Ufology

c4. December 29, 1956, Pigtail Peak, White Pass, Washington, USA photograph:

Investigation:

UFO debunker Donald Menzel writes in his book that on the afternoon of December 29, 1956, a photographer for the Seattle Times newspaper was on top of Pigtail Peak near White Pass, in the state of Washington, not far from the area of Kenneth Arnold's sighting. The photographer was taking ski pictures for the newspaper under a beautiful weather.

Menzel says that just at sunset a strange object suddenly appeared toward the northeast horizon, and several skiers urged the photographer to "take a picture of the flying saucer," but the photographer waited because it was still far away and indistinct. Menzel continues: "The first object, now followed by a second one, moved rapidly toward Mount Ranier, began to sharpen in outline, and " both were soon so clearly visible that he was able to snap his unusual picture. The photograph shows two apparently solid, disklike objects, flattened, brilliantly white but dark at the bottom, apparently linked together by white streamers, skimming toward the mountain peak."

Menzel said that Reed made a full analysis of the weather conditions prevailing at the time the picture was taken and measured the "size of the clouds" from "radiosonde data provided by the Seattle-Tacoma Airport."

Menzel concludes that "the weather conditions that prevailed that day was suitable for the formation of saucerlike clouds."

Discussion:

From the available Menzel text, it is apparent that the phenomenon is only supposedly explained as lenticular clouds using a strange method: "radiosonde data" that are claimed to provide "the size of the clouds" whereas the only allow to provide possible presence and types of clouds.

Typical of Menzelian UFO literature, essential matters are left to the imagination of the reader. Did the photographer take any picture after all, when the object moved closer? What about the "sudden" apparition of the object at the horizon? What about their "rapid move of the object toward Mount Rainier followed by a second"?

This is not ufology.

I could verify that "Weatherwise" indeed published an article by meteorologist Richard J. Reed [R1], headlined "Flying Saucers Over Mt. Rainier", in April 1959, not 1958.

Reed is also mentioned in a dissertation [P1] as being a University of Washington at Seattle who politely refused that the topic of UFOs is approached by scientists James McDonald in a conference at the univesity, and refered as a scientists "who once wrote an article attributing all UFOs to lenticular clouds."

Evaluation:

Probable Menzelian-type inventions for skeptical meteorologist. Lack of data. Unlikely explanation if the report really was as Menzel indicates. Story possibly made out by Richard Reed to make an example.

Bibliography:

• [W1] ? "Flying Saucers Over Mt. Rainier", article by Richard J. Reed in "Weatherwise", Vol XI, p. 43, April 1959.
• [M1] * "Donald Menzel and Lyle Boyd, The World of Flying Saucers, Doubleday, pp 28-30 and plate Ia, 1963.
• [P1] * "James E.McDonald and the UFO case Study", a dissertation submitted to th graduate division of the Univeristy of Hawaii in partial fulfilment for the degree of PhD in political science by Paul E. McCarthy, December 1975.
• [N1] ? Luis Ruiz Nóguez, Perspectivas Ufológicas, p. 56, February 1996.
• [F1] * "Fotocat" extract: "lenticular clouds", ibid.
• [R1] * Richard J. Reed home page, www.atmos.washington.edu/gcg/Reed

c5. March 24, 1957, Camarillo, California, Agnes Sanborn photograph:

Investigation:

P2 indicates as sources "George M. Eberhart, International UFO Reporter, Vol 29, No 2, Summer 2004, p 21. Max B. Miller (ed), Flying Saucer Pictorial, Arizill, 1967, p 38."

This author does not own these sources.

However, this author notes that in ">Conversations with Dr. Jung", an article by Lou Zinsstag published in Flying Saucer Review in 1963, interesting clue about this case exist.

Lou Zinsstag was convinced that some UFO reports are cause by alien visitors, and visited Dr Carl Gustav Jung, who was the cousin of his late mother, and convinced that UFOs are visions of things in the sky caused by things in the "collective psyche" of humans. Zinsstag told [Z1]:

"A few months later, with the splendid colour photo by Mrs. Agnes Sanborn in my bag, I went again to Dr. Jung's house. He was truly amazed when he looked at the picture and noticed at once the resemblance of the object with the Adamski model, as he admitted. [...] In conclusion he added that in his opinion many sighting reports of recent date belonged to the realm of religious vision as coming from people "who in day- or night-dreams perceived the symbol of eternity in the sky. "And what about the cigar-shaped form?" I asked rather stubbornly. He hesitated before saying in good humour: "To tell you frankly, they worry me. I admit that only the round objects fit into my category". Again, I admired him for his honesty."

Discussion:

If C.J. Jung noted "at once" that the photograph showed a flying saucer "à la Adamski", there is sufficient doubt about the theory that it shows a lenticular cloud. It might actually show a hoaxed "Adamski saucer."

