day that are not necessarily disc-shaped in this category.
• RV (Radar Visual): UFOs observed or detected by radar and simultaneously observed by witnesses.
• CE-I (Close Encounter of the First Kind): UFOs observed within 180 meters.
• CE-II (Close Encounter of the Second Kind): CE-I observations with additional physical traces on the ground or in the environment, or physiological effects on the witness, or both.
• CE-III (Close Encounter of the Third Kind): CE-I observations that include observation of occupants or contact with humanoids.

Strangeness Index (Indice d'Étrangeté)

This index measures the degree of strangeness of a report within its classification type. It is based on characteristics such as movement, trajectory, colors, altitude, intelligent behavior, luminosity, distance, and photographic evidence. The index ranges from 0 (normal explanation) to 10 (absolutely extraordinary).

Probability Index (Indice de Probabilité)

This index assesses the degree of probability that an event occurred as described. It considers factors like the number of witnesses, internal and external report cohesion, and the investigator's judgment. A score of 0 means the case is rejected, while 10 means it is absolutely reliable. Cases scoring 3 or higher are generally retained for further study.

Documented Sightings (July-October 1978)

The catalogue lists several sightings with date, time, duration, strangeness index (ETRAN), probability index (PROB), type (UFOs), number of witnesses (TEMOINS), and location (LIEU):

• July 9, 1978 (21:00): Tingwick (Chenier), Quebec. A quasi-landing observed by the Verville family. A red-dark oval luminous ball with a trailing black smoke-like formation descended, hovered near the ground, and disappeared, leaving blackened traces on the ground. (ETRAN: 8, PROB: 8)
• July 23, 1978 (02:00): Tingwick (Chenier), Quebec. The neighbor of M. Verville observed a luminous ball descending near the same location as the July 9th sighting, about 400 feet away, leaving identical traces. (ETRAN: 4, PROB: 4)
• July 30, 1978 (19:00): Longueuil, Quebec. Four witnesses saw a rectangular object with four red indices at each corner. It became square and blue-white, hovered for ten minutes, then moved east at high altitude without sound. (ETRAN: 4, PROB: 4)
• August 1, 1978 (18:00): Granby (Que.), Quebec. Three witnesses saw a strange, extremely bright object with a vertical pipe in the center and two bright hemispheres on the sides, moving west at an altitude of 300 meters. No sound was perceived. (ETRAN: 7, PROB: 7)
• August 7, 1978 (01:30): Mont Rougemont, Quebec. Two witnesses observed a very white light vibrating and moving rapidly between two hills, accompanied by a slight humming sound. (ETRAN: 7, PROB: 7)
• August 9, 1978 (21:20): Cap de la Madeleine, Lac Goulet. A red-sang ball with a small orange trail was observed. Simultaneously, nine witnesses near Lac Goulet saw a grapefruit-sized, red-orange luminous ball with a flame, moving at high speed. The two observations were 52 km apart. (ETRAN: 6, PROB: 6)
• August 10, 1978 (11:30): Douville, Quebec. Three witnesses saw a dark matte grey triangular object moving north. Four military aircraft circled the area before the UFO disappeared. (ETRAN: 5, PROB: 5)
• August 11, 1978 (21:40): Beloeil (Que.), Quebec. A V-shaped formation of seven yellow luminous crescents, twice the diameter of a full moon, was observed moving east-west at high speed. (ETRAN: 4, PROB: 4)
• August 11, 1978 (22:30): Coaticoook, Quebec. Eight witnesses observed a round, flat, rotating disc for an hour and a half, with several lights changing color (red, blue, green, yellow). (ETRAN: 5, PROB: 5)
• August 20, 1978 (21:40): Beloeil, Quebec. Five witnesses saw a reddish boomerang-shaped UFO moving east at very high speed without sound. (ETRAN: 7, PROB: 7)
• August 24, 1978 (22:05): Beloeil, Quebec. Philippe Tournier observed two luminous points connected by a whitish glow, with an apparent diameter of a full moon, moving at high speed. (ETRAN: 5, PROB: 5)
• August 22, 1978 (24:00): Beloeil, Quebec. A formation of about twenty UFOs was seen at a height of 20-25 degrees above the horizon, maintaining their luminous aspect within a luminescent envelope. (ETRAN: 5, PROB: 5)
• October 10, 1978 (23:30): Granby, Quebec. Two witnesses saw a vertical cigar-shaped object with whitish luminosity, about one and a half times the diameter of a full moon, moving southwest. Three fixed red lights were visible at the base. (ETRAN: 5, PROB: 5)

