Vaucluse Ufologie - No 05 - Septembre-Octobre 1977

Magazine Overview

Title: VAUCLUSE UFOLOGIE

Issue: BULLETIN D'INFORMATION DU G.R.E.P.O. N°5

Date: September-October 1977

Publisher: GROUPEMENT DE RECHERCHE ET D'ÉTUDE DU PHÉNOMÈNE O.V.N.İ.

Country: France

Language: French

Type: Bimonthly information bulletin.

Editorial

The editorial for issue number 5 expresses hope that the content will be of interest to readers and encourages them to share suggestions and critiques. It reiterates that the pages are open to contributions on ufology and related topics. The editorial emphasizes the importance of each member and sympathizer reporting any information concerning the complex problem of Unidentified Flying Objects (UFOs), stressing that even a simple press clipping or a brief reference to an observation can be very useful. Readers are urged to send in articles or details of observations, even if they cannot provide in-depth analysis.

Key Articles and Reports

Un O. V. N. I. Suit une Voiture sur l'Autoroute (A UFO Follows a Car on the Highway)

This article recounts an event that occurred during the week of August 15-20, 1977. An automobilist driving on the A7 highway near Cavaillon at night reported being followed by a luminous object that "latched on" for a significant distance. The object's pursuit was so long that when it ceased, the driver, shaken, stopped at a nearby service station. The information was relayed by a gas station attendant who had spoken to the driver. The attendant himself had seen the driver arrive "quite agitated." The author, Michel Sorgues, learned of this event while stopping at the same service station on August 21st, prompted by the UFO stickers on his vehicle. He notes that gas station attendants have shared similar observations before, including an incident in Pontet in June 1976, which was investigated by J. Manuel Cervantes and J. Pierre Troadec.

C'était Hier: Entraigues sur Sorgues (It Was Yesterday: Entraigues-sur-Sorgues)

This is an investigation report by J. Manuel Cervantes and Philippe Crespy concerning an event that occurred in March 1975 around 5:30 PM in the "Les Hautures" neighborhood of Entraigues-sur-Sorgues, Vaucluse. The A. family was in their yard when they noticed a luminous point moving south, evolving and zig-zagging before becoming rectilinear. It then hovered at an altitude comparable to a jet aircraft. Using binoculars, they observed a bean-shaped object, the color of mercury, with blurry contours and a red light underneath. The object rotated counter-clockwise and emitted flashes. Two smaller objects then detached from the main object and descended with jerky movements, resembling parachutes. These spheres stabilized briefly before disappearing. The main object then moved slowly before vanishing at high speed to the South-Southwest. The report details the family members involved: Guy A. (42, employed in technical services), his wife (39, nurse), and their children Sylvie (16) and Alex (18). The family has been interested in UFO phenomena for a long time. The article also mentions that since this observation, their television set has seemed to malfunction. Additionally, on April 10th of the following year, Madame A. and Sylvie reported seeing a luminous object moving erratically while watching TV.

La Rubrique des Années 50 (The 1950s Column)

This section is a brief mention of a project that is described as "very interesting" and "extraordinary," related to "stories from my grandfather." Further details are not provided in the scanned pages.

Enquêtes: En Quête! (Investigations: In Search!)

This appears to be a general heading for investigative reports within the bulletin, with the specific content of this entry not detailed in the provided pages.

Au-dessus de Châteauneuf-du-Pape (Above Châteauneuf-du-Pape)

This report details an observation made on Friday, July 16, 1976, at 11:30 PM by four members of the G.R.E.P.O. team. They observed a strange red-orange, arm's-length sized object moving from South to North, located to the East of their position, approximately 6 to 10 kilometers away. Its luminosity was comparable to Jupiter, and its speed was very high, estimated to be three times that of military aircraft. The object made a sharp turn and then moved northward, appearing to fade into the night. The observation lasted 15 minutes. The object was tracked with 14x binoculars, appearing well-defined against the night sky. The sky was clear and starry, and several commercial airliners were also observed, which were easily distinguishable from the observed phenomenon. The authors emphasize the sincerity of the witnesses and classify the object as "unidentified flying object." The report also notes that between July 15th and July 16th, six other observations were recorded in Vaucluse, four in the same region, and two at 11:30 PM in Châteauneuf-du-Pape and Vedène. An anecdote is shared that despite numerous UFO sightings in the region famous for its wine, no landings have been reported.

