1981: Trans-en-Provence case UFO Landed

[BACK]
1981: Trans-en-Provence case UFO Landed
Posted On: April 23, 2022

The year is 1981, the place, in Trans-en-Provence, in the French département of Var, France. This case is considered by UFOlogists to be one of the rare times where a UFO left material traces. A UFO landed for a short period of time and then flew away leaving evidence behind.


On January 8th, 1981 at about 17:00 hours, the witness, Renato Nicolaï, a 55-year-old farmer was working in his garden when he heard a strange whistling sound. At this time he observed a saucer-shaped craft about 2.5 meters (8 feet 2 in) in diameter land about 50 meters (160 feet) away at a lower elevation.


According to the Nicolaï, "The device had the shape of two saucers, one inverted on top of the other. It must have measured about 1.5 meters in height. It was the color of lead. This device had a ridge all the way around its circumference. Under the machine I saw two kinds of pieces as it was lifting off. They could be reactors or feet. There were also two other circles which looked like trapdoors. The two reactors, or feet, extended about 20 centimeters (8 inches) below the body of the machine."


Nicolaï further advised that the object took off almost immediately, rising above the tree line and departing to the northeast. The craft left burn marks on the ground where it had landed.


The local gendarmerie were notified of the event the following day by Nicolaï directly on the advice of his neighbor's wife, Mrs. Morin. The gendarmerie proceeded to interview Nicolaï, take photos of the scene, and collect soil and plant samples from the field. The case was later sent to GEIPAN or GEPAN (Groupe d'Étude des Phénomènes Aérospatiaux Non-identifiés) as it was known at that time, for review.


GEPAN analysis noted that the ground had been compressed by a mechanical pressure of about 4 or 5 tons, and heated to between 300 and 600 Centigrade (572 and 1112 degrees Fahrenheit). Trace amounts of phosphate and zinc were found in the sample material, and analysis of resident alfalfa near the landing site showed chlorophyll levels between 30% and 50% lower than expected.


Nicolaï had initially believed the object to be an experimental military device. The close proximity of the site to the Canjuers military base makes such a theory generally plausible. However, GEPAN's investigation focused on conventional explanations, such as atmospheric or terrain causes of a terrestrial nature. Despite a joint investigation by GEPAN and the gendarmerie, which lasted for two years, no plausible explanation was found.


My Take: Assuming the witness didn’t create a hoax. This is a very simple case of either it was a military craft of some kind or something more exotic. If a military craft then the means of propulsion would be a new one.


Resources: en.wikipedia.org



[BACK]
1981: Trans-en-Provence case UFO Landed
Posted On: April 23, 2022

The year is 1981, the place, in Trans-en-Provence, in the French département of Var, France. This case is considered by UFOlogists to be one of the rare times where a UFO left material traces. A UFO landed for a short period of time and then flew away leaving evidence behind.


On January 8th, 1981 at about 17:00 hours, the witness, Renato Nicolaï, a 55-year-old farmer was working in his garden when he heard a strange whistling sound. At this time he observed a saucer-shaped craft about 2.5 meters (8 feet 2 in) in diameter land about 50 meters (160 feet) away at a lower elevation.


According to the Nicolaï, "The device had the shape of two saucers, one inverted on top of the other. It must have measured about 1.5 meters in height. It was the color of lead. This device had a ridge all the way around its circumference. Under the machine I saw two kinds of pieces as it was lifting off. They could be reactors or feet. There were also two other circles which looked like trapdoors. The two reactors, or feet, extended about 20 centimeters (8 inches) below the body of the machine."


Nicolaï further advised that the object took off almost immediately, rising above the tree line and departing to the northeast. The craft left burn marks on the ground where it had landed.


The local gendarmerie were notified of the event the following day by Nicolaï directly on the advice of his neighbor's wife, Mrs. Morin. The gendarmerie proceeded to interview Nicolaï, take photos of the scene, and collect soil and plant samples from the field. The case was later sent to GEIPAN or GEPAN (Groupe d'Étude des Phénomènes Aérospatiaux Non-identifiés) as it was known at that time, for review.


GEPAN analysis noted that the ground had been compressed by a mechanical pressure of about 4 or 5 tons, and heated to between 300 and 600 Centigrade (572 and 1112 degrees Fahrenheit). Trace amounts of phosphate and zinc were found in the sample material, and analysis of resident alfalfa near the landing site showed chlorophyll levels between 30% and 50% lower than expected.


Nicolaï had initially believed the object to be an experimental military device. The close proximity of the site to the Canjuers military base makes such a theory generally plausible. However, GEPAN's investigation focused on conventional explanations, such as atmospheric or terrain causes of a terrestrial nature. Despite a joint investigation by GEPAN and the gendarmerie, which lasted for two years, no plausible explanation was found.


My Take: Assuming the witness didn’t create a hoax. This is a very simple case of either it was a military craft of some kind or something more exotic. If a military craft then the means of propulsion would be a new one.


Resources: en.wikipedia.org



1981: Trans-en-Provence case UFO Landed

[BACK]
TOP