Investigation of the March 11, 1978 Event

This section details an in-depth investigation into a specific UFO sighting that occurred on March 11, 1978, near Baskatong Reservoir, Quebec, which was photographed by Jacques Lavoie and Richard Huot. The investigation involved:

• Negative Examination: Specialists confirmed the authenticity of the negatives using a Zeiss Ultra-phot III microscope. Robert Lamarche, a technician at McGill University, conducted tests on the negatives, confirming they showed no artificial falsification or manipulation. The object's brightness suggested it was not a superimposed image. The film used was Kodak Plus X Pan (125 ASA), developed with Microdol-X.
• On-Site Investigation: The author, Don Dondéri, and Jacques Lavoie visited the observation site at Villa Basque. They took approximately 120 photos to reconstruct the conditions and verify the original four photos. They meticulously measured distances and examined the environment to determine the UFO's position and size relative to the witnesses.
• Witness Testimony: The report includes the detailed account of Jacques Lavoie, who described seeing a "shooting star" that curved and slowed down before disappearing behind conifers. He then observed a bright object hovering silently over the frozen lake. He took four photos of the object, which later moved and then disappeared at an "almost unthinkable speed." A second, smaller object was also briefly observed.
• Challenges: The investigation faced challenges, including Jacques Lavoie's initial reticence and suspicion, media sensationalism, and the difficulty of reconstructing events from seven months prior, especially given the presence of snow during the original sighting and summer conditions during the investigation.
• Conclusions: Despite the difficulties, the author remains convinced of the case's authenticity. The report emphasizes the effort invested by the investigation team without personal interest, attributing the case's complications to external factors.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

This issue of UFO-QUEBEC strongly emphasizes a rigorous, scientific approach to UFO investigation, employing classification systems and detailed analysis of evidence, particularly photographic. The editorial stance is one of seeking objective truth and debunking hoaxes, while acknowledging the existence of genuinely unexplained phenomena. The publication aims to provide a platform for documented cases and thorough investigations, encouraging further research and open-mindedness within the ufological community. The magazine also highlights the challenges faced by investigators, including public skepticism, media sensationalism, and the inherent difficulties in gathering and verifying evidence for unusual events.

Title: UFO QUEBEC
Issue: N.F. (Nouvelle Série?)
Issue Date: 1974
Publisher: UFO QUEBEC
Country: Canada
Language: French
Price: 10 FF (for the trimestrial review)

This issue of UFO QUEBEC delves into historical and contemporary UFO phenomena, featuring a detailed witness account, statistical analysis of reports, and an editorial commentary on the nature of intelligence and humanity's place in the cosmos.

Article: A PROPOS DE L'ARTICLE DE JEAN SIDER : NOUVELLE ZELANDE : LA VAGUE DE 1909

This section addresses a controversy regarding the publication of an article by Jean Sider about the 1909 UFO wave in New Zealand. The editorial team of UFO QUEBEC explains that due to space constraints, they omitted a small part of Sider's conclusion, which he found unacceptable, leading to an "emotive letter, full of noise and fury." The magazine publishes the omitted section to allow readers to judge its relevance and the editorial decision.

