UFOmania - No 01 - 1993 04

Magazine Overview

Title: UFOMANIA
Issue: N° 01
Date: April 1993
Price: 25 FF
Type: Bulletin Ufologique d'Informations

Editorial

Didier GOMEZ, in the editorial, introduces UFOMANIA as a concise, detailed, and easy-to-read synthesis bulletin reflecting serious research into the OVNI (UFO) phenomenon over the preceding six months (November 1992 - April 1993). He states that the information gathered is not intended as irrefutable proof but aims to better understand strange events. UFOMANIA is presented as a research tool and a source of current OVNI information, emphasizing that witness testimonies are authentic and investigations are conducted seriously and objectively. The issue promises recently investigated cases, interviews, in-depth articles, and reflections on ufology, including sketches by witnesses.

Contents

• The table of contents lists the following articles:
• Editorial (page 3)
• Champ-sur-Marne Fév 1991 (page 4)
• Vague 1954: témoignages (page 6)
• 06 Mars 1979 RN 113, vers Arles (page 10)
• Belgique Décembre 1989 (page 13)
• Dossier FRANCAT (mise à jour) (page 15)

Champ-sur-Marne, Février 1991

This section details an investigation into a sighting by Mme Guillot and her daughter, Sophie, on February 12, 1991, at 7:10 AM in Champ-sur-Marne. They observed three luminous balls arranged in a triangle from their 5th-floor apartment balcony. The objects, estimated to be 20 cm and 10 cm in size, were stationary at a height of approximately 13 meters and emitted no audible sound. The light from the balls was described as illuminating without dazzling. The witnesses were captivated by the phenomenon, finding it impossible to look away. Sketches of the objects are included, showing their relative sizes.

Vague 1954: L'Année des soucoupes

This article discusses 1954 as a pivotal year for ufology in France, marked by a significant national wave of OVNI manifestations. The press at the time widely reported on flying saucers, including accounts of landings and humanoid sightings. The month of October was the peak of this wave, initiating ufological study through the dedicated work of individuals like Charles Garreau, Aimé Michel, and Marc Thirouin. The section includes a telephone interview with Charles Garreau, a journalist and early ufologist who spent thirty years researching OVNI circulation and landing corridors. Garreau believes that OVNI manifestations have ceased and that extraterrestrials observed Earth between 1947 and 1977, possibly using this period for inter-galactic travel due to stellar alignments. He suggests recent phenomena like 'luminous triangles' in Belgium (1989-1990) might be the American F-117 stealth aircraft or miniature interstellar probes. The author notes that Garreau has since become less interested in the subject and donated his archives to the C.N.R.S. The article concludes that while Garreau's conclusions might be inexact, OVNI continue to exist, adapting their appearance to technological progress. The early 1950s hypothesis of extraterrestrial visitors, supported by humanoid encounters, is contrasted with current observations, with notable exceptions like the Voronej incident in September 1989.

Garreau's bibliography includes "Alerte dans le ciel" (1954), "Soucoupes Volantes, 20 ans d'enquêtes" (1971), and "Face aux extra-terrestres" (1975).

Février 1954: Mr Japiot se souvient

This testimony recounts an event from February 1954, reported by Mr. Japiot, an auto electrician. While on a call to repair a vehicle on the N19-E54 road between Langres and Vesoul, he observed six luminous, discoid objects with orange luminous circles moving in formation at an estimated speed of 200 to 300 Km/h. The objects were described as "quite large" and were visible for about 2 to 3 minutes. This event was reportedly covered in the local press, "la Haute-Marne libérée." The witness became interested in the phenomenon after this sighting. The article notes a similarity to a case filmed in the United States and broadcast by TF1.

"M.0.C", page 122 Aimé Michel edit. Seghers 1977

This section provides a rectification regarding a previous account involving M. Thibault and Aimé Michel. It corrects that M. Thibault was not in Paris on September 27, 1954, but in Dax, and that his account was reportedly fabricated by a journalist seeking a story. The text quotes M. Thibault expressing regret that such "nonsense" continues to influence public opinion, stating that "OVNI do not exist." The author of this UFOMANIA article criticizes Aimé Michel for not verifying information from the press, emphasizing the importance of verifying information at its source. While respecting genuine researchers, the author warns against raw media information and criticizes those who dismiss interesting cases to promote less significant ones.

