French Defense Minister Galley Acknowledges UFOs on Radio
French Defense Minister Robert Galley appears on France-Inter radio program by Jean-Claude Bourret. States he is 'deeply convinced' people should regard UFOs with 'completely open mind.' Confirms French military interest since 1954, mentions 'baffling radar/visual incidents' and reports forwarded to CNES.
Background
EVENT TITLE: French Defense Minister Galley Acknowledges UFOs on Radio
EVENT DATE: 1974-02-21
EVENT TYPE: disclosure
EXISTING SUMMARY: French Defense Minister Robert Galley appears on France-Inter radio program by Jean-Claude Bourret. States he is 'deeply convinced' people should regard UFOs with 'completely open mind.' Confirms French military interest since 1954, mentions 'baffling radar/visual incidents' and reports forwarded to
French Defense Minister Robert Galley publicly acknowledged the existence of UFOs during a radio interview. He expressed his belief that the topic should be approached with an open mind. Galley also confirmed that the French military had been interested in UFOs since 1954.
The Incident
On February 21, 1974, French Defense Minister Robert Galley was a guest on the France-Inter radio program hosted by Jean-Claude Bourret. During the interview, Galley stated that he was "deeply convinced" that people should regard UFOs with a "completely open mind." He confirmed the French military's interest in the subject dating back to 1954.
Galley alluded to "baffling radar/visual incidents" and the forwarding of reports. The specific details of these incidents were not elaborated upon in the provided text.
Investigation
The provided text does not detail any specific investigation triggered by Galley's statements. The text focuses on Galley's acknowledgement of the UFO phenomenon and the French military's interest. It is implied that the French military investigated UFO incidents, as Galley mentioned "baffling radar/visual incidents" and the forwarding of reports.
Significance
Galley's public acknowledgement is significant as it represents a high-ranking government official openly discussing UFOs. His statement lends credibility to the subject and suggests that the French military took the phenomenon seriously. The confirmation of French military interest since 1954 indicates a long-standing awareness and study of UFOs within the French government. This event contributes to the broader historical context of UFO disclosure and government involvement in UFO research.