Organization and Activities

ASSEMBLEE GENERALE GREPO SAMEDI 10 DECEMBRE 1977

This section announces the General Assembly of GREPO to be held on Saturday, December 10, 1977, at 2:00 PM at their social headquarters: Maison de Jeunes et d'Education Permanente (MJEP) at avenue Pablo Picasso, 84700 Sorgues. The program includes welcoming members and guests, presentation of the 1977 bureau, review of GREPO's activities and treasury for 1977, composition of the new bureau for 1978, and future projects. The second part of the assembly will feature a documentary film on UFOs, a UFO slideshow, and a discussion/debate on the phenomenon and research. The meeting is scheduled to conclude between 5:00 PM and 7:00 PM.

NOS PERMANENCES (OUR REGULAR MEETINGS)

Due to more significant personal obligations, Jean-Manuel Cervantes will no longer be holding the regular meetings at the Maison des Jeunes in Sorgues. Consequently, GREPO will temporarily cease holding meetings at its headquarters. Patrick Roman will be available to meet with witnesses every Saturday afternoon in the Tour d'Aigues region (address and phone in the editorial) for the Pertuis region and the Aigues valley. These new meetings aim to welcome witnesses, new members, and inform the public. It is suggested that other locations like Orange and Carpentras could also host such meetings. Camille Ferrier, the Honorary President, can be contacted at 31-26-17 in Morières-les-Avignon for important communications.

NOS REUNIONS PUBLIQUES D'INFORMATION (OUR PUBLIC INFORMATION MEETINGS)

Jean-Pierre Troadec is the group's primary speaker, utilizing two slide presentations created by GREPO. The first, with about 200 slides, offers a general overview of ufology, while the second is dedicated to Georges Adamski. Members and sympathizers interested in organizing public information meetings on UFOs in their regions are encouraged to contact GREPO to arrange dates. J.P. Troadec is available for these meetings on Friday evenings, Saturday afternoons/evenings, and Sundays. The organizers are responsible for securing the venue, and publicity arrangements (press, posters) are to be discussed. GREPO also offers its services to any ufological group for such events.

Correspondence and Notes

A NOS CORRESPONDANTS (TO OUR CORRESPONDENTS)

The secretariat apologizes for delays in correspondence due to important changes. All mail should now be addressed to Monsieur TROADEC Jean-Pierre in Lyon. GREPO accepts press exchanges (bulletins, reviews, clippings) with French or foreign ufological associations. Press correspondence should be directed to Lyon, not Sorgues.

EN BREF (IN BRIEF)

The bulletin expresses gratitude to Madame Odette Bucher from Besançon, an active member-investigator who regularly sends press clippings and investigation reports. Mme Bucher has also recently contacted the G.E.R.O. in Besançon, which is considered a positive initiative. The publication also highly recommends "La Revue des Soucoupes Volantes," describing it as an excellent bimonthly review that seriously covers the UFO problem in France. Information is provided to subscribe to this review.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The recurring themes in this issue revolve around UFO sightings, investigations, and the activities of the GREPO organization. The editorial stance is one of open inquiry, encouraging public participation and the sharing of information regarding UFO phenomena. There is a clear emphasis on collecting and analyzing witness testimonies and evidence. The organization appears dedicated to informing the public and fostering a community of researchers and enthusiasts in the Vaucluse region and beyond. The bulletin also highlights the importance of thorough investigation and documentation of UFO events, as seen in the detailed reports of specific sightings.

This document is an issue of a publication, likely a newsletter or magazine, focused on UFO phenomena, specifically detailing an event near Châteauneuf-du-Pape. The primary focus is a witness account and its investigation, alongside updates on the organization's activities and related publications.