A footnote mentions that Aimé Michel passed away on December 28, 1992. The bibliography for the 1954 wave includes "M.O.C" by Aimé Michel, "Face aux Extra-Terrestres" and "Alerte dans le ciel" by Charles Garreau, and "OVNI: nouvelles preuves" by Jean Sider (forthcoming).

le 06 Mars 1979 RN 113-E80 vers Arles

This case was investigated based on the FRANCAT dossier published in the CIGU yearbook. On March 6, 1979, at 1:30 AM, Mme France Martin Rey and her friend were driving towards Arles on national road 113. They observed a large luminous crescent in the sky that transformed into a cone shape before moving away at high speed. During the phenomenon, their car radio became suddenly disturbed, emitting curious noises. Mme Martin Rey also reported a strange "sensation of increased speed of the car as if it had been propelled or attracted" by an unknown force. The event was reported in "la Presse de la Manche" on March 8, 1979.

Belgique Décembre 1989

This section is brief and only mentions that the issue likely contains information about unexplained phenomena, including 'luminous triangles,' observed in Belgium in December 1989. Further details are not provided in the scanned pages.

Dossier FRANCAT (mise à jour)

This section is mentioned in the table of contents and the introduction to the 1979 Arles case, indicating that page 15 contains an in-depth study of the FRANCAT dossier. However, the content of page 15 is not provided in the scanned images.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The recurring themes in this issue of UFOMANIA revolve around detailed reporting and investigation of UFO sightings, both contemporary and historical. The editorial stance emphasizes a serious, objective, and independent approach to ufology, valuing authentic witness testimonies and thorough research. There is a critical perspective on media-reported information, highlighting the need for verification. The issue also touches upon the historical evolution of UFO interpretations, from early 'flying saucer' and extraterrestrial hypotheses to more modern explanations, while maintaining that the mystery of UFOs persists and requires continued study. The publication aims to serve as a reliable source for those interested in the OVNI phenomenon.

This issue of UFOMANIA, dated December 1989, focuses on UFO phenomena, particularly highlighting a significant sighting in Arles, France, and the 'Belgian Wave' of UFO sightings in 1989. It also delves into the FRANCAT dossier, a catalog of numerous UFO cases investigated between 1975 and 1985.

Arles Sighting

The issue begins with a detailed account of a UFO sighting in Arles, France, as reported by Mme Martin Rey. She describes observing a large, opaque, red-orange disk in the sky that resembled a setting sun but did not illuminate the surroundings. The object then rapidly transformed into a cone within 4 to 5 seconds and shot away, disappearing quickly. Immediately after its disappearance, the car's radio started again, and the car began to slow down. The witness emphasized that she was not alone, as her friend also witnessed the event, ruling out hallucination. The following day, she contacted a journalist from 'Le Méridional' who published an article on the incident.

Conclusion on Arles Sighting

The conclusion drawn from the Arles case is that it exemplifies the extraordinary and disconcerting nature of UFO phenomena. The rapid transformation of a disk into a cone is noted as a recurring event in many reported observations, yet remains unexplained. The case is categorized as unexplained and of unknown origin, adding to the collection of strange phenomena.

Belgian UFO Wave (1989)

The magazine then shifts focus to Belgium, detailing events that contributed to the 'Belgian Wave' of UFO sightings. A testimony from Mme Deffense, investigated by Joël Mesnard on February 1, 1993, describes an event on December 14, 1989, near Mons. Mme Deffense and her two daughters observed three luminous points, initially moving at high speed and later passing again very slowly. These lights were described as flashing red-orange and triangular. The object passed about ten meters above their house. Mme Deffense attempted to take photos, but her simple pocket camera was insufficient. The event also caused her calm dog to become very agitated.

Another sighting from the same period, December 23, 1989, near Mons, involved Mme Ferraro and her neighbors. They observed a gigantic, greyish, saucer-shaped mass with three red lamps outlining its sides and a fourth bright lamp below. Dozens of luminous balls, each the size of a car, emerged from the 'saucer' (which was described as being the size of several city blocks) at high speed. After about 25 minutes, the balls returned to the 'mother ship,' and the UFO disappeared westward at high speed. Two F-16 fighter jets were observed flying over the area shortly after, but too late to witness the event.

FRANCAT Dossier

The issue features a significant section on the 'DOSSIER FRANCAT,' which compiles cases from 1975 to 1985 that were known but not investigated. This dossier, originating from the FRANCAT catalog, was published in August 1987 by the Comité d'Ile de France des Groupements Ufologiques (C.I.G.U.). The dossier contains over a thousand observations collected from press clippings, largely initiated by Michel Figuet. The article presents a summary of 36 cases out of 73 that were investigated and deemed of real interest.

