Vaucluse Ufologie - No 06 - Novembre-Decembre 1977

Magazine Overview

Title: VAUCLUSE UFOLOGIE
Issue: n°6
Date: 1977
Publisher: GROUPEMENT DE RECHERCHE ET D'ÉTUDE DU PHÉNOMÈNE OVNI (G.R.E.P.O.)
Type: Bulletin d'information bimestriel

Editorial

The editorial section addresses the delay in publishing certain articles from the previous issue (n°5), specifically 'La Rubrique des Années 50' and 'Les Histoires de mon grand-père'. These are promised for the current issue (n°6) and a future issue, respectively. The editorial expresses hopes for a positive year for ufology in 1978 and notes the expansion of G.R.E.P.O., emphasizing the need for unity among different ufology groups. It suggests that ufologists represent a significant current of thought in society and that the UFO phenomenon is complex, encompassing various possibilities beyond simple extraterrestrial visitation, such as time travelers, intraterrestrials, thought projections, or unknown meteorological phenomena. The editorial encourages an open-minded approach, accepting witness testimonies and then attempting to categorize them.

Key Articles and Reports

ENQUETES: EN QUETE (Investigations: In Search)

This section presents a detailed UFO observation from Avignon, investigated by Alain Barnicaud.

Case 1: December 1961 (Rosso, Mauritania)

A 50-year-old witness, Mme B., driving near a cemetery at midnight, observed a red light moving south over the Senegal River. The object, described as dark, round, and slightly conical, became silent and immobilized. It then began to rotate, revealing green and red lights for 30 minutes before moving towards the witness. When she turned off her car headlights, the phenomenon stopped and moved away rapidly, disappearing into the clouds.

Case 2: February 1967 (Avignon, France)

At 9:00 PM, Mme B. observed a bright, star-like light above Montfavet. Using binoculars, she noted the object moved slowly southwest and stopped twice during the hour-long observation. Her husband confirmed seeing the "mysterious vehicle" before it disappeared.

Case 3: November 1973 (Avignon, France)

Mme B. and her husband saw an immobile luminous ball above an intersection. The light followed their car and was later observed again above Villeneuve les Avignon. After 15 minutes of immobility, the object was observed until 1:15 AM before rapidly moving towards the horizon.

Case 4: December 1975 (Vénasque, Vaucluse, France)

While sleeping in their country house, Mr. and Mme B. were awakened by a bright light. Mme B. observed an object with the shape of a thick, slightly oval disc, metallic in color (grey), surrounded by a bright white vapor. It was inclined, showing a flat top and rounded angles. A row of pink lights was visible around the base, with a series of round indentations below them, resembling rivets. The object was immobile, and the vapor was close to the lights. The observation lasted 15 minutes with binoculars, totaling 30 minutes. The object then disappeared rapidly. The estimated size was 35 meters in diameter and 8-9 meters thick. A local newspaper later reported a UFO sighting near Ventoux.

Editorial Note: The editors caution that this observation, while characteristic, could be a misinterpretation of a star, advising prudence and not jumping to conclusions about UFOs.

Organization and Activities

G.R.E.P.O. Bureau and Members (1978)

The bulletin lists the composition of the G.R.E.P.O. bureau for 1978, including Honorary President Camille Ferrier, President René Faudrin, Vice-President Jean Pierre Troadec, Secretary Lilyane Pelle, Archivist Philippe Crespy, and others. Honorary members include Jean Manuel Cervantes and Jean Leclaire.

Collaboration and Subscriptions

The publication is open to all members and readers, with articles published under the author's responsibility. Reproduction of articles is authorized with clear source attribution. Subscription rates are 50 Francs for 6 issues (Abonnement) and 30 Francs for a simple subscription (Abonnement simple). The price per issue is 5 Francs. All subscriptions and memberships begin on January 1st.

Correspondence and Social Seat

Correspondence should be addressed to Jean Pierre Troadec in Lyon. The social seat of the organization is at Maison des Jeunes in Sorgues. René Faudrin is the Director of Publication.

General Assembly (December 10th)

A general assembly was held on December 10th, attended by members of G.R.E.P.O. and representatives from other groups like VERONICA. The President d'Honneur, Camille Ferrier, was absent due to illness. The assembly included presentations of a film about a UFO observed over Cousances-lès-Forges and studies on UFOs in space and a 25-year analysis of UFO cases in Vaucluse. Jean Pierre Troadec also presented his work with 200 slides. The meeting concluded with a debate and a social gathering.

