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Sighting in Bourgneuf-en-Retz, June 8, 1979

Loire-Atlantique, Pays de la Loire, France

Sighting on June 8, 1979 in Bourgneuf-en-Retz (Loire-Atlantique, France). GEIPAN could not reach a conclusion for lack of sufficient information (class C).

What happened

On a Friday, between 1:00 and 1:05 p.m., several people saw a phenomenon above the bay. They first noticed a vertical column of smoke, which gradually faded away. A few minutes later, a spherical, fire-red object crossed the sky in a straight line toward the southwest, its path curving downward. It moved fairly slowly and left a trail of white or greyish smoke behind it. Each sighting lasted only a few seconds, and no sound was heard.

A gendarmerie inquiry with the navy revealed that tests of distress flares and illuminating flares had taken place. However, the information obtained was too imprecise to confirm that explanation. GEIPAN therefore classified the case as C, meaning there was insufficient data.

Account rewritten by SkyUnknown from the investigation report published by GEIPAN (CNES). The original text and case documents are on the official record.

Date
June 8, 1979
Location
Bourgneuf-en-Retz · town centre
Type of sighting
From the ground
Source classification
C

Sources

Summary written by SkyUnknown from the facts published by the source.