Vaucluse Ufologie - No 20 - Decembre 1980

Magazine Overview

This issue of VAUCLUSE UFOLOGIE, a quarterly bulletin from the GROUPEMENT DE RECHERCHE ET D'ÉTUDE DU PHÉNOMÈNE OVNI (G.R.E.P.O.), is dated December 1980. It features a cover headline highlighting "SPECIAL ALPES DE HAUTE PROVENCE" and includes the ISSN 0222-2272 and a price of 20.

The magazine primarily documents numerous UFO and UAP sightings, often with detailed descriptions of the objects and their behaviors, along with witness accounts. The reports span a period from December 1967 to January 1979, with a significant concentration of events in the late 1970s.

Documented Sightings and Incidents

The bulletin meticulously lists individual sightings, often providing the date, time, location, and a description of the phenomenon. Many entries are attributed to the investigator JJ LIABEUF, and some are cross-referenced with local newspapers like Nice Matin, Le Méridional, and Le Provençal.

Key incidents and observations include:

• December 31, 1967 (Apt and Digne): A driver reported a brilliant white metallic object on the road, shaped like two spheres with a halo, resting on tripods. It changed color to violet and orange before ascending vertically at high speed. The witness experienced tingling sensations and heard ultrasonic sounds.
• November 1974 (Digne): Six green, luminous spheres, arranged in a cross formation, were observed. They remained fixed without blinking and moved rapidly along a trajectory above a television relay, with the observation lasting only 2-3 seconds.
• June 25, 1976 (Colmars des Alpes): While herding sheep at high altitude, a witness discovered inexplicable ground traces. These consisted of two parallel furrows forming a slight arc, 55 meters long, 3-5 cm deep, and 30 cm wide, spaced 20 cm apart. A trapezoidal imprint, approximately 56 cm by 74 cm, was also found 20 meters before the end of the furrows. Notably, grass had grown in the furrows but not in the trapezoidal imprint.
• November 25, 1976 (RN 207, Barreme/St Andre les Alpes): A woman observed a phosphorescent green object descending in rapid spirals, stabilizing about 1 meter above the ground and 50 meters from her vehicle. The object was described as approximately 2.5 meters long and 1 meter wide, with a spherical, dome-like front and a reddish glow at the rear. Its form then transformed into a rounded shape before disappearing.
• December 9, 1976 (Montfort): A schoolgirl saw an orange luminous object moving slowly from South to North.
• December 9, 1976 (Digne): Four white luminous points, equally spaced, were observed moving in a rectilinear trajectory at a constant speed. They headed towards Mallemoisson, then suddenly seemed to turn in place and head back towards Gaubert.
• December 10, 1976 (Montfort): The same schoolgirl, with a friend, observed a red-orange luminous object moving at low altitude. It flew from South to North and disappeared behind a terrain movement.
• December 8, 1976 (Meyronnes): Two police sergeants reported an elongated object coming from Italy and heading Northeast. Alpine hunters noted that dogs in the mountain section howled intensely.
• December 9, 1976 (Meyronnes): The same witnesses, accompanied by a customs officer, observed four semi-luminous forms with yellowish cores and dark grey perimeters. One object emitted light and appeared to dive towards them, causing them to flee as the objects disappeared behind a mountain.
• December 12, 1976 (Near Mallemoisson): A fixed, wide, and well-defined trail in the sky, resembling an airplane's contrail but much larger (20-30 meters long), was observed.
• December 13, 1976 (Digne): A witness saw an orange vertical trail with a bright sphere at its center, described as large as the moon. The object disappeared abruptly after 15 minutes, while the trail persisted for another 20 minutes.
• December 16, 1976 (Digne): A yellow light stabilized, moved, accelerated suddenly, stabilized again, and then moved away at high speed.
• December 29, 1976 (Rte de Barles): A bright, round, orange luminous object descended vertically and immobilized itself among trees at the foot of a mountain. No traces were found.
• Early 1977 (Digne): Three young people saw a highly luminous ball on a rooftop, projecting reddish glows. Nearby dogs became agitated.
• July 1978 (Chandourène): Several people observed two or three UFOs passing at the height of a colony.
• September 23, 1978 (Digne): Gendarmes observed an orange object with a red underside and a green trail. It hovered over a mountain before disappearing in a fraction of a second, leaving a red spiral ascending towards the sky.
• September 24, 1978 (Digne): The same object was observed again by a gendarme for 20 minutes.
• September 30, 1978 (RN 85, La Cornerie): A witness and his wife saw an oval object, about 20 meters in diameter, with phosphorescent white color and multi-colored fine glitter. It moved at reduced speed without noise, and its engine and headlights did not stop.
• October 1, 1978 (Thoard): Three people, including a police officer, observed a white phosphorescent object stabilized near the ground, which swept its front with a projector-like beam. It disappeared rapidly towards Sisteron.
• November 13, 1978 (Courbon): A witness saw a strongly phosphorescent white object above the area.
• November 13, 1978 (Aiglun): A luminous white light was seen hovering, which elongated and split into two parts, leaving a whitish trail before disappearing.
• November 22, 1978 (St Estève, direction Thoard): A witness heard a jet sound and saw a round, brilliant white object below a Mirage aircraft. The object followed the aircraft for 10 minutes, then overtook it and disappeared at enormous speed.
• November 24, 1978 (Aiglun): A stable white luminous ball was observed, pivoting like a radar. It turned orange and disappeared at sunrise.
• November 25, 1978 (Aiglun): A phosphorescent white luminous ball stabilized, turned orange, and disappeared vertically.
• November 27, 1978 (Aiglun): The same phenomenon as the previous day was observed.
• December 7, 1978 (Saumon): Two white headlights were observed for 20 minutes, following a mountain crest without noise. The phenomenon turned red and disappeared heading South.
• January 5, 1979 (Between Malijai and Les Grillons): Workers observed an object with a broken trajectory and variable luminosity. It made no noise, was white, and moved slowly Northeast before disappearing.
• January 11, 1979 (Digne): A white luminous ball passed overhead, stopped, descended vertically, disappeared behind trees, then reappeared, ascended vertically at high speed, and disappeared Southwest without noise.