The omitted section argues that the 1909 wave is characterized by the "purity" of witness accounts, noting the absence of "delirious verbiage" or mystical elements. This consistency suggests an equilibrium in the witnesses' mentalities, with them describing exactly what they saw without embellishment. The article posits that the phenomenon's long duration (likely beyond 1909) and widespread geographical presence (across all countries) imply a real motivation for a long-term, perhaps even planetary-scale, profit. This profit is likely not purely material, given the phenomenon's antiquity, but rather abstract, involving a super-technology with capabilities beyond human perception and comprehension.

The editorial team acknowledges that this hypothesis is not new but is more considered than some recent negative theories published in bookstores that have, in their opinion, done a disservice to the discipline of ufology.

Witness Account: Baie Mercier Sighting

The issue includes a personal narrative from a witness who, along with someone named Richard, experienced two distinct UFO observations near Baie Mercier, Quebec. The first observation lasted about 30 to 40 seconds, and the second about 10 seconds. The witness describes feeling an "internal warmth" during the first encounter, while the second caused intense fear, to the point of not speaking about it immediately. The witness felt a "slowing down effect" while walking away and a persistent feeling of being watched.

After removing their snowshoes at an intersection, the witness looked back, but the object had disappeared. They visited Relay 58, where the owner was surprised by their early return. The witness humorously explained their haste by stating that if the owner had seen what they saw, they wouldn't have stayed either. They then recounted the experience to the owner and his wife, who mentioned that people in Mont-Cerf (about 16 km away) frequently saw luminous unidentified objects, indicating a lack of surprise from her.

The witness expresses regret for not staying longer at the observation site, believing they could have learned much more. They also emphasize the importance of having their camera around their neck, as the photos taken were crucial for their credibility. The witness contacted Dany, a professional photographer and their brother-in-law, in Montreal to process the photos.

UFO Statistics for 1974

The magazine presents partial statistical data for UFO reports in 1974. Two bar charts illustrate:

1. Number of Reports by Month: This chart shows a peak in reports during the summer months (June, July, August) and a secondary peak in October and November. The total number of reports for the year, based on this partial data, is 95.
2. Number of Reports by Hour of the Day: This chart indicates that reports are most frequent in the evening and night, with significant numbers between 19:00 and 23:00, and a smaller peak around 14:00. The total number of reports analyzed for this chart is 85.

Editorial Commentary and Ufology

The editorial section reflects on humanity's place in the universe, suggesting that our perceived high rank might be an illusion. It argues that the gap separating us from a potentially higher cosmic status could be "unbearable" for those with an anthropocentric view. The editor expresses a hope that ufology can guide people towards modesty and humility. The commentary also touches upon the nature of UFO phenomena, suggesting a deliberate effort by intelligences to conceal themselves based on our technological evolution, and a long-term, possibly experimental, interest in humanity.

Corrections and Subscriptions

There are a few corrections noted for the previous issue:

• On page 9, regarding the case of July 12, 1978, at Lac Baskatong, the statement that four photos were taken should be deleted.
• An editing error occurred in Jean Sider's article, where a paragraph starting with "Pas pour longtemps, car à 22H30..." and continuing to page 15 should be connected to the end of the paragraph on page eight that finishes with "...en direction de Kaitanga, disparaissant à l'horizon."

Subscription information is provided for two related publications: "REVUE D'INFORMATION ET D'ETUDES SUR LES PHENOMENES SPATIO-TEMPORELS ET CONNEXES" (Bohain, France) and "UFOLOGIE ET PHENOMENES SPATIAUX" (Brussels, Belgium).

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The recurring themes in this issue are historical UFO waves (specifically 1909 New Zealand), contemporary UFO sightings with detailed witness testimony, the statistical analysis of UFO reports, and a philosophical reflection on the implications of UFO phenomena for humanity's understanding of itself and its place in the universe. The editorial stance appears to be one of critical inquiry, encouraging a balanced and humble approach to ufology, while also exploring advanced hypotheses about the nature and intelligence behind UFOs. There is a clear emphasis on the importance of credible evidence, such as photography, and a critical view of unsubstantiated claims.