ALSACAT-1979-10-20-MASEVAUX-1
A forest ranger from the Office National des Forêts officially reported that on Sunday October 20, 1979 around 7:55 p.m., he observed from the courtyard of his home, the forest house near Masevaux, a flying object which he could not identify, which he says cannot be a airplane or a weather balloon.
He describes the object as having the shape of a ball, the orange color that is seen on the bulb of a flashlight with low batteries.
The shape was spherical, without a crown or halo.
He could not determine the size of the object, nor its altitude, which is quite normal for an object of unknown nature against the sky.
He believes, however, that the object was flying at a high speed, faster than an airplane compared to what he had observed during airplanes passages in the region.
He saw the object coming from the southwest, above the [-] massif, significantly above the [-] farm inn. It headed south-east to the top of the [-], then described an ellipse and returned to its original direction.
When the object turned around, he noticed a purplish trail behind it, looked like a butane flame, brighter than the object itself. The trail was about twice the size of the object.
He explains that in his opinion, the curve that this object followed to turn around was "so tight that no plane could have maneuvered in such a small space."
He hadn't heard any sound coming from the object.
His observation lasted a few seconds, around five to six seconds.
He indicates that the weather was very nice and dry, the sky was clear, without any clouds, and that it was night time.
At the time of his observation, he was alone in the courtyard of his home, his wife being in the kitchen. He told her of his observation at the end of it.
He then wrote a handwritten report of what had happened, and telephoned the control tower of an airport - the name is censored, it is normally that of Basel-Mulhouse - then to the Air Base 132 in Colmar Meyenheim, where he was put in touch with the Air Gendarmerie Brigade of this unit, which asked him to contact the local gendarmerie brigade, which he did.
On October 21, 1979, the Gendarmerie recorded his testimony and wrote the minutes, published in anonymized form by the GEIPAN in 2017; the GEIPAN classified the case in "C", "for lack of information."
The GEIPAN grouped their file about this observation with others, as a "National" case, with testimonies from several people in Cornimont, 23 km away in the Vosges department, the same day at 9:30 p.m., on an object in the sky flashing erratically, or at other times such as October 16, 1979 around 6:00 p.m., on "a glowing white ball".
A summary of the investigation by the Vosges ufologist Gilles Munsch also appeared in the ufology bulletin La Ligne Bleue Survolée? of the Cercle Vosgien "Lumières Dans La Nuit", in the No. 3 of 1980:
Saturday, October 20, 1979 - MASEVAUX - 7:55 p.m. legal time.
Mr C...... S......, deputy head of the forest district, is walking around his house when he sees in the sky, above the SUDEL massif, a "matte orange ball which moves from the North-West to the South and this apparently at high speed and at a fairly high altitude. It is accompanied by a blue trail tinged with purple (kind of butane flame!). Suddenly it performs a very tight turn (at least in appearance!), to set off again in the opposite direction towards the North-West. The observation lasted only a few seconds. The witness immediately informed the gendarmerie, then the Bâle-Mulhouse aerodrome and the Air Base of Colmar-Meyenheim, then the following days various authorities.
He will learn from the gendarmerie that various disturbances have appeared in radio and television broadcasts of German origin (FRG). No other side effects were noticed.
| Date: | October 20, 1979 |
|---|---|
| Time: | 07:55 p.m. |
| Duration: | 5 to 6 seconds. |
| First known report date: | October 20, 1979 |
| Reporting delay: | Hour. |
| Department: | Haut-Rhin |
|---|---|
| City: | Masevaux |
| Place: | Guard-forester house courtyard. |
| Latitude: | 47.770 |
| Longitude: | 7.007 |
| Uncertainty radius: | 50 m. |
| Number of alleged witnesses: | 1 |
|---|---|
| Number of known witnesses: | 1 |
| Number of named witnesses: | 1 |
| Witness(es) ages: | Adult. |
| Witness(es) types: | Local guard forester. |
| Reporting channel: | To the Army Air Base and to the Gendarmerie. |
|---|---|
| Type of location: | House courtyard on valley slope. |
| Visibility conditions: | Night. |
| UFO observed: | Yes. |
| UFO arrival observed: | No. |
| UFO departure observed: | Yes. |
| Entities: | No. |
| Photographs: | No. |
| Sketch(s) by witness(es): | No. |
| Sketch(es) approved by witness(es): | No. |
| Witness(es) feelings: | Puzzled. |
| Witnesses interpretation: | Not a plane, not a balloon. |
| Hynek: | NL |
|---|---|
| ALSACAT: | Possible extraterrestrial visitors. |
[Ref. gen1:] GENDARMERIE NATIONALE:
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GENDARMERIE NATIONALE GROUP [-] |
SHIPPING SLIPCONSTITUTING WITH THE PARTS IT LISTS |
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CASE S[-], C[-]. 79306340 |
OBJECT OF THE REPORT
Administrative information
Observation of an unidentified flying object.