Object Characteristics

The objects described exhibit a range of shapes including spheres, elongated forms, discs, rectangles, and cross-like formations. Colors reported include green, orange, white, red, yellow, and violet. Sizes vary from a few meters to potentially much larger. Behaviors include hovering, rapid movement, descending, ascending, pivoting, changing direction, disappearing, stabilizing, and moving in spirals. Some incidents mention electromagnetic effects like car engine faltering and tingling sensations, while others report physical traces like ground furrows and imprints.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The recurring themes in this issue are the detailed cataloging of UFO sightings and the physical evidence (or lack thereof) associated with them. The G.R.E.P.O. appears to maintain a neutral, observational stance, presenting witness accounts and factual descriptions of phenomena. The emphasis is on documenting specific events with dates, locations, and witness details, often cross-referenced with media reports, suggesting a methodical approach to ufological research in the region. The consistent reporting by JJ LIABEUF highlights his significant role in collecting and disseminating these accounts.

This issue of OVNI, published by Le Provençal on December 5, 1979, focuses on UFO sightings and related phenomena in France, with a significant portion dedicated to a harrowing encounter by a butcher in Annot. It also explores the legacy of science fiction author Jules Verne and his connection to potential extraterrestrial influences.

Key Articles and Reports

The Butcher of Annot's Encounter

The cover story details the experience of Jean de Vincenzi, a butcher from Annot, who reported being pursued for approximately 2 kilometers by a large, orange, spherical object on the night of December 1, 1979. The object, estimated to be 2 to 3 meters in diameter, hovered at the side of the road and later alongside his vehicle. De Vincenzi described the object as emitting rapid, high-pitched beeping sounds, a detail noted as particularly significant because most reported UFO phenomena are silent. He was reportedly terrified and sought medical attention afterward. The incident was taken seriously by the local gendarmes, who documented the event with a sketch.

UFO Sightings Across France in 1979

The issue compiles several other UFO sighting reports from various locations in France during 1979:

• October 23, 1979, Digne: M. G. and M. B. observed a stable, round, orange-red object that moved in a zig-zag pattern.
• November 2, 1979, Digne: M. J. Boucher saw a red-orange cylindrical object with a green tail moving slowly.
• November 12, 1979, Digne: L'adjudant T. witnessed a round, orange-red object that turned bright red as it changed speed.
• December 5, 1979, Hautes Dignes: Two individuals observed a bright orange-red, rounded object that moved south and became brighter as it gained speed.
• June 1979, Avignon (La Barbière): Mr. and Mrs. D. reported seeing a circular formation of orange-red lights moving rapidly, resembling a flat disk.
• November 6, 1979, Avignon: An administrator and his family observed five round, orange-red balls that disappeared to the south over 30 minutes.
• December 3, 1979, Beaumont du Ventoux: Mme P. saw a red sphere with a rim, rotating rapidly and moving close to the ground before ascending.
• December 11, 1979, Avignon: Two witnesses observed three orange-red balls in a flattened triangle formation moving at high speed.
• December 11, 1979, Avignon: Mme X. reported three strange lights in a triangle formation that moved away after a period of immobility.
• December 15, 1979, Avignon: A couple observed two shimmering lights that appeared stationary for 20 minutes.
• December 26, 1979, between Valréas and Taulignan: Four occupants of a car saw a crescent-shaped object moving steadily, larger than the moon, which then disappeared.

The Father of Science Fiction in Nantes: The Jules Verne Museum

This section, authored by Jean-Pierre Troadec, highlights the Jules Verne Museum in Nantes. The museum, housed in a late 19th-century bourgeois house, features eleven rooms dedicated to the life and works of Jules Verne. Exhibits include period books, models (such as Robur the Conqueror's flying machine), personal items, letters, photographs, and a diorama. The museum covers Verne's life from his birth in Nantes to his death, his collaborations with publisher Hetzel, and the technical context of his era. It also showcases how his works have inspired later technologies, such as submarines and even the walkers in Star Wars, which are noted as having a precursor in Verne's novels.

The UFO Connection to Jules Verne

JP Troadec also contributes a piece about a Monogram model kit of a flying saucer from the TV show "The Invaders." More intriguingly, the article speculates on the source of Jules Verne's futuristic ideas. It suggests that Verne may have been influenced by a clairvoyant in England who provided him with information about the future, including details relevant to the present day. This hypothesis is presented as a possible explanation for the prescience in his novels, though it is noted that this aspect is not explicitly detailed within the museum itself. The article also mentions the link between ufology and Verne's work, citing Bertrand Méheust's analysis of "Robur the Conqueror" and the 1897 UFO wave in the USA.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The recurring themes in this issue are UFO sightings and the enduring legacy of Jules Verne. The publication appears to present witness testimonies of UFOs with a degree of seriousness, noting the details provided by credible individuals like the butcher of Annot and local officials. The editorial stance seems to be one of open-mindedness towards the possibility of unidentified aerial phenomena, while also acknowledging the skepticism that exists. The connection drawn between Jules Verne's visionary work and potential extraterrestrial or future-informed inspiration suggests an interest in the intersection of science fiction, imagination, and unexplained phenomena. The inclusion of the Jules Verne Museum article broadens the scope to include the cultural impact of visionary ideas, whether fictional or potentially real.