1978 Activities and Organization

The second part of the assembly focused on 1978 activities, divided into two main areas: investigations in Vaucluse (led by Alain Barnicaud) and public information (led by Jean Pierre Troadec). The existing bureau was confirmed, with Camille Ferrier as Honorary President, René Faudrin as President, Jean Pierre Troadec as Vice-President and Treasurer, Lilyane Pelle as Secretary, and Philippe Crespy as Archivist. Jean Manuel Cervantes and Jean Leclaire were named honorary members for their contributions.

Bilans d'Activité (Activity Reports)

Délégation LDLN du Vaucluse (René Faudrin and Jean Pierre Troadec)

The Vaucluse region, despite its small size, has recorded 144 UFO sightings between 1951 and 1976. The regional group was formed on December 19, 1976, to conduct precise studies and inform the public.

• 1977 Activities:
• Public Information: Assisted by journalist Jean Leclaire, who publishes a column 'Les Dossiers Insolites: Les OVNI' in 'Le Dauphiné Libéré'. Public permanences were held on Saturdays at the group's headquarters until September 1st, after which they moved to the homes of Patrick Roman and Robert Franchino. Public meetings were organized in Vaison la Romaine and Sorgues, and a major conference by Jean Claude Bourret in Avignon attracted 900 people. The group also publishes a bimonthly bulletin, 'Vaucluse Ufologie'.
• Investigations: Approximately 30 UFO observations were collected in 1977, including two past landing cases in Puget sur Durance and Pontet in July 1976. Research into 1950s cases is ongoing.
• Collaboration: Collaboration with other groups is highlighted, including a meeting in Imbourg with various French UFO organizations. A joint letter was sent to the Secretary of State for Research, following up on a previous letter requesting that all GREPO investigations be communicated to CNES.

Call for Investigators: An open letter was sent in September to all LDLN investigators in Vaucluse, inviting them to join GREPO.

Information Publique (Public Information)

Jean-Pierre Troadec gave a conference on "OVNI: oui, ils existent" in Saint-Laurent de Chamousset on December 7th. He also participated in a television program on FR 3 Lyon and Antenne 2 about extraterrestrials. The issue mentions the case of Jean Miguères and presents a photo of an extraterrestrial obtained by Troadec. The ILS Detector, used by GREPO, was also shown on screen.

Critique of Richard Bessières' Conferences

René Faudrin critiques Richard Bessières' conferences on UFOs held in Avignon and L'Isle sur Sorgues. He points out significant errors in Bessières' presentations, particularly regarding a photo allegedly from NASA showing a UFO seen by Armstrong during the first moon landing. Faudrin argues that the photo presented is problematic, as it seems to combine an image of Armstrong's lunar module with a UFO, and that the UFO in the photo resembles Adamski's craft. Faudrin concludes that Bessières' conferences make it difficult for the public to form a correct understanding of UFO phenomena and that GREPO does not endorse such presentations in Vaucluse.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The recurring themes in this issue include detailed UFO sighting reports, the organizational activities and structure of the GREPO group, and efforts to inform the public about ufology. The editorial stance is one of open-minded investigation, encouraging unity among different UFO groups, and promoting a scientific yet accessible approach to the phenomenon. There is a clear emphasis on rigorous investigation and a critical evaluation of evidence, as demonstrated by the critique of Richard Bessières' conferences. The group aims to be a central hub for UFO research and information in the Vaucluse region.

Title: LA RUBRIQUE DES ANNEES 50
Issue: Vaucluse-Ufologie nº 3
Date: October 14, 1954 (cover date for the main incident)
Publisher: Le Dauphiné Libéré (reporting on the incident)
Country: France
Language: French

This issue of "LA RUBRIQUE DES ANNEES 50" focuses on UFO phenomena, particularly the events of October 14, 1954, in the Vaucluse region of France, and delves into the extraordinary claims of Jean Migueres, a self-proclaimed contactee.

Fontaine de Vaucluse Incident: October 14, 1954

The main article recounts an intense day of UFO activity in France, with four cases reported in Vaucluse alone. The most significant event occurred in Fontaine de Vaucluse on October 14, 1954, around 12:30 PM. The population was alerted by children who first spotted a disc-shaped object hovering over the town. Described as a large white disc surmounted by a spherical cap, resembling a silver melon hat, its lower circular border intermittently displayed powerful lights varying from violet-white to red. The object oscillated, sometimes appearing as a melon hat, other times a diamond, or simply a disc with brilliant edges.

