Herve Giraud

This French Air Force officer served as a military pilot and subsequently achieved the rank of colonel. In 1977, while flying a Mirage IV at 32,000 feet after dark, he encountered an extremely bright light that appeared on a collision course with his aircraft. Despite its close proximity, the object exhibited no radar track and demonstrated supersonic maneuverability without producing sonic booms. This encounter deeply influenced Denis Letty's decision to initiate the COMETA investigation.