On Friday January 9th, 1981, police authorities in Draguignan, France received a telephone call reporting a sighting of an aerial phenomenon which the author of the observation could not identify. In addition the witness indicated the presence of physical traces on the ground at the site. These events were reported to have taken place on the previous day (Thursday January 8th) in the nearby town of Trans-en-Provence.

The Groupe d'Études des Phénomenes Aérospatiaux Non-identifies, or Unidentified Aerospace Phenomena Study Group (GEPAN), organized within CNES, became aware of the case through the Gendarmerie on the morning of Monday January 12th. It was learned that law enforcement authorities had taken soil samples on the day of the report. Since it had rained heavily over the weekend, GEPAN investigators decided it would be fruitless to travel to the site immediately. Instead, they requested speedy delivery of the samples collected on the previous Friday.

GEPAN further learned about the nature of the traces through a telex received during the afternoon of January 12. Several private groups also heard of the case through local press reports and went to the site. One of their investigators began his study on January 13th.

2. Information Collected by Police Authorities

The Draguignan Gendarmerie had first been alerted by the witness' neighbors. The site was visited by an officer on Friday, January 9th about 11:30 a.m.