V-formation of white balls over La Ciotat

Summary

In April 1982 a motorist in La Ciotat watched at least six white luminous balls arranged in a V formation for about fifteen seconds before they vanished abruptly without any sound. Originally left unexplained, GEIPAN later re-examined the case. The most plausible hypothesis points to the Patrouille de France, whose Alphajet aircraft carried white nose lights. The number of objects, the formation and the absence of noise at a distance are all consistent with an aerial manoeuvre. Although there are no records of the Patrouille flying that day, their confirmed presence in the area the following day supports the theory.