FRANCAT Case Statistics

The dossier categorizes cases into 'Enquête impossible' (Impossible Investigation) and 'Enquête réalisable' (Feasible Investigation). Under 'Impossible Investigation,' there are 25 cases with insufficient data and 12 with non-localized witnesses. Under 'Feasible Investigation,' there are 5 cases of unidentified UFO phenomena, 2 already investigated cases, 27 ongoing investigations, and 2 cases deemed explainable or with elderly witnesses. In total, 37 cases were deemed impossible to investigate, while 36 were feasible. The analysis concludes that 49.3% of the information (36 cases) is exploitable, compared to 50.7% (37 cases) that are non-verifiable.

Selected FRANCAT Cases

The dossier then lists several specific cases:

• September 8, 1976, Vienne, France: Mr. and Mrs. Préchard observed an oval object, 25-30 meters long, hovering 3-4 meters above the ground in the forest. The source is 'Nostra' with two photos.
• December 23, 1976, Creuse, France: A circular red UFO was observed at low altitude over a military camp, emitting a whistling sound and featuring a luminous device on its summit. Sources include 'La Montagne' and 'L'écho du Centre.' Correspondence was sent to the Gendarmerie and the Public Prosecutor.
• December 24, 1976, Loire, France: Mr. G. Romeu observed a circular red-orange craft, 5-6 meters in diameter, hovering motionless. The source is 'Centre-Dimanche.' Correspondence was sent to the national gendarmerie with no response.
• October 1977, Ariège, France: Mme Alice Surre and her mother saw a large red ball resting on the ground that disappeared rapidly into the sky. The investigation was conducted by telephone, and the witness later stated no such phenomenon was observed, classifying it as a rumor.
• November 16, 1977, Seine et Marne, France: Mme Bonnefoy observed a dark, motionless saucer, 5-6 meters in diameter, from her window. Sources include 'Le Parisien libéré.'
• March 16, 1978, Deux-Sèvres, France: Mr. and Mrs. Jeanpierre observed a large, incandescent red-orange egg-shaped object at a height of 25-30 meters. The witness was considered too old for an in-depth investigation.
• April 23, 1978, Saône et Loire, France: A light red ball was observed by two people. A request for the report was sent to the gendarmerie.
• April 24, 1978, Saône et Loire, France: Ernest Joly discovered traces in a barley field. The source is 'Le Parisien Libéré.'
• June 19, 1978, Gironde, France: Mr. Franck Pavia and Jean-Marc Guitard observed a red oval object surrounded by white flames.
• September 13, 1978, Aveyron, France: Mr. Théron observed a flashing yellow-orange luminous ball that stopped and ceased flashing.
• September 17, 1978, Côte d'Or, France: Mme Gauthier and Mr. Zeller saw two luminous points moving at high speed about 2 meters above the ground.
• September 18, 1978, Seine et Marne, France: Mr. Pesloux described an object the size of a soup tureen, of an indefinable color, moving incredibly fast between points 7-8 km apart in a fraction of a second. The observation lasted about a minute, and no sound was heard. The following days, gendarmes searched the area for traces. An identical phenomenon was observed a year and two days later by a neighbor.
• October 15, 1978, Vaucluse, France: Mr. A. Carasco, his wife, and son observed a red-orange circular shape topped with a white dome, 5-6 meters in diameter, moving silently.
• January 7, 1979, Alpes-Maritime, France: Mr. A. Duron observed a metallic object above trees.
• January 6, 1979, Finistère, France: Mr. J.Y Plouzennec observed a circular craft surrounded by a blue halo a few meters above the ground. The case was transmitted to the Ufological Research Committee in Brest.
• January 15, 1979, Finistère, France: Mr. and Mrs. Le Cam observed a luminous ball moving very slowly for 20 minutes.
• January 28, 1979, Finistère, France: Mr. E. Lambert observed a bright blue light with a vivid red point at its center.
• February 13, 1979, Ain, France: Mr. Guinet and his five children observed a motionless sphere the size of a car, covered in multicolored lights. The witness had since passed away.
• March 6, 1979, Bouches du Rhône, France: An unknown phenomenon (OVNI) was observed in Aix en Provence (cross-referenced with pages 10, 11, 12 of the issue).
• March 16, 1979, Vienne, France: Mr. B. Mathe found himself 30 meters from a disk, 40 meters in diameter, hovering one meter above a meadow.
• April 27, 1979, Manche, France: An affair already investigated by Ph. Le Barillier in his book 'OVNI dans le Cotentin' was mentioned as already investigated.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The recurring themes in this issue are the extraordinary and often unexplained nature of UFO sightings, the transformation of objects, and the electromagnetic effects associated with them. The magazine presents a factual approach, detailing witness accounts, locations, dates, and sources, while acknowledging the lack of rational explanations for many phenomena. The editorial stance appears to be one of serious inquiry into UFO reports, aiming to document and analyze these events, even if they remain mysterious. The FRANCAT dossier, in particular, highlights the systematic collection and preliminary analysis of numerous sightings over a decade.