Evaluation:

Bibliography:

• [c5Z1] * "Conversations with Dr. Jung (1958-59)", by Lou Zinsstag, in Flying Saucer Review, 9/4, July-August 1963.
• [c5F2] ? "Flying Saucer Pictorial", special-issue magazine, Arizill, p.38, 1967.
• [c5Z1] ? George M. Eberhart in "International UFO Reporter", Vol 29, No 2, p.21, Summer 2004.
• [c5F1] * "Fotocat" extract: "lenticular clouds", ibid.

c6. August 15, 1957 Vernet-Les-Bains, Pyrénées orientales (France) FRA PHOTO Morel photograph:

Investigation:

Discussion:

Evaluation:

Bibliography:

• [F1] ? Phénomenes Spatiaux, pp 14-15, March 1967.
• [B1] ? Vicente-Juan Ballester Olmos.
• [F1] * "Fotocat" extract: "lenticular clouds", ibid.

c7. October 16, 1957 Tularosa, New Mexico USA NM PHOTO Ella Louise Fortune: photograph:

Investigation:

The photograph appears "all over the pace" on the Internet, books and magazine. Very little detail is attached as regards the sighting. From various sources, the following story comes out: on October 16, 1957, at about 01:30 p.m., Ella Louise Fortune, a nurse at the Mescalero Indian Reservation near Three Rivers, New Mexico, took this image while driving on Highway 54. She stated that the UFO was motionless over Holloman AFB.

The sightings listing for 1957 of the Nuclear Connection Project lists:

#4869: 1957/10/16 13:30 5 106:4:40W 33:19:20N 3333 NAM USA NMX 7 7 N/TULAROSA,NM:NURSE FOTOs WHT-GLOW OVOID ovr HOLLOMAN RANGE:/r219p11+/r11p245 Ref# 210 The APRO BULLETIN. (J & C Lorenzen) Volume 58 Issue 5 DESERT

The Fortean Pictures Library lists the image as a possible UFO image taken on October 16, 1957 by Ella Louise Fortune as it hovered over Holloman Test Range, New Mexico, USA. They add that "some people believe this 'UFO' was a cloud." Their version of the photograph is mirrored and has a prnounced reddish hue.

Discussion:

Evaluation:

The photograph:

This is an easy to find "classic" photograph. Whatever the resolution, it shows no clue of being anything else than a cloud indeed:

Bibliography:

• [c7A1] ? "UAO Photographed over Holloman Test Range", in "APRO Bulletin", Coral and Jim Lorenzen, p.1, Volume 58 Issue 5, May 1958.
• [c7H1] ? "Photographic Analysis of the Fortune Photo", by John T. Hopf. in "APRO Bulletin", p.3, September 1958.
• [c7S1] ? "Lee Waves in the Atmosphere", by R.S. Scorer, in "Scientific American", p.132, March 1961.
• [c7S2] ? "The UFO Evidence", NICAP, pp 87-90, 1964.
• [c7S3] ? "The Encyclopedia of UFO's", book by Ronald Story, p.140, 1980.
• [c7F1] * "Fotocat" extract: "lenticular clouds", ibid.
• [c7N1] * "1957" listing of Nuclear Connection Project at www.nicap.dabsol.co.uk/ncp-nuc1957.htm
• [c7I1] * "UFO mistakes", at www.iwasabducted.com/ufomistakes/clouds/tularosanm.htm

c8. December 13, 1958 Redlands, California, USA, John Penney photograph:

Investigation:

The USAF Blue Book source [c8U1] indicated in Fotocat [c8F1] is a sightings listing of December 1958. The case number is 620313, the place is Redlands, California, it is a photographic case, the witness' name is censored and the explanation is note as "Other (lenticular cloud)".

This author found no other information.

Discussion:

Evaluation:

The photograph:

This author could not locate this case's photograph.

Bibliography:

• [c8U1]* "December 1958 sightings" USAF PRoject Blue Book.
• [c8F1]* "Fotocat" extract: "lenticular clouds", ibid.

c9. January 1, 1964 M D Mount Rainier, Washington USA WA photograph:

Investigation:

Discussion:

Evaluation:

The photograph:

Bibliography:

• [F1]* "Fotocat" extract: "lenticular clouds", ibid.

c10. September 1, 1965 (Day uncertain) Brno, Czecoslovakia, photograph:

Investigation: U.F.O.s, Robert Jackson, Shooting Star, 1995, p 13. Luis Ruiz Noguez.

Discussion:

Evaluation:

The photograph:

Bibliography:

• [c10F1]* "U.F.O.s", by Robert Jackson, Shooting Star, p.13, 1995.
• [c10F1]* Luis Ruiz Noguez.
• [c10F1]* "Fotocat" extract: "lenticular clouds", ibid.

c11. 1966, La Matanza, Tenerife, Spain photograph:

Investigation:

No information found.

