ALSACAT:

NATIONAL GENDARMERIE

GROUP [-]
CMPAGNY [-]
BRIGADE UNIT OF [-]
REP. Nr 847/1981

SHIPMENT SLIP
CONSTITUTING WITH THE PARTS THAT IT LISTS THE PROCEDURE RECORDED UNITE UNDER THE NUMBER INDICATED ABOVE

CASE: UNIDENTIFIED FLYING OBJECT

OBJECT OF THE PROCEDURE
UNIDENTIFIED FLYING OBJECT

REFERENCE: CM 32600 MA / GEND .T. the 02.08.1968

PRELIMINARY INVESTIGATION

1	Minutes of synthesis
2	Situation plan (leaflet)
3	Minutes of hearing of Mr. B [-] J [-]
4	Minutes of hearing of Mr. M [-] J [-]
5	Minutes of hearing of Mr. [?] B [-]
6	Minutes of hearing of Mr. G [-] L [-]
7	Minutes of hearing of Mr.? [-] F [-]

RECIPIENTS

1 To the Prefect of [-] to [-]
2 At the General Governor Commanding 1st GA and 2nd RM at [-]
2 To General Commander FATAC [-] R. A. To [-]
2 At the Directorate of the Gendarmerie [-]

NATIONAL GENDARMERIE

COMPANY [-]
BRIGADE UNIT OF [-]
UNIT CODE 03533
REP. Nr 847/1981

MINUTES
OF PRELIMINARY INVESTIGATION
ADMINISTRATIVE INFORMATION

DOCUMENT Nr 1
SHEET Nr 1/2

PRECISE NATURE OF THE FACTS - REFERENCE

OBSERVATION OF UNIDENTIFIED FLYING OBJECT (UFO):

REFFERENCE: C. M. No. 32600 MA / GEND: T: of 02.08.1968

WE THE UNDERSIGNED G[-] A[-], Mdl-Chef, Judicial Police Officer
B [-], C [-], Gendarme, Judicial Police Officer

CONSIDERING THE ARTICLE(S) 6 to 20 & 75 of the Code of Criminal Procedure WE REPORT THE FOLLOWING OPERATIONS WE CARRIED OUT, ACTING IN UNIFORM AND IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE ORDERS OF OUR CHIEFS

THAT DAY, November 4, one thousand nine hundred and eighty-one, at fourteen o'clock, we were called by telephone by Mobile Gendarme S[-] R[-] of the 4/18 Squadron of [-], saying that roofing workers working at the barracks saw an Unidentified Flying Object around ten o'clock.

We go to the place for investigation.

CONDITION OF THE PLACE:

The Mobile Gendarmerie Squadron 4/18 is located at the [-] of the town of [Ferrette], at the exit of the town, at the edge of the CD [-] at an altitude of about 560 meters.

It is built at the lower end of a steep hill of 640 meters above sea level at the highest point.

Roofing workers work hard on the last building (No. 009) located in the corner [-] of the barracks [-].

During the observation, the sky was very blue, without any cloud, clear weather with maximum visibility, temperature around 15° Centigrade, no wind.

MEASURES TAKEN:

Our Commanding Officer has been kept informed by phone message No. 74 / M of 11/04/81.

INVESTIGATION: During the investigation, we received the following statements from:

Exhibit 2:

B[-], [Jean-Claude], [-] years old, residing at [-]; who told us that he was the first to see an object in the sky that he was unable to define, that he called the workers who worked on the roof of the building to alert them. That the object was round and was moving more slowly than an airliner. He observed it for about three minutes before it disappeared behind the building in front of which he was. That there was a blue and gray blinking in the middle part of the machine that gave the impression that it rotated on itself. That the sky was very blue, but that the blue of the object pierced like a torch flame. That the size of the machine was equivalent to that of a ping-pong ball and that it was at a higher altitude than long-range airliners.

Exhibit 3:

M., J[-], [-] years old, residing at [-]; who told us that he saw a machine that rotated regularly and changed color

Document 1 sheet 2

every three seconds or so. That there were three shades, of gray, green, and dominant blue color, which reappeared with each rotation. That the craft was at a very high altitude and that it was moving slowly from [-] to [-]. That it was visible for about eight minutes, and that at that moment the sky was very clear without cloud or mist.

