UFOmania - No 03 - 1993 08

Magazine Overview

Title: ufomania
Issue: 03
Date: October 1993
Price: 15 FF
Country: France
Language: French

This issue of ufomania, a UFOlogical information bulletin, presents recent testimonies and revisits past cases, aiming to inform passionate readers about the OVNI phenomenon. The editorial highlights improved presentation due to subscriber interest and thanks collaborating ufological associations.

Articles and Reports

31 Mars 1993: De nouveaux témoignages...

This section details several sightings from March 31, 1993, questioning the official explanation of a Russian rocket reentry.

• Castelnaudary Observation: On March 31, 1993, at 02:10 AM, police brigadier-chef Mr. Exposito Richard and other witnesses observed two large, parallel luminous trails for 40 seconds. The phenomenon had two blue balls at the front and two orange trails at the rear, described as immense. The official explanation from S.E.P.R.A. is deemed insufficient. A sketch was made by the witnesses.
• Complementary Data: The testimony is considered interesting but vague, lacking information on altitude and distance. The S.E.P.R.A. failed to provide precise data despite inquiries.
• Impressions: The trajectory described by the witness (North-West to South-East) could align with the rocket reentry, but the rectangular shape and horizontal flight raise questions. The article suggests that some observed phenomena might not be related to the official explanation.
• Other Observations: The bulletin Trait-d'Union n°10 by the Magonia association reports four other investigations unrelated to the rocket reentry. Sightings in Isère (Vif) and Saint Clair du Rhone describe sudden appearances of UFOs. An object in Saint Clair du Rhone was estimated to be 40 meters long, flying 20 meters above the ground. A similar observation was made minutes earlier in Solaize by four gendarmes. The article suggests these could be the same OVNI, given the proximity of the locations.

31 Filaîs 1993, me autre observation ducôté de Cahots.

This report details another testimony from March 31, 1993, near Cahors.

• Cahors Observation: On March 31, 1993, at 02:10 AM, Mr. Félicité and his friend observed two parallel luminous masses on their left, moving from South-West to North-East. The objects were oval-shaped, with nuanced colors from yellow to orange-red. They stopped to observe, distinguishing a trail. The object descended at a constant speed for about 15 seconds before disappearing. The witness estimated the distance at 2-5 km and the altitude at 5 km, though these estimations are considered potentially inaccurate.
• Impressions: Mr. Félicité insists on the directions of observation. He described the objects as cloud-like, moving rapidly. He estimated their size using his fingers (12 cm apart for length, 4 cm for width), though this was likely an exaggeration due to the distance and lack of reference points at night.
• Annex: The article notes that many witnesses from March 31, 1993, have come forward, but obtaining data six months later is difficult, especially after press coverage identified the event as a rocket reentry, possibly part of a disinformation campaign. The article lists several sources for further information.

Février1974... Villesiscle ou la chasse à l'O.O.N.O

This section recounts a series of observations by Mr. Calmet in Villesiscle in February 1974.

• February 17, 1974: Mr. Calmet observed a large, elongated object with four intense lights at the corners of an imaginary rectangle. He initially mistook it for trucks or tractors.
• February 21, 1974: The same phenomenon appeared, accompanied by two luminous spheres, the size of large basketballs, hovering above the fields and illuminating the surroundings.
• February 24, 1974: Mr. Calmet and his son approached two white spheres, about a meter from the ground. They distinguished antennae on each sphere, with hemispherical red tops. The gendarmerie was alerted.
• Gendarmerie Investigation: An investigation by the gendarmerie of Montréal yielded no traces, radioactivity, noise, or heat effects. Despite efforts, the appearances remained unexplained.
• Impressions: Nineteen years later, Mr. Calmet still questions his observations, regretting not getting closer. He believes the spheres exhibited intelligent behavior. The article notes their speed varied from very slow near the ground to rapid at higher altitudes.
• Further Details: Mr. Calmet initially thought the first sighting was of terrestrial vehicles. The spheres' lights illuminated the area intensely, and the elongated object seemed to float without touching the ground, leaving no tracks despite the soft terrain.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The recurring themes in this issue are unexplained aerial phenomena, witness testimonies (including those from law enforcement), the challenges of investigation, and the questioning of official explanations. The editorial stance appears to be one of open inquiry into UFO phenomena, acknowledging their mysterious nature while encouraging critical thinking and independent study. The magazine aims to present information objectively, allowing readers to form their own conclusions.

This issue of "Dossier de Presse" is a collection of articles and reports concerning UFO phenomena and crop circles primarily in France, with a publication date indicated by references to April 1974 and other dates up to 1993. The magazine appears to be a compilation of press clippings and investigative findings, with a focus on unexplained aerial phenomena and their potential explanations, including hoaxes and official investigations.