This document, titled 'DOSSIER FRANCAT', is a compilation of unidentified flying object (UFO) and OVNI (Objet Volant Non Identifié) sightings reported across France. It spans a period from 1979 to 1985, with some witness contacts dating to 1993. The publication appears to be a special report or a section within a larger publication, possibly 'UFOMANIA', as indicated by the page numbers and the contact information at the end.

Sightings and Incidents

The dossier meticulously lists numerous individual cases, each detailing the date, time, department (dépt), location, witness(es), a brief description of the sighting, and the source publication. Investigations are frequently noted as ongoing ('Enquête en Cours').

Page 21 (Issue 21):

• April 16, 1979, 23:30, Vaucluse (84), Bédarrides: Mlle Cachoz Marcelle and her sister Marie-José saw a luminous object descend and land 200 meters away. The case is described as impressive with traces, and investigations were pending correspondence.
• May 15, 1979, 01:30, Jura (39), Chateau des prés: Mr. Jean Vuillet observed a blinding light resembling the sun with an identical diameter.
• October 9, 1979, 23:25, Saône et Loire (71), Bruailles: Residents of the hamlet 'Les Communautés' observed an OVNI.
• December 9, 1979, 21:00, Vosges (88), Fays: Mr. R. Boulangé reported seeing a green, ovoïde-shaped craft that moved silently.
• January 1980, Oise (60), near Crépy en Valois: Gendarmes investigating an OVNI sighting discovered a trace approximately one meter in diameter.

**Page 22 (Issue 22):

• January 21, 1980, evening, Loire Atlantique (44), La Chapelle Basse Mer: A dark OVNI was observed for several minutes by a local resident.
• April 9, 1980, 00:00, Haut-Rhin (68), Forêt de Hardt, near Kembs: Mlle P. Dziomba and the Ludwizak couple observed a diamond-shaped OVNI. The aerodrome's control tower also registered an echo that could not be from an airplane.
• August 19, 1980, night, Deux-Sèvres (79), near Lezay: Mr. Pizon observed a large, blinding, mushroom-shaped light.
• September 10, 1980, 00:45, Deux-Sèvres (79), Cossonnières, Courlay: Mr. Fromenteau saw an oblong object of red-orange color for 2 to 3 minutes.
• June 21, 1981, 05:40, Jura (39), between Vévy & Crançot: Mr. Gineston observed an object shaped like an overturned bowl, with an unreal color and a diameter of 3 to 4 meters.

**Page 23 (Issue 23):

• November 1, 1981, 22:00, Seine et Marne (77), Saint Fiacre, near Meaux: Mr. Leforestier, his nephew, and niece observed a hemispherical, luminous craft about 3 meters high.
• November 22, 1981, 08:00, Finistère (29), Aéroport de Brest-Guipavas: Several witnesses, including two firefighters, observed a red luminous mass near the airport runway.
• February 6, 1983, 01:00, Lot et Garonne (47), on the N.113 between St-Hilaire de Lusignan and Buzet/Baïse: Mr. Tombolato was blinded by a luminous disc and paralyzed by an unknown force; his cat disappeared in a halo of light.
• April 29, 1983, 22:15, Pyrénées-Atlantique (64), Arudy: Mme M. Pelecq saw a white cloud ascending and descending towards Nay. She had previously taken a photo of an OVNI moving rapidly and leaving a trail.

**Page 24 (Issue 24):

• January 23, 1985, 20:45, Côte d'Or (21), between Bissey-la-Pierre & Laignes: Mlle F. Guillaume and Mlle I. Poisson observed an orange cigar-shaped object, surrounded by black, measuring 7 to 8 meters long.

Geographical Distribution

The final page includes a map of France with numerous dots indicating the geographical distribution of the reported sightings, suggesting a widespread phenomenon across the country.

Correspondence

Information regarding correspondence and requests for information is provided, directing inquiries to UFOMANIA c/o Didier Gomez at a Paris address.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The recurring theme is the documentation and reporting of UFO/OVNI sightings in France. The editorial stance appears to be one of serious investigation and cataloging, as evidenced by the detailed nature of the reports, the inclusion of sources from reputable newspapers, and the mention of ongoing investigations and case transmissions for study (e.g., to CRU). The phrase 'Enquête en Cours...' repeated after each sighting underscores a commitment to follow-up. The classification of phenomena as 'Non Identifié', 'Inconnu O. V. N. I.', or 'Inexpliqué' highlights the unresolved nature of these events.