Exhibit 4:

P[-], R[-], [-] years old, residing at [-]; who told us that he saw for one to two minutes a ball that rotated and changed color. That he did not notice any special color, that the craft was moving very fast before disappearing behind the forest. That the craft which was at very high altitude was quite visible in the sky which was very clear without any cloud.

Exhibit 5:

G[-], L[-], [-] years old, residing at [-]; who told us that he saw from the roof of building [-] of the [-] barracks an object as big as a ping-pong ball of silver gray color, perhaps slightly oval. That a blue light like an electric arc was spinning in all directions around the object at regular intervals. That the craft was moving slowly on a line different from the one regularly traveled by the planes, and that he observed the object for about eight minutes before it disappeared behind the forest. That the altitude of passage of the ball was higher than that of the planes.

Exhibit 6:

C[-], F[-], [-] years old, residing at [-]; who told us that he saw a round gray object at about ten minutes past five, around which a blue light flashed like a stroboscope light that came back every three to four seconds. That he has observed is [sic, "this"] object for seven to eight minutes. That it was moving at the vertical slightly to his left (he was looking towards [-].) That he was sure that the craft was flying at a higher altitude than of the planes. That its size was like a basketball.

---

After various services performed, no information could be collected regarding the sight of an Unidentified Flying Object. According to the population, it would seem that the Flying Object seen by the workers is a main-line airliner that has already been seen by some, and whose description would correspond with that given by the witnesses.

---

Done and closed:
The 12th of November 1981

Minutes made in six copies:

• The first expedition to the Prefect of [-]
• The second (with copy) to the General Governor Commander of the [-] C.A and the [-] R.H. at [-]
• The third (with copy) to the Commander General of the FATAC [-] Air Region at [-]
• The fourth (with copy) to the Direction of the Gendarmerie
• The fifth to the Prosecutor of the Republic at [-]
• The sixth in the archives of the Brigade.

MDL-Chef G [-] A [-]
[Signature]

Gand. B [-] C [-]
[Signature]

NATIONAL GENDARMERIE

GROUP of [-]
COMPANY [-] of [-]
BRIGADE UNIT OF [-]
REP. Nr 847/1981

MINUTES OF HEARING

DOCUMENT Nr 3 SHEET Nr 1

CASE OF UNIDENTIFIED FLYING OBJECT

HEARD PERSON: B [-] J [-] roofer.

REFERENCES

THAT DAY Four November, one thousand nine hundred and eighty-one WE THE UNDERSIGNED G[-] A[-], Mdl-Chief, OPJ, B[-] C[-], Gendarme, APJ, GIVEN THE ARTICLES 16 to 20 & 75 OF THE CODE OF CRIMINAL PROCEEDINGS, RECORD THE FOLLOWING OPERATIONS WE CARRIED OUT, ACTING IN UNIFORM AND IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE ORDERS OF NO CHIEFS, At the place of his work, we hear:

B[-] J[-], 26-year-old, roofer, residing at [-], born on [-] at [-] son of late J[-] and H[-] N[-], married 2 children, French, who declares us at fourteen forty hour:

"That day I was working at the [-] at [-]. I was handing tiles to the workers on the roof, and when I looked up at ten past four, to hand up some tiles, I saw an object in the sky. It was at the vertical, slightly to my left, so I informed C[-] F[-] who was on the roof, and he immediately alerted the others.

This object was round in shape and moved slowly. I had time to watch it for about three minutes before it went behind the building.

There was a blue and gray flicker in the middle part of the craft, which gave the impression that the object was spinning on itself. The sky was very blue, but the blue that accompanied the machine pierced like a torch flame.

I have been working at [-] on the rooftops for three weeks. I usually see planes every day. The object I saw did not pass on the usual flight lines of the planes and it was much higher than the long-range airliners.

The size of the machine was the equivalent of a ping-pong ball. It was heading towards the Southeast."

On 4 November 1981 at three o'clock,

Having read the above statement, I persist in it and I have nothing to change, to add, or to remove.

Signed in the statement book.

NATIONAL GENDARMERIE

GROUP of [-]
COMPANY [-] of [-]
BRIGADE UNIT OF [-]
REP. Nr 847/1981

MINUTES OF HEARING

DOCUMENT Nr 4 SHEET Nr 1

CASE OF UNIDENTIFIED FLYING OBJECT

HEARD PERSON: M [-] J [-], roofer.

