AI Magazine Summary
UFO Quebec - No 23 - octobre 1980
AI-Generated Summary
Title: UFO-QUEBEC Issue: 23 Date: October 1980 Publisher: UFO QUEBEC Country: Canada Language: French Price: $1.00 Cover Headline: INFORMATIONS RECHERCHES
Magazine Overview
Title: UFO-QUEBEC
Issue: 23
Date: October 1980
Publisher: UFO QUEBEC
Country: Canada
Language: French
Price: $1.00
Cover Headline: INFORMATIONS RECHERCHES
Editorial
The editorial, written by Wido Hoville, addresses the growing controversy within ufology regarding the extraterrestrial hypothesis. Hoville expresses his certainty that only the scientific method, citing the work of Jean Vezina and Marc Leduc on 'orthotenie,' will yield concrete results. He criticizes the 'new ufologists' for their potential discouragement and ignorance of scientific processes, suggesting that a focus on parapsychology and psychism will lead ufology to failure. He announces a restructuring of the UFO QUEBEC Corporation and an improvement in the magazine's quality and content, with publication resuming in its former style in 1981.
Table of Contents
The table of contents lists the following articles:
- EDITORIAL (Page 3)
- ENQUETES AU QUEBEC (Page 4)
- LES NOUVEAUX UFOLOGUES (Page 7)
- DOSSIER "UFAUX" (Page 11)
- APPLICATION DE L'ORTHOTENIE (Page 13)
- AUX OBSERVATIONS FAITES AU QUEBEC (Page 16)
- COURRIER ET INFORMATIONS (Page 16)
- LE CAS CE III DE ST.CYRILLE EN REPRISE (Page 17)
- RÉSEAU UFO-QUEBEC (Page 20)
Cover Story: Case of Observation of St. Cyrille, Quebec (June 25, 1974)
The cover illustration depicts a classic disc-shaped UFO. The main cover text announces 'INFORMATIONS RECHERCHES' and the issue date of October 1980. A stamp indicates 'COMMISSION SUR LES OVNI' (Commission on UFOs).
Article: ENQUETES AU QUEBEC - UN TRIANGLE EQUILATERAL
This article, authored by Marc Leduc, reports on the observation of a luminous triangular object by two individuals in Montréal on September 8, 1978, between 10:30 PM and 11:00 PM. Louise and Pierre Perreault, the witnesses, describe the object as a fixed, uniform, orange-feu triangle with no visible rays or heat, but with a cold luminosity. It maintained its shape and color while seemingly shrinking and moving away at a speed estimated to be faster than a 747.
Pierre, a 29-year-old inhalation and anesthesia technician, initially dismissed the sighting but was prompted to report it after hearing about similar orange-feu triangle sightings in Italy. His wife, who was previously indifferent to UFOs, has since become an avid sky-watcher.
The geographical situation places the sighting west of Montréal, possibly above Ville Saint-Laurent. The witnesses emphasize the perfect equilateral triangle shape and took photographs and made sketches.
Article: Les «nouveaux» ufologues - Les scieurs de branche
Written by Wido Hoville, this article critiques a group referred to as the 'new ufologists.' Hoville argues that these individuals, who once fought for the acceptance of UFOs, are now attacking official scientific bodies like GEPAN (Groupe d'Etude des Phénomènes Aérospatiaux Non-Identifiés), which is attached to CNRS. He points out the irony of the magazine 'Science et Vie' publishing an article critical of GEPAN under the 'parapsychology' section, especially given its past articles that supported UFO research. Hoville suggests that this confusion between ufology and parapsychology might be intentional, potentially orchestrated by those who oppose UFO secrecy or even by extraterrestrial entities.
Article: A PROPOS D'OVNI ET DE PSYCHISME
This section, a letter from Dr. Alfred Krantz, a neuropsychiatrist, addresses the increasing tendency to explain UFO phenomena through 'psychism' without clear definition. Dr. Krantz consulted psychiatric and general dictionaries, finding that 'psychism' and 'psychic' are not standard terms in psychiatry. He defines 'psychism' as 'the set of psychic characteristics of a given individual' and 'psychic' as 'concerning the mind.' He argues that using such vague terms to explain complex phenomena like UFOs is a tautology. Krantz contends that attributing UFO manifestations to a subject's thoughts, which are subjective and immaterial, conflates the abstract with the concrete and blurs the line between reality and imagination. He likens this to derealized or delusional thinking, a symptom of schizophrenia, and concludes that supporting such theories would turn ufology into a chapter of psychiatry, rather than a science in its own right.
Book Announcement: ovni by Yurko Bondarchuk
An announcement for the book 'ovni' by Yurko Bondarchuk is featured. The book is described as a synthesis of UFO descriptions from Canada and the United States, drawing on testimonies from ordinary people, police officers, radar operators, and pilots. It aims to provide a clearer understanding of the appearance, color, and behavior of UFOs and discusses the Canadian government's efforts to maintain secrecy. The announcement also references the alleged landing strip for UFOs in Suffield, Canada, and quotes Arthur Bray and Major Donald E. Keyhoe.
