An account in Vend�e, France

On February 9, 1976 at 2:05 a.m., a motorist and his passengers are intrigued then frightened by the presence of a luminous mass in the slightly cloudy sky. Their observation begins at the exit of Luçon (85). Then parking their vehicle at the exit of Beugne-L'Abbé (municipality of Magnils-Reigniers (Les) (85)) but staying inside, the witnesses observe the luminous phenomenon for 2 to 3 minutes. They describe the shape as two hollow plates one on top of the other about twenty meters in diameter. First stationary at tree height, this mass then slowly gains altitude. No particular noise is heard during the observation. The witnesses then resume the road toward Les Sables-d'Olonne (85) and can still visually follow the phenomenon and see it disappear to the West. The gendarmerie, notified immediately, will find no trace in the indicated area. No other testimony concerning the observation of a particular phenomenon at that time will be collected. No electrical disturbance on the network in the sector will be recorded by E.D.F. Another witness will report having seen, on Sunday February 8, 1976 at 8 p.m., two silent and unusual craft pass across the sky. This case is consistent (3 witnesses), the description of the observation location and the observed UAP is precise. The sincerity and credibility of the witnesses have never been questioned. The described phenomenon presents many common characteristics (observation duration, shape, color, size...) with a known astronomical phenomenon: the Moon. Moreover, the Moon was indeed in the observed sky area while the witnesses do not mention it. It is not the visual perception of the witnesses that is at issue but the interpretation that the witnesses make of their observation through their feelings (fatigue, worry, fear and belief in the UFO phenomenon). In the current GEIPAN classification, this explained case of low strangeness is classified as UAP A, observation linked to a misidentification of the Moon.