Discussion:

Evaluation:

Bibliography:

• [F1]* "Fotocat" extract: "lenticular clouds", ibid.

c12. April 16, 1966 Tuxpan, Jalisco, Mexico Hector M. Horta photograph:

Investigation:

No information found.

Discussion:

Evaluation:

The photograph:

Bibliography:

• [F1]* "Fotocat" extract: "lenticular clouds", ibid.

c13. November 23, 1966 Benidorm, Alicante, Spain, Gunther Fensk Wildemann photograph:

Investigation:

I found practically nothing about this photograph. Werner Walter, a German ufologist who thinks there are no extraterrestrial visitors on our planet wrote [c13W1]:

"L'OVNI sur Benidorm en Espagne photographié le 23 novembre 1966 n'a pas de valeur puisque la soucoupe volante à voir ici n'est rien de plus qu'un nuage de type lenticulaire éclairé par le coucher du soleil."

J. Benitez, a spanish ufologist, wrote [c13B1]:

"November 22, 1966. Benidorm, Spain. Le photographe Gunther Wildemann rend compte qu'il a observé dans le ciel un objet ayant une forme de disque. Il était cinq heure et demi de l'après-midi. Gunther a rapporté que l'ovni est resté immobile dans le ciel durant 15 minutes. Malgré le témoignage du témoin et sa photographie, certains chercheurs ont douté et continuent à douter de la nature "ovni" de l'image qui apparaît dans la photographie. Ceci est semblable à un très grand nuage et il s'ensuit que les doutes persistent. Pouvait-il agir d'un objet "camouflé" sous un nuage ? Ce ne serait pas le premier ni le dernier cas...

Discussion:

Evaluation:

The photograph:

Bibliography:

• [c13B1] * www.planetabenitez.com - www.jjbenitez.com
• [c13W1] * "The German UFO-Chronicles - Ein Blick in die deutsche UFO-Geschichte", web pages, Walter Werner, CENAP, cenap.alien.de
• [c13F1] * "Fotocat" extract: "lenticular clouds", ibid.

c14. 1969, Sierra Tarahumara, Chihuahua, Mexico photograph:

Investigation:

Discussion:

Evaluation:

The photograph:

Bibliography:

• [F1]* "Fotocat" extract: "lenticular clouds", ibid.

c15. October 12, 1970 Marasesti, Romania, Julien Weverbergh photograph:

Investigation:

A search on the Internet yelded no results. A search in "OVNIS en Russie" by Boris Shurinov, Guy Trédaniel, 1995, yelded no result.

Julien Weverbergh is the co-author of a book with Ion Hobana bout UFO sightings in USSR and eastern europe countries.

While P2 says that there is a photograph of a lenticular cloud take at Marasesti in Romania on October 12, 1970 by Julien Weverbergh in the English edition of this book at page 105, my search in the French version of the book [c15H2] yelded negative result. There is not lenticular cloud photograph near pages 90-100 of the French edition, nor elsewhere, and the case appears nowhere in the rest of the book. The only reference to a UFO sighting in Marasesti is at pages 230 and 346, the witness is not Julien Weverbergh, no photograph was taken and it was not on October 12, 1970, but on June 1, 1969.

The three witness said they saw a glowing greenish pulsating object that crossed the sky at the level of the horizon at a huge speed.

Discussion:

It is hard fro me to believe that the English version of Hobana and Weverberg's book is different from the French version.

Evaluation:

Lack of data, lack of photograph.

Bibliography:

• [c15H1] ? "UFO´s From Behind the Iron Curtain", Ion Hobana and Julien Weverbergh, Souvenir Press, p.105, 1972.
• [c15H2] * "Les OVNI en URSS et dans les Pays de l'Est", Ion Hobana and Julien Weverbergh, Robert Laffont, p.230, p.346, 1972.
• [c15F1] * "Fotocat" extract: "lenticular clouds", ibid.

c16. February 5, 1973, Jaman-Tau, Ural, Russia photograph:

Investigation:

A search on the Internet yelded no results. A search in "Les OVNI en URSS et dans les Pays de l'Est", Ion Hobana and Julien Weverbergh, Robert Laffont, 1972, yelded no result. A search in "OVNIS en Russie" by Boris Shurinov, Guy Trédaniel, 1995, yelded no result.

Discussion:

With no source, no data found, a discussion of the case is impossible.

Evaluation:

Lack of data, lack of photograph.

