PUMA helicopters identified as UFOs in Barcelonnette

Summary

On May 11, 1977, several witnesses in Barcelonnette observed two silent flying objects emitting intermittent red light and projecting a white beam toward the ground. The gendarmerie investigated and determined they were two PUMA SA-330 helicopters from the Cannet-des-Maures base conducting nighttime exercises with ground illumination. GEIPAN classified the case as category A, identified phenomenon.