Châteauneuf-du-Pape Sighting

The main article, titled 'PRES DE CHATEAUNEUF-DU-PAPE', details an encounter that occurred on Thursday, June 16, 1977, around 2:40 AM. The witness, Ange-Marie R., an employee at S.N.P.E. in Sorgues (Vaucluse) with 10 years of service, reported seeing a whitish sphere while driving his usual route. The object was observed at an altitude of approximately 100 meters for over 20 seconds before disappearing rapidly into the sky. The witness's vehicle experienced no adverse effects.

Camille Ferrier, Honorary President of GREPO and Security Agent at S.N.P.E., interviewed the witness and confirmed his credibility, describing him as a balanced individual whose job requires meticulousness. Ferrier also provided a sketch of the location. The incident was subsequently reported in the 'Dossiers Insolites' column of the Dauphiné Libéré newspaper on August 17th, following an investigation by journalist Jean Leclaire.

The article notes that the region of Châteauneuf-du-Pape is frequently overflown by UFOs, speculating humorously about the local wine production as a possible attraction. It suggests that a more thorough ground study of the area might be necessary and mentions the presence of the 'Château des Papes' ruins and other medieval castles in the vicinity.

A diagram on page 4 illustrates the sighting, showing the witness's vehicle, the location of the observation, and the trajectory of the object. The observation lasted between 1 to 4 seconds, with the object disappearing at an estimated 100 meters altitude. The weather conditions were clear with no wind.

GREPO Activities and Publications

The issue highlights the development of a magnetic UFO detector by two GREPO members, which is capable of detecting UFOs by registering variations in the Earth's magnetic field. The device is described as reliable and sensitive, with a 2% detection rate for UFOs that perturb the magnetic field. It can be purchased for less than 70 French Francs.

A significant portion of the document is dedicated to listing various UFO-related publications received by GREPO. These include 'Lumières Dans La Nuit', 'KRUPTOS', 'La Revue des Soucoupes Volantes', bulletins from A.E.S.V., VERONICA,APPROCHE, Phénomènes Spatiaux, G.P.U.N., UFOVNI, and 'les Extraterrestres'. The list provides contact addresses and brief descriptions of the content, often highlighting articles relevant to GREPO's work.

Collaboration and New Projects

GREPO is actively collaborating with the KRUPTOS group from Caluire, which publishes a magazine of the same name. Their activities span parapsychology, esotericism, and ufology. A joint project of 'cycle-conferences' is planned for the Rhône region, led by Jean-Pierre Troadec for GREPO and Hervé Laronde for KRUPTOS. These conferences will cover general ufology, with a specific focus on 'contactees'.

As a preview, Jean-Pierre Troadec and Hervé Laronde held a private conference in Lyon on October 14th about 'Flying Saucers: The Extraordinary Adventure of Venus Messenger Georges Adamski'. The event reportedly drew significant interest.

Furthermore, Jean-Pierre Troadec participated in a television program on October 17th for FR 3 LYON, discussing UFOs in general. The 13-minute segment was scheduled for broadcast in November.

GREPO also welcomed a new member, J. François Angeli, a photographer who has initiated a significant project to compile a catalogue of dialogues between UFO witnesses/contactees and the occupants of UFOs during close encounters (Type 3). GREPO has pledged its support to this ambitious endeavor, which aims to analyze and compare these exchanges. Angeli can be contacted directly or through GREPO.

Editorial Stance

The publication strongly advocates for collaboration and the expansion of knowledge within the ufological community. It emphasizes the importance of sharing information and supporting new research initiatives, such as the dialogue catalogue project. The editorial tone is enthusiastic and encouraging, promoting membership growth to enhance research efforts in the Vaucluse region.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The recurring themes in this issue are witness testimony, UFO investigation, the development and use of UFO detection equipment, and the importance of inter-organizational collaboration within the ufological community. The editorial stance is one of active engagement, promoting research, sharing information, and encouraging public awareness of UFO phenomena. There is a clear emphasis on the credibility of witnesses and the systematic study of sightings.