Bibliography:

• [F1]* "Fotocat" extract: "lenticular clouds", ibid.

c17. August 11, 1974 Perpignan, France, Lolita Rassin photograph:

Investigation:

A search on the Internet yelded no result. A search in my collection of 63 newspapers articles for French UFO sightings in 1974 yelded no results.

I unfortunaly do not own the source indictaed by P2>, the ufology magazine "Lumières Dans La Nuit" for June-July 1975.

Discussion:

With no source, no data found, a discussion of the case is impossible.

Evaluation:

Lack of data, lack of photograph.

Bibliography:

• [c17L1] ? "Lumières Dans La Nuit", ufology magazine, page 23, June-July 1975.
• [c17F1] * "Fotocat" extract: "lenticular clouds", ibid.

c18. November 11, 1974 (undertain day), Lago Agrio, Neuquén, Argentina, Victor and Silvia de Cerasale photograph:

Investigation:

P2 indicates in [c18F1] that the source is "Cuarta Dimensión, 15, p 35" and specifies that he did not consult this source. This author does not own this source either. A search on the Internet yelded no result.

With no source, no data found, a discussion of the case is impossible.

Evaluation:

Lack of data, lack of photograph.

Bibliography:

• [c18C1] ? Cuarta Dimensión, 15, p 35 (not consulted).
• [c18F1] * "Fotocat" extract: "lenticular clouds", ibid.

c19. March 22, 1975, Vandellós, Tarragona, Spain, Vicente Ballester photograph:

Investigation:

The photograph and a report were not found on the Internet.

Discussion:

Vicente Ballester is a long time ufologist with experience and there is no chance that he would have mistaken and photograph a lenticular cloud while not realizing what it was. Very likely, the case is actually only an example of a lenticular cloud recongnized as such by the witness and photograph as example of lenticular cloud, not as UFO.

Evaluation:

Not a case of lenticular cloud that generated a UFO report. Identified by witness. Irrelevant.

Bibliography:

• [F1]* "Fotocat" extract: "lenticular clouds", ibid.

c20. January 19, 1977, Col du Puymarens, Ariège, France, Patricia Monin photograph:

Investigation:

A search on the Internet yelded no result. This author does not own "La Depêche du Midi" for January 20 and 30, 1977, nor Perspectivas Ufológicas, February 1996 indicated by P2> as sources.

Discussion:

With no source, no data found, a discussion of the case is impossible.

Evaluation:

Lack of data, lack of photograph.

Bibliography:

• [c20F1] ? Article in the newspaper "La Dépêche du Midi", January 20, 1977.
• [c20F1] ? Article in the newspaper "La Dépêche du Midi", page 1, January 30, 1977.
• [c20P1] ? Perspectivas Ufológicas, February 1996.
• [c20P1] ? Luis Ruiz Noguez.
• [c20F1] * "Fotocat" extract: "lenticular clouds", ibid.

c21. February 1, 1977 (uncertain day), Greenland Naval Station, Denmark photograph:

Investigation:

No source is indicated by P2. A search on the Internet yelded no result.

Discussion:

With no source, no data found, a discussion of the case is impossible.

Evaluation:

Lack of data, lack of photograph.

Bibliography:

• [F1]* "Fotocat" extract: "lenticular clouds", ibid.

c22. November 12, 1977 Perpignan, France, José María Casas-Huguet photograph:

Investigation:

The photographer indicated by P2, José Maria Casas-Huguet, was a ufologist, who in 1976 and since 1972 was director of CEI, "Centro de Estudios Interplanetarios", a spanish ufology group.

A search on the Internet did nopt result in the finding of any witness report or photograph of a lenticular cloud mistaken for a UFO in November 1977 in Perpignan.

Discussion:

Evaluation:

The photograph:

Bibliography:

• [F1]* "Fotocat" extract: "lenticular clouds", ibid.

c23. May 2, 1978, San Carlos Bariloche, Rio Negro, Argentina, Elida Peláez de Corletto photograph:

Investigation:

P2 indicates as source "Perspectivas Ufológicas, February 1996. Luis Ruiz Noguez. Clarin (Buenos Aires), end August 1978. Roberto E. Banchs. Cosmovisión, 3, October 1978. Cuarta Dimensión, No 72, 1978 (Carlos Ferguson). http://www.geocities.com/capecanaveral/3823/ar780824.htm"

Discussion:

Evaluation:

The photograph:

Bibliography:

• [c23C1] ? Article in the newspaper "Clarin", Buenos Aires, end August 1978.
• [c23C1] ? "Cosmovisión", Roberto E. Banchs, 3, October 1978.
• [c23P1] ? "Perspectivas Ufológicas", February 1996.
• [c23P1] ? "Cuarta Dimensión", Carlos Ferguson, #72, 1978.
• [c23I1] ? Page not found at www.geocities.com/capecanaveral/3823/ar780824.htm
• [c23F1] * "Fotocat" extract: "lenticular clouds", ibid.

c24. 1979, Tenerife, Spain photograph:

Investigation:

P2 provided no source. A searcm on the Internet allowed this author to find several clouds photographs from Tenerife in 1979 [c24I1], although those are not necessarily lenticular clouds and no evidence of associated UFO reports was found.