At approximately 2:00 PM, the military air base at Orange-Caritat scrambled two "Mistral" jet aircraft, piloted by Lieutenant Camps and Sergeant Berte of squadron 2/5, to intercept the mysterious visitor. The correspondent from Le Dauphiné Libéré, in communication with the air base, helped guide the aircraft. The jets engaged the object, but according to the aircraft radio, the "saucer" was escaping at a speed superior to theirs. Witnesses in Fontaine de Vaucluse saw the "saucer" dash away, pursued by the two jets.

Official Denial and Public Reaction

Despite the initial reports and eyewitness accounts, a communiqué from the Secretariat to the Air on October 16, 1954, stated that the two pilots who had flown over Fontaine de Vaucluse on the afternoon of October 14 had observed no unknown craft during their search. The communiqué emphasized that the pilots were experienced officers and their report was formal. This official denial sparked indignation among witnesses, who felt their observations were being dismissed.

Jimmy Guieu and Henry Durrant, in their books "Black Out sur les S. V." and "Le Livre Noir des S. V.", respectively, highlighted this discrepancy, suggesting a "cold shower" tactic by French authorities. The article criticizes them for relying solely on the press and not pursuing deeper investigations.

Historical Context and Other Sightings

The article notes that this was not the first such incident in France. On June 15, 1951, two "Vampire" aircraft had also been scrambled to observe an unknown metallic object. The issue also briefly mentions other sightings on the same day as the Fontaine de Vaucluse incident: an object over Vaison la Romaine at 1:00 PM and 6:30 PM, a fireball at Vaison in the evening, and a sphere over Avignon at 6:10 PM, followed by another cigar-shaped object over Apt. The author calls for UFO groups in the surrounding departments to share information to create a more complete picture of the day's events.

The Extraordinary Case of Jean Migueres

A significant portion of the magazine is dedicated to the experiences of Jean Migueres, an ambulance driver. His story begins on August 10, 1969, in Perpignan, where he was involved in a near-fatal accident. While driving an ambulance, he encountered a luminous, advanced vehicle that mirrored his ambulance's movements with uncanny precision, leading to a collision at high speed.

Migueres recounts a feeling of reassurance during the ordeal, with a voice telling him he would not suffer. After the accident, he claims an extraterrestrial being materialized before him, communicating telepathically and giving him a small luminous disk as proof of his encounter. This encounter, he states, transformed him, making him feel like a "new man" despite severe physical injuries requiring 18 surgical interventions and being declared clinically dead three times.

Evidence and Claims

Migueres asserts that the "contact" provided him with proof, including a paper with signs that were later deciphered by scientist Marcel Pages, who was reportedly working on the problem of antigravitation. Migueres also claims his contact predicted the presence of an extraterrestrial base in orbit between Venus and Earth. In December 1975, the Palomar Observatory detected an artificial satellite with an unknown orbit, which Migueres presented as confirmation of his prediction, made in early 1975.

He also recounts an event on March 16, 1975, where a "mother ship" reportedly flew over Fort du Mont Alban in Nice, an event he had predicted. Migueres's definition of a "true contactee" is someone who can provide formal proof of their claims, distinguishing himself from figures like Adamski.

Conference and Debate: "The War of the Stars"

Another section discusses a television program on Antenne 2 titled "La Guerre des Etoiles" (The War of the Stars), which featured ufologists and experts. The author expresses disappointment with the program, stating that it failed to inform the public about the UFO phenomenon. Despite the presence of numerous ufologists, the discussion remained superficial, and the program was marred by the inclusion of unrelated musical performances and a lack of substantive debate. The author suggests that such discussions should be broken down into shorter, more focused segments to better engage the audience.

UFO Research Groups and Publications

The magazine also includes a section listing various UFO research groups and publications that have been received as press services. This includes "KRUPTOS," "APPROCHE," "UFOLOGIA," "Lumières Dans La Nuit," and others, along with their contact addresses. A new group, "Groupe 5255," based in the Haute-Marne and Meuse departments, is introduced. This group focuses on research, field investigations, observation evenings, and public information, and is open to collaboration with other regional groups.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The recurring themes in this issue are the official handling of UFO sightings, the contrast between official statements and eyewitness accounts, and the personal testimony of alleged alien contactees. The magazine appears to lean towards presenting UFO phenomena as a serious subject worthy of investigation, while also acknowledging the skepticism and official denials that often accompany such reports. The editorial stance seems to be one of encouraging open-mindedness and further research, particularly in light of the detailed accounts provided by individuals like Jean Migueres, while also maintaining a critical eye towards the presentation of information, as seen in the critique of the television program.