Article 1: Mr. Calmet's Observation

The first section details an observation by Mr. Calmet, who alerted the gendarmerie of Montréal three times in one week due to a recurring, unusual phenomenon. The phenomenon, described as appearing in the same form and under similar conditions, was observed at a distance of about 300 meters from his farm. The text notes that the witness's reaction, after repeated sightings, was to investigate further. The description of the spheres appearing is accompanied by a simple drawing.

Article 2: Crop Circles in the Parisian Suburbs

This article focuses on the phenomenon of "crop circles" appearing in the Parisian suburbs, specifically in Itteville, Essonne. It describes the discovery of two circles, each 21 meters in diameter, with tangential branches approximately 15 meters long and 1.50 meters wide, ending in a 12-meter diameter circle. The traces were discovered by the landowner, who initially alerted the gendarmerie. The article suggests that these formations, while resembling English crop circles, are likely the work of pranksters, citing the discovery of a piece of string and a piece of wood nearby as evidence. The report also mentions similar traces appearing in fields in the Parisian suburbs, including Essonne and Seine-et-Marne, suggesting the phenomenon was spreading in France.

Article 3: Investigation of Crop Circles

This section continues the discussion on crop circles, detailing an investigation into a figure resembling a giant dumbbell discovered near Melun on June 10, 1993. The Banque Internationale de Données Ufologiques (B.I.D.U) opened a preliminary investigation. The trace was discovered between June 8th and 10th, 1993. The investigation noted that the trace was strongly inspired by famous crop circles and that a 20 cm wide track was observed, leading to the center of the largest circle. The article suggests that the creation of these traces is likely human in origin and that the perpetrators might be connected to the ufological community, noting the coincidence of dates with a previous unexplained trace in Marcilly in 1989.

Article 4: UFO Sighting in Reuilly

This article reports on a UFO sighting by Mr. Defort, a police commissioner from Issoudun. While driving between Reuilly and Vierzon on the night of Monday to Tuesday, he observed a flame-like object approximately 500 meters away and at an altitude of 200 meters. The object was moving from West to East towards Bourges and left a small trail. Mr. Defort estimated its speed at 400 km/h, comparing it to the exhaust of a Mirage 2000. He ruled out confusion with aircraft, noting the proximity of the Avord airbase. The article also mentions a previous unexplained observation by Mr. Defort in December 1973, where he and his companions witnessed a flying saucer resembling the one from the TV series "The Invaders" while hiking near Valence.

Article 5: Traces Identified as Hoaxes

This section discusses the investigation into traces found near Couiza (Aude). The author, while counter-investigating Mr. Calmet's observations, was informed of these new traces. The gendarmerie confirmed that the traces were a hoax created by young Belgian tourists and that there was nothing mysterious about them. The information, initially broadcast on the radio, was picked up by newspapers. A Swiss newspaper, Le Matin, reported that five Belgian and Canadian vacationers had confessed and would be prosecuted for contempt of public officials. The B.I.D.U. is offering a catalog of French crop circle hoaxes from the summer of 1993.

Article 6: Nocturnal Lights over Clermont-Ferrand

This report details an observation made by Mlle Sylvie Jubault, a retiree, and her sister and niece, on the night of July 8, 1988, near Clermont-Ferrand. They observed four lights, larger and brighter than stars, appearing above the roof of their house. The lights seemed immobile at first but then moved silently, forming a binominal formation, then a fifth light joined, and finally, the lights formed a perfect luminous triangle. The triangle then accelerated and disappeared towards the West. The witnesses noted the absence of any sound and no change in the lights' color or intensity. Simplified sketches illustrate the phenomenon and the location.

Article 7: Dossier Francat - Analysis of 73 UFO Cases

This final section presents a summary of an analysis of 73 UFO cases collected from press articles between 1975 and 1985, initially published in 1987. The research aimed to find and re-investigate these cases, but the results were largely unsatisfactory due to a lack of response from witnesses. Out of 73 potential cases, 25 had insufficient data, 17 had unlisted witnesses, 15 were localized but without response, 5 involved gendarmerie investigations without response, 3 attempts to obtain gendarmerie reports failed, 7 phenomena remain unexplained, and only 1 case was investigated and identified. The article highlights the difficulty in obtaining official gendarmerie reports (procès-verbaux), describing it as a "calvary." It mentions that attempts to get information from organizations like S.E.P.R.A. in Toulouse were unsuccessful, and that requests to the public prosecutor or the Gendarmerie Administrative Center were also problematic. The author concludes that there is a clear censorship by official instances, making further investigation difficult.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The recurring themes in this issue are UFO sightings, crop circles, and the investigation into these phenomena. There is a clear interest in unexplained aerial events and the attempts to find rational explanations, whether through identifying hoaxes or through official investigations. The magazine also touches upon the challenges and potential obstruction faced by researchers when dealing with official bodies, suggesting a possible cover-up or reluctance to acknowledge such phenomena. The editorial stance appears to be one of open inquiry, presenting various cases and their purported explanations while also highlighting the difficulties in obtaining conclusive evidence and official cooperation.