Errata
Corrections are provided for specific pages:
- Page 23: The fourth paragraph should read 'méthode d'enquête' instead of 'enquête,' and the fifth paragraph should read 'toutefois' instead of 'parfois.'
- Page 24: 'Tableau I' should read 'liste des lignes permanents' instead of 'pertinantes.'
- Page 17: This page should be read after page 20.
Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance
The recurring themes in this issue include detailed UFO sighting reports, particularly those involving unusual shapes like triangles, and a critical examination of the methodologies and theories within ufology. The editorial stance strongly favors a rigorous scientific approach, expressing skepticism towards explanations rooted in parapsychology or subjective mental states. The magazine appears to be re-establishing its commitment to quality and regular publication after a period of change, aiming to provide well-researched information on UFO phenomena.
This issue of DOSSIER "UFAUX" (Issue 11, Volume I, dated March 1980) critically examines the book "UFO CONTACT FROM THE PLEIADES" and delves into the scientific study of UFO phenomena through the lens of 'orthoteny', alongside a detailed report of a specific UFO landing case.
"UFO Contact from the Pleiades" - A Hoax Exposed
The lead article, authored by Wido Hoville, directly addresses the book "UFO CONTACT FROM THE PLEIADES", Volume I, published by Genesis III Productions Ltd. Hoville asserts that this book, which features photos of UFOs and contactee stories from Edward Meier of Switzerland, is a deliberate fraud aimed at a gullible public for purely commercial reasons. The author recounts learning about this deception in 1976 from a Swedish ufologist, Juan Manzanares. Further investigation in May 1978 led to the purchase of a German magazine, QUICK, which published a sensational report on the Meier case, including photos that Hoville describes as obviously faked, depicting UFOs and female humanoids resembling Scandinavian mannequins.
An investigation into this alleged deception began in 1976, conducted by the MUFON-CES group in Munich, Germany, with whom Hoville maintains regular contact. This investigation reportedly proved to a satisfactory degree that the photos were mediocre fakes, citing the use of house plants to simulate trees and models of UFOs suspended by wires. A recent analysis by a US laboratory allegedly confirmed that some UFOs were indeed supported by wires attached to a balloon.
The article notes that the three men selling the book (with Volumes II and III planned) have privately admitted to investigators that they themselves had serious doubts about Edward Meier's photos, but stated, "Let the public decide!". They are reportedly seeking to recoup the $60,000 they invested in the venture, which included extended stays in Switzerland for Wendelle Stevens and his collaborators. The article highlights Switzerland as an expensive country, referencing a letter from W. Stevens to UFO-QUEBEC dated November 8, 1979. Furthermore, the trio allegedly involved APRO (Jim Lorenzen) and the UFO Newsclipping Service (Lucius Farrish) without their full consent, using them for publicity and to 'authenticate' the book. Hoville states he informed APRO and MUFON about previous German press articles and the MUFON-CES study in 1976.
The moral drawn is that the more confusion spread around the UFO subject, the less seriously it will be taken.
Research: Orthoteny and UFO Observations in Quebec
Pages 3-5 present an article titled "UNE ANALYSE DES RAPPORTS D'OBSERVATION D'OVNI (4ème ARTICLE)" by Jean Vezina and Marc Leduc, focusing on the application of 'orthoteny' to UFO observations in Quebec. The authors discuss their statistical analysis which confirms the existence of an 'orthotenic' distribution of observations. They systematically eliminate hypotheses of pure chance and experimental errors as explanations for the observed alignments.
Their model evolves from O = [P] + (B) + {B} + E to O = [P] + {B} + E, and then to O = [P] + {B} + e, and finally O = [P] + e, after ruling out 'bias' factors, including investigator activity and the influence of 'enthusiasts' ('mordus'). The remaining term 'e' represents negative experimental and sampling errors, which, while not null, are sufficiently small to affirm O = [P].
The conclusion is that the orthoteny theory can only be explained if valid UFO observations are caused by an original, unknown phenomenon that tends to manifest along arcs of great terrestrial circles. The Beloeil network, in particular, is highlighted for its geometric and statistical properties, surpassing previous discoveries like the BAVIC line. A significant finding is the remarkable difference in conformity to orthoteny between 'valid' and 'unacceptable' observations, which the authors argue refutes the idea that 'strange' observations are merely subjective or due to psychological/meteorological conditions.
They suggest that the low conformity of dubious observations to orthoteny provides objective, mathematical proof against the notion that unexplained phenomena do not exist. The research is presented as a scientific proof of both Aimé Michel's theory and the UFO phenomenon itself.