On example is the photograph shown here, which is captioned:

OBJETO OBSERVADO EN LAS ISLAS CANARIAS El 5 DE MARZO DE 1979 Antonio González Llopiz, autor de estas impresionantes fotos, se dirigía por la carretera del sur de Gran Canaria, a la altura de Puerto Rico, cuando le sorprendió esta puesta de sol extraña, tomo su cámara y comenzó a disparar.

One similar such photograph, in black and white, appears in a Jenny Rendle UFO book [c24R1] with a caption sayint that it is one of two colour slides brought back to Englend by two men who observed the spectacular UFO event over the Canary ISlands in March 1979. Randles adds that "several quite independant sequences of this phenomenon exist on film."

Discussion:

If the pictures and comments I found are the correct ones, it does not seem that a lenticular cloud event is at work here, it seems to be all rather about a rocket's contrails illuminated by the sun.

Evaluation:

Probably no lenticular clouds, or lack of data.

The photograph:

The source [c24I1] has several pictures, such as this one:

Bibliography:

• [c24R1] * "UFO Reality - a Critical Look at the Physical Evidence", book by Jenny Randles, photographs section, Hale, 1983.
• [c24I1] * "Imagines de OVNI en la Canarias", web page at clientes.vianetworks.es/personal/luecru1/archivo.htm
• [c24F1] * "Fotocat" extract: "lenticular clouds", ibid.

c25. 1979, Lambert Lane, Arizona, USA, "Johnny" photograph:

Investigation:

P2 provided no source. A search on the Internet yelded no result.

Discussion:

Evaluation:

Bibliography:

• [F1]* "Fotocat" extract: "lenticular clouds", ibid.

c26. February 3, 1979 Mont-Blanc, France, Annie Trubert photograph:

Investigation:

P2 indicates "Jean-Michel Ligeron, O.V.N.I. en Ardennes, 1981, p 195" as source. This author does not own this book. A search on the Internet yelded no result.

Discussion:

Evaluation:

Bibliography:

• [c26L1] ? "OVNI en Ardennes", book by Jean-Michel Ligeron, p. 195, 1981.
• [c26F1] * "Fotocat" extract: "lenticular clouds", ibid.

c27. 1980, Toluca, Mexico City, Mexico, Rolando Muñoz photograph:

Investigation:

P2 provided no source. A search on the Internet yelded no results.

Discussion:

Evaluation:

Bibliography:

• [F1] * "Fotocat" extract: "lenticular clouds", ibid.

c28. 1981, Bonn, Germany photograph:

Investigation:

P2 provided no source. A search on the Internet yelded no results.

Discussion:

Evaluation:

Bibliography:

• [c28F1]* "Fotocat" extract: "lenticular clouds", ibid.

c29. August 30, 1981, Raub, Malaysia, Heng Chiang Teck photograph:

Investigation:

P2 provides no sources. However, a search on the Internet allowd this author to find a german speaking texte by Malaysian ufologist Ahmad Jamaudin, which is said to have been published in the "Journal Fur UFO-Forshung" Nummer 6, 1983 published by Gemeinschaft Zur Erforschung Unbekannter Phänomene (GEP), Germany.

Jamaludin tells that the story surfaced on the frontpage of a local newspaper of Malaysia on June 6, 1982, with a headline about an un-natural lighted object, and an article that said that nobody had been able to provide an explanation. The article said that a teacher, Heng Chiang Teck, of the Chung-Ching shcool in Raub saw a lighted round object in the sky while he was in the schoolyard. The teacher had heard about flying saucers and took a picture. The object was there a minute (at least?) and then "disappeared".

Jamaludin wrote to the schoolteacher to get more information on the sighting and received 2 photographs of the strange thing, made at 18:15 on 30 August 1981 in Raub. The witness described the phenomenon as very bright, in the shape of a saucer. It remained motionless more than 6 minutes before "it disappeared". Camera type and film are documented.

Jamaludin thought about the photos and concludes that it is obviously a lenticural cloud, lighted by the setting sun. Jamaludin adds that Ground Saucer Watch analyzed the images with a computer and came out with the same explanation.

Discussion:

Evaluation:

The photograph:

The photograph is shown on source [c29J1]

Bibliography:

• [c29J1] * "Lenticular cloud from Malaysia", by Ahmad Jamaudin at www.geocities.com/foxbat2my/wolke.html.
• [c29F1] * "Fotocat" extract: "lenticular clouds", ibid.

c30. 1982, Los Andes, Valparaiso, Chile photograph:

Investigation:

P2 provides no sources. A search on the Internet yelded no result.