This issue of UFOMANIA, identified by page number 21 and 22, focuses on an investigation into UFO (Unidentified Flying Object) or UAP (Unidentified Aerial Phenomena) cases and the difficulties in accessing official documentation. The magazine covers correspondence regarding a 1978 sighting and a 1993 incident, along with a directory of UFO-related associations in France.

Case of April 23, 1978, in Pierre de Bresse

The issue details a request made by Mr. Didier GOMEZ for information regarding a procedure established by the Gendarmerie Brigade of PIERRE DE BRESSE concerning a UAP sighting on April 23, 1978. In response, the Gendarmerie of PIERRE DE BRESSE, via a letter dated January 17, 1993, informed Mr. GOMEZ that the dossier he requested was over a decade old and no longer in their possession. They suggested he contact the technical center of the Gendarmerie Nationale, known as the Centre Administratif et Technique de la Gendarmerie Nationale, located at BP 201, 36300 LE BLANC.

Correspondence with the Centre Administratif in Le Blanc

A second letter, dated February 1993, from the Centre Administratif de la Gendarmerie Nationale in Le Blanc, addressed to Mr. GOMEZ, confirms that the requested report from the Gendarmerie of PIERRE-DE-BRESSE concerning the April 23, 1978 sighting is subject to laws (78-753 and 79-18) that prevent its communication or disclosure before a 30-year period has elapsed. The letter suggests contacting the Service d'Expertise des Phénomènes de Rentrée Atmosphérique (S.E.P.R.A.) at 18, avenue Edmond Belin, 31055 TOULOUSE CEDEX.

Ongoing Investigation and Frustration

A note indicates that a third correspondence was sent to the Centre Administratif in Le Blanc, which then directed the inquiry to S.E.P.R.A. However, a subsequent communication to S.E.P.R.A. had, at the time of publication, remained unanswered, leading to a feeling of being in a loop ('La boucle est donc bouclée').

Case of August 7, 1993, in Moselle

The magazine also features a "Dernière minute" report on a case of "missing time" in Moselle, occurring on August 7, 1993. This incident, summarized from an article in "Le Républicain Lorrain" dated August 11, 1993, describes an Unidentified Flying Object (UFO) sighted near Metz by an anonymous resident of Pournoy-la-Grasse. The witness reported seeing an intense blue-turquoise light from a silent object hovering above a crossroads around 10:45 PM. The light remained for a minute before extinguishing, and a dark mass moved away at high speed with a whistling sound. The witness arrived home around midnight, despite being only 11 km away, and reported suffering from violent headaches when returning to the location of the sighting.

Directory of UFO Associations

This issue includes a comprehensive list of French associations and publications active in the field of UFO research. The list provides the names of organizations, contact persons, addresses, and postal codes, serving as a resource for individuals interested in the phenomenon. Notable organizations listed include A.C.E.P.I, A.L.E.P.I, A.N.E.L.D.L.N, B.E.R.U.F.B, B.I.D.U, C.E.O.F, C.E.R.P.A, C.E.R.P.I, C.F.R.U, C.G.U, C.N.R.E, C.N.R.O.V.N.I, C.V.L.D.L.N, CRASHES REALITES, E.C.O.L, G.A.C, G.E.O.S, G.E.R.U, G.N.E.O.V.N.I, G.T.R, Groupe ORION, L.D.L.N, MAGONIA, O.G.R, OVNI-PRESENCE, PHENOMENA (SOS-OVNI), S.C.E.A.U, S.E.R.P.A.N, S.E.R.P.P.E, S.L.U.B, and TAU CETI.

Subscription Information

A subscription form is included for UFOMANIA, offering 4 issues for a flat rate of 60 FF, payable by check, postal order, or money order to Mr. Didier GOMEZ at 09 bis rue Fontarabie, 75020 Paris.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The recurring themes in this issue are the challenges of accessing official UFO-related documentation, the reporting of specific UAP cases, and the promotion of the UFO research community in France. The editorial stance appears to be one of persistent investigation, highlighting the bureaucratic obstacles encountered while seeking information and providing a valuable resource for enthusiasts through the directory of associations. The "Dernière minute" section suggests a commitment to timely reporting of recent events.