Vimana - No 03 - Avril 1969

Magazine Overview

This issue of Vimana, dated April 1969, is the third number published by C. E. R. E. I. C. The cover prominently features the title "VIMANA" and the subtitle "LA PYRAMIDE MYSTERIEUSE" by GUY TARADE, along with the organization's logo.

Editorial

The editorial, unusually long for the publication, addresses the magazine's "growth crisis" and its evolving identity. The name "Vimana" is explained as originating from ancient Hindu sacred texts, describing flying vehicles capable of interstellar travel and powered by thought. This name was chosen to symbolize the magazine's diverse interests: contemporary UFO phenomena and the study of past civilizations (Atlantean, Mayan, Tibetan, Pascuane, Egyptian, etc.), their physical and psychic sciences, and the legacy of "Ancestors of the Future."

The editorial also highlights the C.E.R.E.I.C. logo, a reproduction of a symbol observed on a UFO by police officer Zamora near Socorro, New Mexico. The magazine's content will expand to include a "Soucoupes Information" section, articles on the "Insolite" (unusual phenomena), often translated from inaccessible French sources, and contributions from active members or correspondents. A significant addition is the beginning of a comprehensive bibliography, which the editorial acknowledges is challenging to compile due to the interconnectedness of various subjects.

The magazine aims to present theories devoid of preconceived notions and explore all plausible hypotheses, even those considered controversial, such as Theosophy and Tantrism, deeming them essential for a broader understanding of phenomena. It also intends to cite English and American works, some of which may be rare or out of print. Future issues will feature book analyses and characterizations. The editorial mentions specific publications like "INFO" (International Fortean Organisation) and "Flying Saucer International" by AFSCA.

Finally, the editorial clarifies that the theories and facts presented in cited works do not necessarily represent the views of C.E.R.E.I.C. itself, nor those of its invited contributors, emphasizing an open-minded examination of "Unknown Elements of Civilization."

Les Faits Maudits (Accursed Facts)

This section presents several unexplained historical incidents:

• An Original Death: In Dartford, Kent, on April 7, 1919, Mr. J. Temple Thurston died in his home, Hawley Manor. While the house burned down, his room remained untouched by fire, and his body was carbonized without his clothes showing any signs of combustion.
• Impossible Fossils: In July 1877, near Eureka, Nevada, gold prospectors discovered a fossilized human leg bone, measuring one meter from knee to heel, embedded in rock. Medical examination confirmed it was human and ancient, but no further remains were ever found.
• A Coal Mine Discovery: In Ohio, Autumn 1868, a miner uncovered a large coal block revealing a slate wall covered in hieroglyphs, which local scientists could not decipher. By the time experts arrived, the slate had turned to dust.
• They Never Returned: On July 24, 1924, British Flight Lieutenant J. T. Way and Pilot Officer D. R. Stewart disappeared over the Mesopotamian desert during a reconnaissance mission. Their plane was found intact and operational, but the pilots were gone. Their footprints led to a point about 40 meters from the aircraft and then abruptly stopped, with no explanation for their disappearance.

La Pyramide Mystérieuse (The Mysterious Pyramid)

This article focuses on the Pyramid of Falicon, a monument located near Nice, France. Despite its modest dimensions (6.60m base, 6.60m edges), it is considered enigmatic. Its existence has been noted since 1803, and local inhabitants called it the "Grotto of the Ratapignata." The article suggests the pyramid was built over an underground temple, explaining its unusual location on a steep, rocky slope rather than a summit. The entrance on the southeast face leads to a descent into an underground complex, described as a "subterranean cathedral" with impressive stalactites and stalagmites. The article mentions a mysterious seven-step altar and a second, deeper chasm. It speculates about the possibility of a hidden historical secret beneath the debris and mentions the Templars' presence in the vicinity.

Inventory

This section lists several unexplained events and mysteries:

• The Siberian Event of June 30, 1908: An unidentified luminous object caused widespread destruction in Siberia, generating shockwaves and heat that affected areas hundreds of kilometers away. No physical fragments of the object were ever found.
• The Planet Vulcan: The article questions the disappearance of the planet Vulcan, whose orbit was supposedly interior to Mercury's, and which was known to astronomers until March 22, 1877.
• Phobos and Deimos: It questions the origin of Mars's moons, Phobos and Deimos, discovered in 1877.
• Astronomical Anomalies: The article points out alleged bizarre characteristics of celestial bodies, such as retrograde orbits, changing speeds, and unusual albedos, suggesting that some astronomers might be mistaken or misled.
• Monsieur Swift and Laputa: It references an imaginative description of orbits, masses, and revolution times of satellites that would not be discovered for 150 years, and a description of a flying saucer from the fictional "Voyage à Laputa."
• Spontaneous Human Combustion: The article raises the phenomenon of individuals spontaneously combusting without apparent external cause, noting the extremely high temperatures required for such an event.
• The Lake Toplitz Murders: It questions the regular stabbings of underwater swimmers in Lake Toplitz, attributing it to a search for Nazi treasure, while dismissing the idea of Nazi treasure as a myth.

Bibliography

A comprehensive bibliography is provided, categorized into "Basic Works," "Generalities on Life in the Universe," and "Flying Saucers (Part 1)." It lists numerous books by authors such as Serge Hutin, Charles Fort, Louis Pauwels, Jacques Bergier, Robert Charroux, Frank Edwards, Jimmy Guieu, Frank Scully, and D. Leslie & G. Adamski, along with their publishers and publication years.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The recurring themes in this issue include unexplained aerial phenomena (UFOs), ancient mysteries, archaeological enigmas, and historical anomalies. The magazine adopts a stance of open inquiry, encouraging readers to explore controversial topics and form their own conclusions, while maintaining a critical distance from unsubstantiated claims. The editorial emphasizes a commitment to presenting diverse perspectives and investigating phenomena that are often dismissed by conventional science.

