-c • researchers
• Civilian and military
pilots : 10 (of whom less
tha~ ~ for military
pilots)
Engineers : 1~
• Military personnel 1~ (of whom less
than ~ f9r military air defence
controllers).
• workmen 1.5%
farmers 1,5%
shepherds5%
In other countries observations made by civilian and military pilots, milita.~
personnel and engineers are clearly higher. On the other band they are less
numerous among workmen, technicians and farmers.
Concerning the ages of the observers, the following distribution is noted,
also identical with the distribution notad i~ other countries and seemingly
proportional to the age-groups of the French population:
1~ less than 13 years old
18% between 13 and 20
6~ bebween 21 and 59
~over 60
Having made the acquaintance of the observers, questions must be raised
concerning the value of their observations and the credibilit.y to be afforded
to them.
In the vast majority of cases it can be said that the observers were quite
sincere; their identity was known in three qua=ters of the cases. Since 1954,
these observations have been the subject of reports made by the police to the
Air force staff.
As a general rule, observations were made by more t~n one adult.
Finally, to judge from the distribution of observers ~ver a map of France Je
see that the number of observations·:is (fortuitously or otherwise) proportior.D.l
to the density of the population.
We also note a clear improvement in the description of the phenomenon. When
it is a question of·MlJ.ysing this information and, especially, .cor~elating it