REFERENCES

THIS DAY, November four, one thousand nine hundred and eighty-one WE THE UNDERSIGNED G[-] A[-], Mdl-Chief, OPJ, B[-] C[-], Gendarme, APJ, GIVEN THE ARTICLES 16-20 & 75 OF THE CODE OF CRIMINAL PROCEEDINGS, RECORD THE FOLLOWING OPERATIONS WE CARRIED OUT, ACTING IN UNIFORM AND IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE ORDERS OF NO CHIEFS, At the place of his work, we heard:

M[-] J[-], [-] years old, roofer, domiciled at: [-], born on [-] at [-], married, French nationality, who declares to us at 02:40 p.m.:

That day, November 4, 1981, at 10:04 a.m., I was at my work at the barracks [-] at [Ferrette], near the lift located at the building [-] at the back of the barracks, when I was asked by [-], who was on the roof, to look at the sky. I looked immediately and saw a craft that spinned regularly and changed color every three seconds or so. There were three shades, gray, green and blue. The latter one being the dominant color. These colors reappeared with each rotation. This machine, which was at very high altitude, was moving from [-] to [-]. It was visible for about eight minutes, at that time, the sky was very clear, without cloud or mist. What shocked me most was the colors that changed regularly. This craft was moving rather slowly, slower than the airliners that pass close to the barracks.

I do not see anything else to declare to you."

On November 4, 1981 at three o'clock,

Having read the above statement, I persist in it and I have nothing to change, to add, or to remove.

(Signed in the statement book.)

NATIONAL GENDARMERIE

GROUP of [-]
COMPANY [-] of [-]
BRIGADE UNIT OF [-]
REP. Nr 847/1981

MINUTES OF HEARING

DOCUMENT Nr 5 SHEET Nr 1

CASE OF UNIDENTIFIED FLYING OBJECT

HEARD PERSON: P [-] B [-], roofer.

REFERENCES

THIS DAY FOUR of November, one thousand nine hundred and eighty-one WE THE UNDERSIGNED G[-] A[-], Mdl-Chief, OPJ, B[-] C[-], Gendarme, APJ, GIVEN THE ARTICLES 16 to 20 & 75 OF THE CODE OF CRIMINAL PROCEEDINGS, RECORD THE FOLLOWING OPERATIONS WE CARRIED OUT, ACTING IN UNIFORM AND IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE ORDERS OF NO CHIEFS, At the place of his work, we heard:

F[-] B[-] [-] years old, mason, domiciled in [-], born on [-] who declares to us at fifteen fifteen o'clocl:

"That day, November 4, 1981, I was at the Mobile Gendarmerie Barracks, on the roof of the building [-], at some point, my comrade L[-] called me to tell me to look at the sky.

I saw for about one to two minutes, a ball that turned and changed color. I did not notice any special color. This craft was moving very fast and then disappeared behind the forest. The craft that was at a very high altitude was quite visible. The sky was very clear, without any clouds.

I have nothing else to tell you.

On November 4, 1981 at half past three,

Having read the above statement, I persist in it and I have nothing to change, to add, or to remove.

(Signed in the statement book.)

NATIONAL GENDARMERIE

GROUP of [-]
COMPANY [-] of [-]
BRIGADE UNIT OF [-]
REP. Nr 847/1981

MINUTES OF HEARING

DOCUMENT Nr 6 SHEET Nr 1

CASE OF UNIDENTIFIED FLYING OBJECT

HEARD PERSON: G[-] L[-], roofer.

REFERENCES

THAT DAY Four November, one thousand nine hundred and eighty-one WE THE UNDERSIGNED G[-] A[-], Mdl-Chief, OPJ, B[-] C[-], Gendarme, APJ, GIVEN THE ARTICLES 16 to 20 & 75 OF THE CODE OF CRIMINAL PROCEEDINGS, RECORD THE FOLLOWING OPERATIONS THAT WE CARRIED OUT, ACTING IN UNIFORM AND IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE ORDERS OF NO CHIEFS, At the place of his work, we hear:

G[-] L[-], [-] years old, roofer, residing at [-] born on [-] at [-], son of B[-] and R[-] G[-], single, French, who declares us at fifteen fifteen:

"Today, I was working on the roof of the Building [-] in the 4-18 Squadron compound of [-]. Around ten o'clock Jean-Claude B[-] asked me to look up. I then saw a gray object like a ping-pong ball of silver-gray color, perhaps slightly oval. A blue light, glowing like a soldering arc, was spinning in all directions around the object, and visible at regular intervals. The object was moving slowly, half the speed of a long-range airliner. I saw this object for about eight minutes until it disappeared behind the row of trees. From the building, the object was at my vertical, it was on a different line than that used by the airliners, it's the first time I've seen an object pass through this place for three weeks. I am used to seeing planes and what I saw seemed much higher."

