The Verdon and extraterrestrials. On 1 July 1965, an extraordinary event took place in the lavender fields of Valensole, in Provence. Maurice Masse, a 41-year-old farmer, claimed to have had a close encounter of the third kind with extraterrestrial beings. His story, which became famous in the annals of French ufology, continues to fascinate and intrigue to this day.
The Verdon and the extraterrestrials – The unfolding of the event
Early that morning, Maurice Masse was working in his lavender fields when he heard a shrill noise coming from the sky. Looking up, he saw a metallic object in the shape of a rugby ball lying in a nearby field. The device, about seven metres in diameter, shone with a bluish light and made a slight humming noise.
Intrigued and somewhat frightened, Maurice Masse cautiously approached the object. About 30 metres away, he saw two humanoid beings emerge from the device. They were about 1.30 metres tall, with tanned skin and large, black eyes. Their heads were disproportionately large in relation to their bodies, and they were wearing tight-fitting one-piece jumpsuits.
The two beings moved towards Maurice Masse, who froze, paralysed by fear. One of them pointed a cylindrical object resembling a pistol at him. Maurice Masse felt an intense sensation of heat and lost consciousness for a few minutes.
Verdon and extraterrestrials – Maurice Masse’s testimony
When he came to, the flying object and the beings had disappeared. Maurice Masse was deeply shocked by his experience and hesitated to talk about it, fearing he would be seen as a madman. However, a few days later he decided to confide his story to his father and a close friend.
News of Maurice Masse’s encounter spread quickly through the village of Valensole. It then attracted the attention of the media and ufologists. Maurice Masse was questioned on numerous occasions by journalists and researchers, as well as by the gendarmerie. He has always maintained the same version of events.
Verdon and extraterrestrials – The testimony of Maurice Masse
When he came to, the flying object and the beings had disappeared. Maurice Masse was deeply shocked by his experience and hesitated to talk about it, fearing he would be seen as a madman. However, a few days later he decided to confide his story to his father and a close friend.
News of Maurice Masse’s encounter spread quickly through the village of Valensole. It then attracted the attention of the media and ufologists. Maurice Masse was questioned on numerous occasions by journalists and researchers, as well as by the gendarmerie. He has always maintained the same version of events.
Verdon and extraterrestrials – What the Gendarmerie investigation says
His story was thoroughly investigated by the French Gendarmerie. The official report is a valuable source of information for understanding this enigmatic event.
The Gendarmerie investigation was led by Chief Warrant Officer Julien Gavier and Gendarme André Vernet. They visited the site of the sighting and interviewed Maurice Masse on several occasions. The report states that Maurice Masse gave a precise and coherent account of the events. He seemed sincere and in a state of shock.
Gendarmes also examined the site of the sighting, but found no trace of the flying object or the beings. They interviewed witnesses living nearby. However, none of them could confirm Maurice Masse’s account.
Conclusions of the report
The gendarmerie report concluded that Maurice Masse’s statements were “sincere and concordant”, but that it had not been possible to provide “material proof of the presence of an unidentified flying vehicle”. Gendarmes mentioned the possibility of hallucination or an optical illusion, while acknowledging that they could not come to a definitive conclusion.
Impact and interpretations
The gendarmerie report on Maurice Masse’s encounter had a major impact on the case. Although it does not provide a definitive explanation, it helps to give credibility to Maurice Masse’s testimony and to add to the mystery surrounding this event.
Verdon and extraterrestrials – Legacy and importance of the report
The gendarmerie report on Maurice Masse’s encounter remains an important document in the field of ufology. It is a first-hand account of a singular event and raises fundamental questions about the nature of reality and the possibility of extraterrestrial life.
Analyses and theories
Maurice Masse’s testimony has been the subject of numerous analyses and interpretations. Some experts have speculated that it could have been a hallucination or a hoax. However, others have been impressed by the coherence and accuracy of his account, and the absence of any apparent motive to lie.
Many ufologists consider Maurice Masse’s encounter to be one of the most convincing pieces of evidence for the existence of extraterrestrial life. Some claim that these extraterrestrials were seeking to return to a secret base hidden in the bowels of the Imbut at the bottom of the Grand Canyon du Verdon.
Verdon and extraterrestrials – The legacy of Maurice Masse
Maurice Masse died in 2005 at the age of 81. His story continues to provoke fascination and debate, and his testimony remains an important reference in the field of ufology. The Valensole encounter reminds us of the immensity of the universe and the possibility that we are not alone in the cosmos.
If you’d like to find out more about Maurice Masse’s encounter, here are a few resources:
-The book “Valensole 1965: Un OVNI en Provence” by Aimé Michel
-The documentary “Valensole: Witnesses to the Impossible”.
-Website of the Comité d’Études des Phénomènes Aériens (https://www.reuters.com/article/idUSL29796180/)
Maurice Masse’s encounter in Valensole remains one of the most famous and controversial UFO sightings in French history. His testimony continues to fuel the debate on the existence of extraterrestrial life and invites us to keep an open mind when faced with the mysteries of the universe.