Suggestions for Research
The article proposes further research, including establishing observation structures along the identified orthotenic lines in Quebec, planning optical observations from known 'hot spots' like Beloeil, and extending the analysis to a global scale to identify other interconnected networks. It also suggests refining coordinate accuracy for UFO sightings to within 100 meters and using large-scale topographical maps for precise localization. Internal laws governing UFO appearances along these lines could be investigated, potentially leading to predictive models. The study of 'provisional' orthotenic lines, which appear and disappear, is also recommended.
A Key to the Enigma
The authors conclude that the study of orthoteny offers one of the most objective approaches to solving the UFO enigma, emphasizing the need for impersonal, rigorous, and analytical research.
Letter from Agostino Ambrosio
Agostino Ambrosio writes a letter to UFO-QUEBEC expressing his critique of the organization's perceived strong polarization towards the extra-terrestrial hypothesis. He cites the cautious approach of astronomer J. Allen Hynek, who considers multiple theories, and the works of Jean-Claude Bourret and astrophysicist Pierre Guérin, who explore various aspects and difficulties in UFO research, including the problem of proof and the 'strangeness' of close encounters. Ambrosio also mentions Aimé Michel's introduction to an album on UFOs, which offers a radical new perspective, and the ideas of computer scientist Jacques Vallée, who suggests alternative explanations involving space-time manipulation and cerebral functions, rather than solely extra-terrestrial intelligence. Vallée's book "MESSENGERS OF DECEPTION" is mentioned, proposing a secret civilization manipulating society through advanced technology for ideological purposes. Ambrosio stresses the importance of considering a plurality of solutions beyond the extra-terrestrial hypothesis and requests an opinion and counter-critique from UFO-QUEBEC.
Information: The Uninhabited Universe
This section briefly mentions the magazine "LA PURE VERITE" questioning the existence of other inhabited worlds. It references Dr. Michael H. Hart's argument that life, particularly civilized life, might be extremely rare, possibly unique to Earth. The article notes that this discussion does not mention UFOs but is influenced by NASA and Sir Bernard Lovell's views, with a side note about biblical prophecies.
"EN REPRISE": A Landing and Humanoids in Drummondville
This detailed report, authored by Marc Leduc, recounts a UFO landing and humanoid encounter that occurred on June 25, 1974, near Drummondville, Quebec. The incident involved a couple who witnessed a landed object and several humanoid figures over a period of approximately three hours.
The event began around 1:15 AM with three loud thuds outside the couple's mobile home. The witness, Mr. M., saw a red, rotating flash and then a luminous being with two arms and two legs, its body composed of glowing red rings. The creature's head was not discernible due to the intense light. The witness's wife also observed the object, described as a saucer-shaped craft with a dome, illuminated by yellow lights around its base and three large, red, glowing legs touching the ground. The craft was estimated to be about 40 feet in diameter and 20 feet high.
Three landing traces, each with a circular indentation and an appendage, were found the next day. The grass within the traces showed signs of being spiraled and pressed down. The report notes that the grass in these traces grew back faster and remained visible in relief.
During the three-hour observation, the couple reported seeing four other figures, described as 'robots' or 'Michelin men', which were rigid in movement and glowed with an incandescent red. These figures had invisible hands and feet, and their bodies were red rings. They could become invisible when their light extinguished. The 'robots' were observed moving around the second trailer, one examining the garage and illuminating it, while others aligned themselves in a formation about 85 feet long. They were described as luminous and all similar, with no footprints found as they seemed to glide above the ground.
Other witnesses in the area reported unusual phenomena, including a red flash seen by a woman driving nearby, which affected her vehicle's handling. The site was revisited seven days later, and a previous unidentified object landing from five years prior was also noted in the same sector.
The witnesses, a young couple, experienced significant fear and distress following the event, including physical symptoms and anxiety about being ridiculed. The investigators, including Wido Hoville, Philippe Blaquière, Jean Roy, and Marc Leduc, expressed full confidence in the couple's sincerity, noting that they had faced mockery and disbelief. The report suggests the object was not the product of terrestrial military forces.
Additional related facts include another landing at the same site seven days later, observed by a neighbor, and a separate case reported in Saint Chrysostome the day after the Drummondville incident.
Useful Telephone Numbers
The issue concludes with a list of useful telephone numbers for various individuals associated with UFO QUEBEC across different regions of Quebec, Canada.
Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance
This issue demonstrates a critical and analytical approach to UFO phenomena. The editorial stance is clearly skeptical of sensationalized claims, as evidenced by the thorough debunking of the "UFO Contact from the Pleiades" book. However, the magazine also engages with more scientific and theoretical aspects of ufology, such as the 'orthoteny' theory, presenting it as a valid avenue for objective research. The detailed reporting of the Drummondville case, while presenting witness testimony and evidence, is framed within a context of rigorous investigation. The inclusion of the letter from Agostino Ambrosio highlights a debate within the ufological community regarding the dominant extra-terrestrial hypothesis, suggesting an openness to alternative explanations and a desire for broader, less dogmatic research. The overall tone is one of informed inquiry, seeking to separate credible evidence from speculation and commercial exploitation.