Discussion:

Evaluation:

Bibliography:

• [F1]* "Fotocat" extract: "lenticular clouds", ibid.

c31. January 15, 1982, San Martín de los Andes, Neuquén, Argentina, Juan Carlos Ferreyra photograph:

Investigation:

The source is P2 himself. A search on the Internet by this author yelded no result.

Discussion:

Evaluation:

Bibliography:

• [F1]* "Fotocat" extract: "lenticular clouds", ibid.

c32. September 8, 1986, Irutup Island, Kuriles (Russia) photograph:

Investigation:

The source indicated by P2 is a web page in Russian by ufologist Mikhail Gershtein.

L'article par Mikhail Gershtein indique que la photographie a été prise le 8 septembre 1986 à l'île d'Irutup. Elle a été imprimée des centaines des fois, de journaux en revues, et a orné la couverture du livre d'A. et H. Kuzovkina. constatant un manque d'informations, Mikhail Gershtein est remonté aux sources premières et a trouvé le récit suivant de B. Kazmin, le photographe:

"Je me trouvais sur l'île avec l'expédition. A 20:00 (le ciel s'assombrissait déjà) je suis sorti sur le perron de la maison. Mon attention a été attirée par l'objet étrange, qui était suspendu au-dessus du golfe. Selon ses formes, il rappelait une lentille d'un diamètre immenses de près de 100 mètres. L'objet avait une forme précisément délimitée. Il n'y avait aucun effets sonores ou lumineux. Graduellement l'objet, ... a fusionné avec le fond du ciel serein devenu déjà sombre..."

Mikhail Gershtein explique qu'il s'agit d'un nuage lenticulaire et en donne des explications détaillées. Il évoque des préSentations délirantes nombreuses de la photo dans les milieux scientifiques, ufologiques, parapsychologique Russes, allant jusqu'à une analyse par un voyant extra-lucide qui déClare que le vaisseau vien de Jupiter, mesure 120 mètres, que ses occunantssont âgés de 160 à 240 ans pour le plus vieux et ainsi de suite.

Mikhail Gershtein explique qu'en 1988, la photo a été montrée dans un documentaire intitulé "A la recherches des nouveaux venus" et que la voix off expliquait clairement que la photo montre seulement un nuage, mais que cela n'a pas suffit a l'éliminer des magazines ufologiques qui ont suivis, comme la revue "l'Echo de la planète", N 33-34, de 1990, qui l'appelle encore "soucoupe volante."

Discussion:

Evaluation:

The photograph:

The photograph is shown at ref. [C32G1]:

Bibliography:

• [C32G1] * Article by Mikhail Gershtein at www.vadim-andreev.narod.ru/ufo/foto1.htm.
• [C32F1] * "Fotocat" extract: "lenticular clouds", ibid.

c33. December 15, 1988 Ivina, Utah, USA, Jean and Nancy Michalski photograph:

Investigation:

P2 indicates no sources for the case. A search on the Internet yelded no result.

Discussion:

Evaluation:

No data.

Bibliography:

• [F1]* "Fotocat" extract: "lenticular clouds", ibid.

c34. 1989, Santiago de Compostela, La Coruña, Spain photograph:

Investigation:

P2 indicates no sources for the case. A search on the Internet yelded no result.

Discussion:

Evaluation:

No data.

Bibliography:

• [c34F1]* "Fotocat" extract: "lenticular clouds", ibid.

c35. November 7, 1990 Ushuaia, Tierra del Fuego, Argentina, Francisco Chechi (Grupo Alfa) photograph:

Investigation:

P2 indicates "Mensajes Cósmicos, February 15, 1991. Carlos Ferguson" as source.

P2 indicates as photographer Francisco Chechi (Grupo Alfa). This photographer is actually a so-called "contactee" who founded the UFO cult, Grupo Alfa.

The photograph or a sighting report were not found.

Discussion:

It is possible that some photograph of a lenticular cloud was taken by this witness and showed as "proof of alien visitors" by the witness, but this is very uncertain.

No indication was found that such a photograph exists or that any ufologist saw any evidence of whatever nature in it.

Evaluation:

Lack of data. No photograph

Bibliography:

• [c35M1] ? ""Mensajes Cósmicos", February 15, 1991.
• [c35A1] * "Sobre sectas destructivas - Cuando Rael Desembarco en Las Indias, los ET Ya habian aterrizado", by Alejandro Agostinelli, www.argenpress.info, 2003.
• [c35F1] * "Fotocat" extract: "lenticular clouds", ibid.

c36. December 27, 1990, San Juanito, Chihuahua, Mexico, Gerardo León photograph:

Investigation:

P2 does not provide sources for the case. A search on the Internet did not result in any photograph or report on a lenticular cloud or alleged UFO photographed on December 27, 1990, San Juanito, Chihuahua, Mexico, Gerardo León.