INVESTIGATION
(X) PRELIMINARY
( ) IN THE ACT
( ) JUDICIAL ORDER
| ORDER NUMBER |
DESIGNATION OF THE PARTS |
|---|---|
| 1 | Synthesis report: 2 pages |
| 2 | Hearing report of Mr. S[-] C[-]: 1 page |
| 3 | Handwritten report by Mr. S[-], C[-]: 1 page |
RECIPIENS:
2 Mr. THE PROSECUTOR OF THE REPUBLIC AT [-]
1 General, commander of the FATAC [-] A.R. at [-]
2 Ministry of the Armies - Command of the Gendarmerie and the Military Justice. Office use-intelligence - Operations section
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COMPAGY OF [-] Brigade of [-]
nr 868 of October 21, 1979
Administrative Information
Observation of an unidentified flying object by Mr [S] Charles at [Masevaux]
Part no. 868/1
NATIONAL GENDARMERIE
MINUTES OF PRELIMINARY INVESTIGATION
SUMMARY MINUTES
In the year one thousand nine hundred and seventy-nine, on the twenty-first of October, [-] We, R[-] M[-], M.D.L. Chief, at the Brigade of [-], [-], Judicial Police Officer, considering articles 16 to 28 and 75 of the code of criminal procedure, report the following operations that we carried out, acting in uniform and in accordance with the orders of our Chefs.
I - STATEMENT OF FACTS
On Saturday 20 October, 1979, at 8:10 p.m., Mr. S[-], C[-], an official of the National Forestry Office, telephoned Gendarme L[-], F [-], of permanence, telling he observed, around 7:55 p.m. above the [-] massif forming the limit to the south of [-] between the [-] and the [-] a flying object which according to our informant could not have been an airplane nor a weather balloon.
Our informant told us that before informing us, he telephoned the [-] airport control tower and the Air Gendarmerie brigade at the [-] air base. The latter service having advised him to send us his observations.
Mr. S[-], C[-], informs us that he will report to our services on Sunday, October 21, 1979, early in the morning.
II - SURVEY
On Sunday, October 21, 1979, Mr. S[-], C[-] came to the office of our Brigade and told us about the observed phenomenon (see interview report, exhibit no. 868/2) and he handed to us a copy of a report he had written for us with a copy intended for the Gendarmerie of Air Base 132 and his hierarchical superiors, (see exhibit no. 686/3).
From the hearing of Mr S[-], C[-], it appears that, on Saturday October 20, 1979, around 7:55 p.m., while he was in the courtyard of the forester's house of [-] in which he lives, he observed a flying object which, from his observation place had the size and shape of a ball, of dull orange color which, when he saw it, seemed to him to be above the farm-inn of [-]. This object moved towards the south-east, above the massif of [-] where it finally turned around while describing an ellipse. The observer noted that it left behind him a trail of blue-violet color, brilliant, of which he estimates the size to the double of that of the flying object. According to our informant this object was moving at high speed and his observation did
.../2/...
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Exhibit no. 868/1, sheet no. 2
lasted only five to six seconds and the phenomenon was silent.
At the time when Mr. S[-], C[-], observed this phenomenon, night had fallen. There was no wind, the weather was dry and the sky was clear of clouds.