On November 4, 1981, at quarter past twelve,

Having read the above statement, I persist in it and I have nothing to change, to add, or to remove.

Signed in the statement book.

NATIONAL GENDARMERIE

GROUP of [-]
COMPANY [-] of [-]
BRIGADE UNIT OF [-]
REP. Nr 847/1981

MINUTES OF HEARING

DOCUMENT Nr 7 SHEET Nr 1

CASE OF UNIDENTIFIED FLYING OBJECT

HEARD PERSON: P[-] B[-], roofer.

REFERENCES

THIS DAY FOUR of November, one thousand nine hundred and eighty-one WE THE UNDERSIGNED G[-] A[-], Mdl-Chief, OPJ, B[-] C[-], Gendarme, APJ, GIVEN THE ARTICLES 16 to 20 & 75 OF THE CODE OF CRIMINAL PROCEEDINGS, RECORD THE FOLLOWING OPERATIONS THAT WE CARRIED OUT, ACTING IN UNIFORM AND IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE ORDERS OF NO CHIEFS, At the place of his work, we hears:

C[-] F[-], [-] year old, roofer, residing at [-], born on [-] at [-], son of X[-] and latee [sic "late"] M[-] [-], married two children, French, who declares to us at half past three:

"Today, at about ten past five, J[ean]-C[laude], who was downstairs, called me to tell me to look up, and there I saw a gray -metallic round object around which a blue light shone like a stroboscope light, which came back every three or four seconds. I saw this object for seven to eight minutes. It was located vertically slightly to my left.

The trajectory followed by this machine was different from that taken by the planes that I have been seeing for three weeks.

I have been a roofer for five years and this is the first time I see such a thing. I'm sure the object was flying much higher than the planes I've seen.

I lost sight of this object when it passed behind the line of trees behind the barracks.

On November 4, 1981 at fifteen forty,

Having read the above statement, I persist in it and I have nothing to change, to add, or to remove.

Signed in the statement book.

FERRETTE (68) - 1981

Observation of an object flying at very high altitude.

On November 4, 1981, roofers workers observed a high-flying round object at around 10 a.m., advancing slowly. Visible for ten minutes the witnesses can see several colors or lights that seem to flash or appear as the machine rotates on itself. The sky is clear and allows good visibility. The craft disappears in the landscape. No other information will be collected on this phenomenon which cannot be explained by lack of data.

P.V. : ICI [Link to the GEIPAN file.]

Discussion:

The testimonials are consistent, credible. If there is a trivial explanation, the one that seems most plausible to me would be that of a balloon. It is unfortunately too late, I suspect, to allow to find information on the direction of the winds.

Exploring the Web, my documents, the GEIPAN file and UFO Datenbank, I did not find any report from France, Switzerland, and Germany, which could refer to a matching balloon.

Evaluation:

Unidentified, possibly balloon.

Sources references:

* = Source is available to me.
? = Source I am told about but could not get so far. Help needed.

• [gei1] * "FERRETTE (68) 1981", case record from the ufology database of the "Groupe of the Etude et d'Informations sur les Phénomènes Aérospatiaux Non Identifiés" (GEIPAN), public service, branch of the "Centre National des Etudes Spatiales" (CNES), France, as of January 30, 2014, at http://www.geipan.fr/index.php?id=202&cas=1981-11-00895
• [spa1] * "DEPARTEMENT 68 - HAUT-RHIN", listing of UFO sighting reports by the Alsatian ufology group SPICA, Alsace, France, not dated, found in May 2015, at http://www.spica.org/Page_Listing_68.htm
• [cts1] * "O.V.N.I. (Objet Volant Non Identifié) - LES APPARITIONS FRANCAISES (7) -", web page, France, not dated, found in 2016, at http://www.thinesclaude.com/ovni-les-apparitions-en-france-7.php

File history:

Authoring:

Main author:	Patrick Gross
Contributors:	None
Reviewers:	None
Editeur:	Patrick Gross

Changes history:

Version:	Create/changed by:	Date:	Description:
0.1	Patrick Gross	July 30, 2018	Creation, [gei1], [spa1], [cts1].
1.0	Patrick Gross	July 30, 2018	First published.