Facciones del Grupo Rama en América Latina promueven el “Proyecto de Evacuación Mundial del Comando Ashtar” a base de conferencias de Sixto Paz Wells. Hacia finales de la década de los ochentas, el Dr. Gerardo León, del Centro Cultural de la Mexicanidad, de Gómez Palacio, Dgo. me invito a la presentación de un video promocional en una casa de Cd. Lerdo, Dgo (México). Allí observamos un maratónico video de cuatro horas sobre el “Proyecto de Evacuación Mundial del Comando Ashtar”. A partir de entonces se formó una agrupación denominada “Grupo Amigos de la Humanidad” que en al menos dos ocasiones ha traído al líder del Grupo Rama, Sixto Paz Wells, al teatro Alberto M. Alvarado para exponer sus experiencias como contactado. El Dr. Gerardo León en otra ocasión presentó otro video sobre el inicio de la Era de Acuario en el año 2013, fecha en la cual según la interpretación del calendario de los mayas, sería el fin de los tiempos.

However, there seem to exist [c38M1] a Dr Gerardo Leon, who seems to be the director of the Centro Cultural de la Mexicanidad and is seemingly and allegedly involved in a "Grupo Rama" and a "Project of World-wide Evacuation of the Ashtar Command" in relation with claims based on interpretations of "the Mayan Calendar" that the earth will end in a disaster in 2013 and only those earthling that believe in a galactic alien "Ashtar Command" would be saved.

No indication was found that such a photograph exists or that any ufologist saw any evidence of whatever nature in it.

Discussion:

It is possible that some photograph of a lenticular cloud was taken by this witness and showed as "proof of alien visitors" by the witness, but this is very uncertain.

Evaluation:

Lack of data. No photograph

Bibliography:

• [c38M1] * "Sectas Apocalipticas y cultos OVNI" www.mega-cosmos.com/jgrf/050413SectasAlien.htm
• [c38F1] * "Fotocat" extract: "lenticular clouds", ibid.

c37. May 19, 1991 Villagarcía de Arosa (Pontevedra) ESP 36 PHOTO Jorge Morales Ruiz photograph:

Investigation:

Discussion:

Evaluation:

The photograph:

Bibliography:

• [F1]* "Fotocat" extract: "lenticular clouds", ibid.

c38. 09.04.1994 Valle de Juárez, Chihuahua (México) MEX CHIH VIDEO Carmen Rey photograph:

Investigation:

Discussion:

Evaluation:

The photograph:

Bibliography:

• [F1]* "Fotocat" extract: "lenticular clouds", ibid.

c39. 01.08.1994 D Brewster, Washington USA WA photograph:

Investigation:

Discussion:

Evaluation:

The photograph:

Bibliography:

• [F1]* "Fotocat" extract: "lenticular clouds", ibid.

c40. November 25, 1994 Mezquite, Nevada, photograph:

Investigation:

Discussion:

Evaluation:

The photograph:

Bibliography:

• [F1]* "Fotocat" extract: "lenticular clouds", ibid.

c41. 07.11.1996 Arinaga (Gran Canaria) ESP 35 PHOTO Ana Rosa Alonso photograph:

Investigation:

Discussion:

Evaluation:

The photograph:

Bibliography:

• [F1]* "Fotocat" extract: "lenticular clouds", ibid.

c42. January 1, 1998 D Alicante (Alicante) ESP 03 photograph:

Investigation:

Discussion:

Evaluation:

The photograph:

Bibliography:

• [F1]* "Fotocat" extract: "lenticular clouds", ibid.

c43. November 2001, Saratoga Springs, Utah, USA, photograph:

Investigation:

P2 does not provide a source. However, a search on the Internet quickly allowed this author to find out the information on this case. The photograph, a comment by the webmaster and a proposed explanation appear on the website, quoted here:

Utah , March 2001 Cloud covered UFO? These Photos are very interesting, a near perfect UFO shaped cloud? or a UFO hiding itself in a artificial cloud? Photos were taken with a digital camera. These photos were sent to us 12/2/2001. "We were house hunting... the picture was taken from Saratoga Springs which is on the West side of Utah Lake in Lehi, so I think, I think it was in-between Timp. Mt. and the Mt. where squaw peak is. One thing....your right if this is a cloud covered UFO it is enormous. Susan" UUFOH NOTE: This is probably a cloud formation though a very odd one.