The forest house of Mr. [-], observation spot of our informant is located in the district [-]. It is located on the hillside of the "[-]", which culminates at 551 meters, about 1 kilometer southeast of the city center of [-]. The massif of the "[-]" which culminates at 914 meters is located about four kilometers as the crow flies, to the south-west of the forest house. Between the "[-]" and the "[-]" massif is the depression formed by the valley of [-]. Due to the good weather, visibility was excellent.
We attach to this report a photocopy extracted from the map of France at 1/50,000 type 1922 series M 761 sheet XXXVI-20- [-] on which are underlined in red the names mentioned, namely: farm-inn of the [-] and [-] and the observation spot of Monsieur S[-] is indicated by a cross.
On Sunday, October 21, 1979, at 9 a.m., we reported this information to the Captain commanding the Company of [-]. It was also reported to the Company Commander of [-].
Today, October 22, 1979, no other witness to this phenomenon having come forward, we are closing the present proceedings.
Done and closed at [-] October 22, 1979 at 5 p.m.
The O.J.P. [-]
[Signature.]
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GENDARMERIE NATIONALE COMPANY [-] of [-] |
HEARING REPORT |
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PART Nr 02 |
THIT DAY, the twenty-first of October, nineteen hundred and sixty-nine [sic], at nine-fifteen, WE THE UNDERSIGNED R[-]. M[-], M.D.L. Chief, Judicial Police Officer, CONSIDERING ARTICLES 16 to 19 and 75 of the Code of Criminal Procedure, REPORT THE FOLLOWING OPERATIONS WE HAVE PERFORMED, ACTING IN UNIFORM AND IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE ORDERS OF OUR CHIEF.
PERSON CONCERNED
S[-], C[-], [-] years old, deputy district chief at the O.N.F.
Sex M born on [-] in [-], of the late G[-] and of M[-], C[-], F.N. [=French nationality]
FULL ADDRESS [-] - [-], district [-] - married without children.
"I come to inform you that yesterday evening, Sunday October 20, 1979 around 7:55 p.m. I observed from the courtyard of my home the forest house a flying object which I could not identify as being either a plane or a sounding balloon. This flying object had the shape of a ball, I have no idea of its altitude of orange color and dull like the optics of a flashlight whose batteries are dead. This object was flying at high speed, faster than an airplane in my opinion. I saw it coming from the southwest, above the [-] massif then describe an ellipse and return to its initial direction. When I observed it for the first time it was significantly above the farm inn of [-]. It headed southeast to the top of [-] and it turned around. My observation lasted a few seconds, from the order of five to six seconds. This object had a spherical shape without crown or halo and, when it turned around I noticed behind it a purplish trail brighter than the device itself whose size was about twice that of the device. This trail resembled a butane flame. The observation time was too short for me to be able to photograph this phenomenon. I was alone in the courtyard of my home, my wife was in the kitchen. I informed her of my observation at the end of it. I heard no noise and, in my opinion, the curve that this device followed to turn around was so tight that no plane could have maneuvered in such a short space.
My home is about four kilometers from the [-] in straight line.
After this sighting, I telephoned the [-] airport control tower and then the [-] Air Base where I was put in touch with the Gendarmerie Brigade of the Air of this unit. I have been asked to contact you.
As regards the atmospheric circumstances which prevailed yesterday evening at the time of my observation: the weather was very fine and dry, the sky was clear, without any clouds. It was dark.
S.I. [=On Query]: I have no idea about the speed at which the observed object was moving, neither its altitude nor its dimensions. I saw it above the crest line of the [-]. That's all I can give you as details.
October 21, 1979 at 9:45 a.m.
I have read the statement above, I abide by it and have nothing to change, add or subtract from it.
The person heard:
[Signature.]
The OJP.
[Signature.]
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I, the undersigned S[-], Ch[-], deputy district chief at the Office National des Forêts at the residence of the forester's house, [-] at [-] hereby testify that I saw this day, Saturday, October 20, 1979 at approximately 7:55 p.m. in the evening, an orange body arriving from the bottom of the Doller valley, above the [-] massif, at a higher speed than that of the planes generally flying over the locality. This body suddenly turned around and resumed its initial direction, leaving behind a trail of purplish blue color, its size was the size of a marble, without crown or halo and no noise was perceptible, not knowing what to do, I immediately contacted the [-] aerodrome control tower and the [-] gendarmerie, to whom I sent this report.