This issue of *Flying Saucer Review*, Volume 14, dated November-December 1968, features a cover headline about a "Strange Encounter in the Var" and includes reports on unidentified flying objects (UFOs) and mysterious phenomena.

The Falicon Monument

The issue begins with an article discussing a pyramid-like monument in Falicon, France, linked to a figure named Monsieur Gothland. Gothland reportedly rediscovered the structure and correlated it with the nearby Mont-Chauve mountain. Using traditional data and astronomical calculations (precession of equinoxes), he estimated the monument to be over 4,000 years old. The article notes that prior to 1921, a Jain or Jaina cross adorned the southeast face of the monument. It also mentions a curious analogy with Mayan pyramids, which are often built over caves. According to Gothland, the first chamber of the monument served as an initiation site for neophytes who had undergone trials of earth, air, water, and fire. The local Niçois dialect name for the site, "La Ratapignata" (the bat), is also mentioned, with a connection drawn to occult traditions and Roman Saturnalia. While questioning the 4,000-year age, the author suggests a minimum age of 2,000 years, imagining Roman priestesses performing oracles from its summit. The article speculates that various civilizations may have practiced their cults there, referencing Greek founders of Nice, Isis, and the Roman Ceres. Historian Louis Cappatti is cited as stating that Roman legions used the site for the cult of Mithras. The monument's construction suggests it was once covered in reflective metal plates. Its panoramic view is described as extending over 200 kilometers, leading to speculation that the pyramid served as a chronological clock for solstice festivals. The monument is ultimately described as "a very mysterious monument."

UFO Sightings Accompanying Aircraft

The second section reports on new UFO observations, primarily from pilots and technicians, following the controversial Condon Report.

Florida Encounter

On November 26, 1968, near Winter-Haven and Melbourne, Florida, two instructors and two student pilots flying Cessna 150s encountered four unidentified objects approximately 30 meters in diameter. These brilliant, oval objects were in echelon formation, flying at a similar speed to the aircraft. After ten minutes, one object descended while the others continued parallel to the planes. When a pilot initiated a sharp turn, the three remaining UFOs broke formation and ascended at "vertiginous speed," disappearing within seconds. An investigation by a NASA chief engineer affiliated with NICAP estimated the UFOs' speed at around 5000 km/hour.

Australian Sightings

The Great Cigar in the Clouds Over Australia: On August 22, 1968, airline pilots Gordon Smith and Walter Gardin, flying a Piper Navajo near Kalgoorlie, Australia, observed a whitish glow. "Small luminous objects shaped like discs emerged from a large oblong mass, then, after a few maneuvers, rejoined it," one pilot stated. The main object, described as immense, was visible for at least twenty minutes before disappearing at high speed. Its length was estimated at 800 meters. An investigation by Paul Norman of the Australian NICAP subcommittee suggested the object moved from an oblique to a horizontal position.

Caught in a Light Beam: Five days later, on August 27, 1968, near Kalgoorlie, John Stevens reported a violent white light illuminating his car. He saw two V-shaped luminous arms with a bright light at the top behind his vehicle. Frightened, he drove away, followed by the "luminous thing." After a kilometer or two, the object ascended and vanished. Stevens, who had never heard of UFOs at the time, affirmed he was not dreaming.

UFO Crashing Flames

On December 20, at 11:20 AM, a group of children and two teachers in Havelock North, New Zealand, observed a disc-shaped object with a dome hovering silently over a row of poplar trees. The object emitted blue flames from its lower perimeter and then departed like a "cannonball." Two professors, closer to the object, noted an open hatch and an "antenna" on top, with a diamond-shaped light. The machine made a clicking sound, like a watch. A fog formed, and the object sped towards Hastings without noise. This observation was corroborated by Mrs. Lipscombe.

Strange Encounter in the Var

This section, authored by Lyonel Trigano and published in *Flying Saucer Review*, Vol. 14, Nov.-Dec. 1968, recounts an investigation into a case from November 1962.

Mr. S., a physically solid man in his fifties who owns a garage in Hérault, France, reported an unusual experience. While driving on a dark, rainy night on a departmental road in the Var region, he saw a group of individuals in the middle of the road about 80 meters ahead. As he slowed down, the group split. He lowered his window and saw "beasts, a sort of bizarre animal, with bird heads and covered with a kind of plumage." These creatures rushed towards his car from both sides of the road. Terrified, he raised the window, accelerated, and then stopped about 150 meters further on. He turned back and saw the creatures running with a rustling of wings towards a luminous blue object suspended in the air above a field. The "birds" were seemingly sucked into the object, followed by a "dull sound, like a door slamming." The object then ascended at "prodigious speed" and disappeared into the darkness. The author notes that Mr. S. had only told a few people about this incident and had not previously connected it to UFOs. Despite the fantastic nature of the story, he insists he did not dream it. The CEREIC presented this information as a document without drawing conclusions.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The issue consistently focuses on unexplained aerial phenomena and mysterious ancient structures. The editorial stance appears to be one of presenting reported evidence and investigations, particularly those involving credible witnesses like pilots and technicians, while acknowledging the need for further study and caution, as indicated by CEREIC's disclaimer. The recurring themes include the possibility of advanced ancient civilizations, the nature of UFOs and their occupants, and the reporting of sightings from various global locations.