Discussion:

The website where the report and photograph appears is titled "Believe It or Not They are Really Here" and is obviously an amateur's page, not the webiste of any serious ufologist or ufology organisation. The webmaster notes: "we would like to show you some information that we have collected for many months in our simple website, which might make nonbelievers believers."

Despite obvious inexperience, and wild-eyed comments on UFOs that disguize in clouds, the webmaster nevertheless notes that the photograph shows "probably a cloud formation though a very odd one."

This hardly makes the case anything like a lenticular cloud UFO report that fooled proponents of the extraterrestrial visitors theory.

Evaluation:

Lenticular cloud picture, possibly related to UFOs by the witness, explained by unexperience primary investigator.

The photograph:

Bibliography:

• [F1] * " shortcuttoaliens.tripod.com/aliens/id4.html
• [F1] * "Fotocat" extract: "lenticular clouds", ibid.

c44. 2003, Tenerife photograph:

Investigation:

P2 provides no source for this case.

While a search of all UFO reports from Teneriffe or the Canaries island in 2003 at any date of the year yelded no cloud reported as UFO and no photographs of clouds reported as UFO, a web page was found that shows a number of pitcures of lenticular clouds at this location in 2003.

One the picture is headlined "OVNI-NUBE", i.e. "cloud UFO".

The caption reads:

"What caught the attention to this cloud is its inner ring, that became more visible, adopting that reddish coloration, with the arrival of dusk, and the fact that it appeared isolated in the sky, without more clouds. It looked like a UFO rotating on the zone of Candlemas, to the south of Santa Cruz de Tenerife."

The photographer is Pilar García de la Rosa and only the year, 2003, is indicated.

No indication whatsoever is given on that web page that anoyne ever actually thought it was an alien spaceship of that anyone saw in the cloud anything else than a cloud interesting enough to deserve a photograph.

Discussion:

It is more and more apparent that P2 was not anymore listing cases of lenticular clouds mistaken as UFO, but collecting lenticular clouds photographs from the Internet, whether they did or did not generate UFO sighting reports.

Evaluation:

Not a lenticular cloud reported as UFO.

The photograph:

Bibliography:

• [F1]* "Fotocat" extract: "lenticular clouds", ibid.

c45.30.04.2000 DayLenticular cloudDay100 km to Zapala, Neuquén (Argentina)NEUPhotoAgustina de Alarcón Sources: Rio Negro (General Roca), June 21, 2000. Carlos Ferguson. c46.01.01.1966MDLenticular cloudAosta (Italy)AOPhoto Sources: Dossier OVNI, Orbis, 1997, issue number 11, p 47. c47.07.01.1968Lenticular cloudSierra Nevada (Granada)18PhotoIgnacio DarnaudeIgnacio Darnaude. Sources: CEI (Barcelona), quoting La aviazione di altri planeti, May 1968.

APPENDIX

List of issues:

Id	Topic	Severity	Date noted	Raised by	Noted by	Description	Proposal	Status
1	Data	Medium	May 25, 2006	This author	This author	No references of sources in the 44 cases table.	Author asked P2 where he can get the references. Immediately solved by P2	Closed.
2	Format	Low	May 25, 2006	This author	This author	Dates would be ambiguous in European format except in the full original listing where format is clearly indicated D/M/Y in header.	This author changed the dates to GUP format according to SOP002 in the study body.	Closed
3	Data	High	May 28, 2006	This author	This author	c1 has no report, no source, no photograph.		Open

Study journal:

May 25, 2006 02:45:	P1 asks a ufology discussion group whether there are cases in which UFOs were explained as lenticular clouds, as he could not find any authentic such cases.
May 25, 2006 10:30:	P2 provides the listing of 44 photographic cases cited here, extracted from his UFO photographic case database, specifying it is "grossly outdated in several aspects".
May 25, 2006 11:00:	P1 thanks P2 and specifies that "col du Puymorens, Ariège", instead of "col du Puymarens, Ariége".
May 25, 2006 11:14:	This author asks P2 where he could find the references for the 44 cases.
May 25, 2006 :	P1 also asks P2 where he could find the references for the 44 cases.
May 25, 2006 :	P2 says reference, if any, ar from the ufological literature and proposes to get in touch privately with him about it.
May 25, 2006 :	This author privately contacts P2 and asks whether he could get references for the 44 cases.
May 25, 2006 14:00:	This author creates an HTML formated version of the listing identical to the original listing which was an electronic spreasheet.
May 25, 2006 16:00:	P2 sends this author a listing of the same cases with sources references for 27 of the 44 cases, 3 more cases, and minor additional information and asks for feedback if new information is found by this author.
May 25, 2006 16:20:	This author thanks P2 for the additional information and let him know that he will provide feedback.
May 25, 2006 17:20:	This author integrates the information just received to the case table and study body.

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This page was last updated on May 25, 2006