I am certain on my honor that I have neither [-]
10.20.79 at 8:15 p.m.
[Ref. gmh1:] GILLES MUNSCH:
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F/98/68791020 (04)
Region of MASEVAUX (68)
Investigation: G. Munsch
Saturday, October 20, 1979 - MASEVAUX - 7:55 pm legal time.
Mr. C...... S ......, deputy head of the forestry district, walks around his house when he sees in the sky, above the SUDEL mounts, a "ball
.../...
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- 5 -
... matt orange in color that moves from the northwest to the south, apparently at high speed and at a fairly high altitude. It is accompanied by a blue trail tinged with purple (like a butane flame!), Suddenly it makes a very tight turn (at least apparently!), to set off again in the opposite direction towards the North-West. The observation lasted only a few seconds. The witness immediately informed the gendarmerie, then the Bâle-Mulhouse aerodrome and the Colmar-Meyenheim air base, then the following days various authorities.
He will learn from the gendarmerie that various disturbances have appeared in the radio and television broadcasts of German origin (FRG). No other side effects were noticed.
[Ref. fdz1:] FRANCOIS DIOLEZ:
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In the ufological bulletin La Ligne Bleue Survolé?, its editor ufologist F. Diolez provides a synthesis of the observations in the North-East of France appearing in their catalog.
He noted that the cases "F 98/88791020 (0I) - (02) - (03)" as well as "F 98/68791020 (04) seem to describe the same phenomenon which interested the Vosges mountains on these two sides 68 and 88 - from 7:55 p.m. to 8:45 p.m., then 9:30 p.m. - 9:45 p.m." He then assimilates them into a single case, noting that it will however be necessary to "take the nuances into account."
[Ref. aes1:] A.E.S.V. UFOLOGY BULLETIN:
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October 20: - A witness sees from his home, an object in the shape of a matt orange ball followed by a trail. This was happening above Masevaux (Haut Rhin).
Note: this is one among other cases of 1979 which according to this bulletin would "confirm" an important "UFO activity" at the time of the affair (the hoax) of the Franck Fontain abduction by aliens in Cergy-Pontoise in 1979.
[Ref. ufa1:] UFOLOGY MAGAZINE "UFOLOGIA":
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UFOLOGICAL OBSERVATIONS
(Summary of the Press)
Saturday, October 20, 1979 - MASEVAUX (Haut-Rhin)
At 7:55 p.m., Mr. Ch. Sembach saw from his home an object in the shape of an orange rod, dull, followed by a brilliant purplish trail, moving above the mount of the Sudel.
LDLN.nr190
[Ref. cnu1:] UFOLOGY GROUP "CNEGU":
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Ref. F/98/68791020 (04) IQ: 11101 (4)
Masevaux region (68) Investigation: G. Munsch
Saturday, October 20, 1979 - MASEVAUX - 7:55 p.m. legal time.
Mr. C...... S......, deputy head of the forest district, is walking around his house when he sees in the sky, above the SUDEL massif, a colored "ball" matt orange which moves from the North-West towards the South and this apparently at great speed and at a rather high altitude. It is accompanied by a blue streak tinged with purple (butane flame type!) Suddenly it makes a very tight turn (at least in appearance!), to set off again in the opposite direction towards the North-West. The sighting only lasted a few seconds. The witness immediately informed the gendarmerie, then the Basel-Mulhouse aerodrome and the Colmar-Meyenheim air base, then the following days various authorities, he learned from the gendarmerie that various disturbances appeared in the radio and television broadcasts German (FRG). No other side effects were noticed.
[Ref. jbu1:] JEROME BEAU:
20
Several people in the Vosges (Lorraine) and Haut-Rhin (Alsace) observed an irregularly flashing luminous phenomenon in the sky. Spherical, it seems to move in ziz-zag without any noise being noticed. 1 year ago a similar phenomenon was observed by some witnesses.
The source is indicated as "GEPAN: UAP class C".
[Ref. ekl1:] EGON KRAGEL AND YVES COUPRIE:
On October 20, 1979, several people in the Vosges and Haut Rhin would see in the sky a luminous phenomenon flashing irregularly. The object of spherical shape seems to move in ziz-zag but no noise is noticed. A year earlier, a similar phenomenon had been observed by witnesses. No other information has been reported on these phenomena for which we lack information.
The authors indicate that this extract of the official report can be accessed on the GEIPAN website.
[Ref. gei1:] G.E.I.P.A.N.:
NATIONAL (975) 20.10.1979 |
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| Observed on: | 01-01-1978 |
| Region: | Other |
| Dwpartement: | Grand Est |
| Class: | C |
| Summary: | NATIONAL (975) 10.20.1979. Observations of the silent movement of a spherical and blinking object in the sky. |
| Description: |
Observations of the silent movement of a spherical and blinking object in the sky. On October 20, 1979, several people in the Vosges and Haut Rhin saw a luminous phenomenon flashing irregularly in the sky. The object, of spherical shape, seems to move in ziz-zag and no noise is noticed. This case is classified C for lack of information. |
| Report: | None. |
| DATE OF THE OBSERVATION | 10/20/1979 |
| AGE | 40 |
| GENRE | M |
| REACTION | Emotion - Curiosity, Interest - Active |
| ENVIRONNEMENT OCCUPATION OF THE GROUND | Artificialized territories - Urban areas |
| WEATHER CONDITIONS | Sun od light night |
| LOCAL DATE AND HOUR | 10/20/1979 07:55 p.m. |
| REFERENCE FRAME | Sky |
| START OF THE OBSERVATION | Conditions of appearance provoked by the witness |
| END OF THE OBSERVATION | Conditions of disappearance provoked by the phenomenon |
| HORIZONTAL DIRECTION OF OBSERVATION | 225.00 |
| NATURE OF THE OBSERVATION OR DESCRIPTIVE TERMS | Object |
| CHARACTERISTIC OF THE OBSERVATION | Trail, Tail |
| GLOBAL SHAPE | 3D - 2 axis of symmetry - Spherical, Ball |
| COLOR | Orangeish, fire |
| APPARENT SPEED | Fast |
| NOISE | None, Total silence |
| EFFECT ON THE ENVIRONNEMENT | Unknown - Not specified |
| NUMBER OF OBSERVED PHENOMENON | Only one |
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The GEIPAN file on the case classifies it as a "national" case with several witnesses in different places around Cornimont. I consider here first the testimony of the Alsatian forest ranger, but I must mention the other testimonies, which came from the Vosges to Cornimont.
Cornimont, in the Vosges, is 23 km as the crow flies north-northeast of Masevaux. The object reported to have been in Masevaux arrived from the bottom of the valley of the Doller, a river descending from the Vosges and passing through Masevaux (the valley of Masevaux, yellow line below, is the valley of the Doller). It turns out that this makes it arrive at Masevaux from the direction where Cornimont is located:
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As the GEIPAN cumulates or links observations at Cornimont with this one, it should not be surprising to have a mention of "blinking" in their summary; but I see no particular reason to link these observations.
The case of the guard forester is in my opinion extremely strange. It is written soberly by the witness, but it is obvious that one of the remarkable characteristics of the object is that it made a U-turn impossible for an airplane or a helicopter.
The other very interesting aspect is that it is at the very moment of this U-turn that the short tail appears. It is purplish blue while the object, the "ball", is orange.
It seems to me that no human-made flying device can produce these effects.
Possible extraterrestrial visitors.
* = Source is available to me.
? = Source I am told about but could not get so far. Help needed.
| Main author: | Patrick Gross |
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| Contributors: | None |
| Reviewers: | None |
| Editeur: | Patrick Gross |
| Version: | Create/changed by: | Date: | Description: |
|---|---|---|---|
| 0.1 | Patrick Gross | February 12, 2023 | Creation, [gei1], [gen1], [gmh1], [fdz1], [aes1], [ufa1], [cnu1], [jbu1], [ekc1]. |
| 1.0 | Patrick Gross | February 12, 2023 | First published. |
