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October 12, 1954, Orchamps-Vennes, Doubs, France, Franzesko Beuc:

Brief summary of the event and follow-up:

The Press published the news of October 26, 1954, of an observation of a "saucer or a 4 CV".

The articles stated that Francesco Beuc, a 48-year-old farm worker at Orchamps-Vennes in the Doubs, had stated that on October 12, 1954, he had seen a flying saucer, but fearing not to be believed, he said nothing until now.

At about 9 p.m., returning to the farm where he worked, he had suddenly noticed a strange craft of the shape of a 4 CV car supported by four wheels about 40 centimeters in diameter, motionless on the roadside.

He had approached to within one meter from the craft and had noticed in the vicinity, a being of 1.50 meters in height, clad in a leather jacket and wearing a cap. Mr. Beuc questioned this mysterious pilot, but the latter quickly climbed into the craft, which, having rolled for about thirty meters on the road, took off in the manner of an airplane, and quickly rose up.

Subsequently, the story was mentioned extensively in the ufological literature, more or less faithfully. Thus, Jacques Vallée makes no mention of the wheels and the resemblance to an automobile, nor of the rather human clothes of what he calls a "being".

The American Alex Mebane found that 4 hp is not enough power for an automobile and thought it had to be the shape of a four-horse-drawn cart.

Michel Carrouges confused the name of the witness and the name of the place and commented that the description was "so baroque that one would discard the incident" but that since the place is on an "orthotenic line" determined by Aimé Michel, it is an "objective" incident, "but its content remains obscure and unusable."

Jader U. Pereira had listed the case as to be rejected because of the risk of misinterpretation by the witness. Many others, however, published the story without any proposal or search for an explanation. More than thirty ufological publications on this case are listed or cited in my file below.

Finally, a reader of my website who is from that area confirmed to me by email what appears quite obvious: indeed, Fruccio Beuc had been abused by a strong fog, and had seen a 4 CV and its driver. The story of this mistake is well known in the village, my correspondent told me.

Basic information table:

Narratives:

[Ref. rv1:] NEWSPAPER "LA REPUBLIQUE VAROISE":

[Ref. la1:] "L'ALSACE" NEWSPAPER:

[Ref. tb1:] TED BLOECHER:

[Ref. al1:] ALEXANDER MEBANE:

[Ref. am1:] AIME MICHEL:

Aimé Michel mentions the case in relation to others but does not provide specifics.

He indicates that the case comes from La Bourgogne Républicaine and the Charles Garreau file.

[Ref. mc1:] MICHEL CARROUGES:

The author indicates that on October 12, 1954 around 21 hours in Beuc, in the countryside where it must be dark, a 48-year-old farm labourer is alone, when he suddenly sees a "saucer" already posed on the ground 1 meter from him. He said that it had the shape of a 4CV and was on wheels.

At the side of the saucer there is a pilot, 1.50 meters tall approximately, carrying a cap and a leather coat.

The witness calls him but the pilot does not answer and jumps on board. His apparatus rolls on about thirty meters on the road and takes off like a plane.

Michel Carrouges indicates that his source is a news release of the A.F.P. for October 26, 1954.

He comments on that description is so baroque that it calls for rejection of the case but that the place is on a "orthotenic line" determined by Aimé Michel and that thus it must be an "objective" incident, "but its contents remain obscure and unusable."

[Ref. jv5:] JACQUES VALLEE:

[Ref. am4:] AIME MICHEL:

[Ref. jv1:] JACQUES VALLEE:

[Ref. fl1:] FERNAND LAGARDE:

Studying what he thinks to be a relation between UFOs and geological faults, this ufologists cites "Orchamps", in the Doubs, as a case of UFO on or near the ground, with the source "M.O.C." by Aimé Michel page 205.

[Ref. jt1:] JEAN TYRODE:

Commenting on observations in the Doubs, Jean Tyrode mentions that Orchamps is on the "BAVIC" line.

[Ref. jp1:] JADER U. PEREIRA:

[Ref. jv3:] JACQUES VALLEE:

[Ref. jv2:] JACQUES VALLEE:

The author indicates that on October 12, 1954, at approximately 9 hours of the evening, Orchamps (the Jura), a farmer, Mr. Beuc, saw a O.V.N.I. and a small pilot who entered the machine. The apparatus slipped on the road during approximately 30 meters, then rose quickly.

[Ref. jv3:] JACQUES VALLEE:

Jacques Vallée indicates that the UFO occupant reported in Orchamps, France, during the 1954 flap, was of the "heavily equipped" type.

He says that like in other cases, there is a "definite correlation" between the small size of the being and the fact he wears a diving suit.

[Ref. gl1:] CHARLES GARREAU AND RAYMOND LAVIER:

The two ufologists report in their book the case of Orchamps-Vennes, in Doubs, October 12, around 9 P.M., indicating newspaper clipping and personal files as sources.

A farm laborer, Franzesko Beuc, aged 48, which was going back to the farm where he worked, found himself face to face with a being of small size (less than 1,50 m) who was busy around a machine of the size of a small car:

"I called the character. He rushed into his machine which slipped on about thirty meters before taking height quickly."

[Ref. bd1:] J. BERNARD DELAIRE:

[Ref. jd1:] J. BERNARD DELAIRE:

[Ref. pr1:] PETER ROGERSON:

[Ref. fr1:] MICHEL FIGUET AND JEAN-LOUIS RUCHON:

The two authors indicate that in Orchamps-Vennes in the department of Doubs on October 12, 1954 at 09:00 p.m., Franzesko Beuc, farmer, aged 48, regained the farm where he worked when he suddenly saw, motionless on the edge of the road, an apparatus affecting the characteristic shape of a 4 CV car supported by four wheels of approximately 40 centimeters in diameter. The farmer, within one meter of the machine, came nose with nose with a small being dressed of a cap and a leather coat. Our witness having challenged the mysterious visitor, this one went up in his apparatus which, after having rolled during about thirty meters on the road, takes off in the manner of a plane and quickly takes altitude.

The authors note that it is not known whether he heard a sound or not, but there was no effect on the witness.

[Ref. bb2:] GERARD BARTHEL ET JACQUES BRUCKER:

[Ref. vi1] "VIMANA 21" UFOLOGY BULLETIN:

La source pour cet article est indiquée être le journal Le Bien Public.

[Ref. mf3:] MICHEL FIGUET:

[Ref. mf1:] MICHEL FIGUET:

This ufologist noted:

[Ref. ldf1:] "LUMIERES DANS LA NUIT" UFOLOGY MAGAZINE:

[Ref. lg1] LOREN GROSS:

[Ref. js1:] JEAN SIDER:

The author indicates that on October 12, 1954, at 9:00 p.m. in Orchamps-Vennes, the Doubs, Mr. Francesco Beuc was returning to the farm where he was working when he suddenly saw a strange object on the side of the road he was taking. It was a device "vaguely shaped like a 4CV Renault, on four wheels moreover (!)"; which were about 40cm each. Having reached a meter from the object, the witness found himself face to face with a little creature wearing a cap and a leather coat. Mr. Beuc questioned the individual, but his initiative provoked no reaction. The being returned into his machine which rolled about thirty meters before taking off in the manner of an airplane to quickly take altitude.

Jean Sider indicates that the source is "Figuet, pp. 154-155."

He comments that this case "better explains why an almost identical testimony", that of Neuilly-l'Évêque, "was put on the account of a real 4CV Renault by a low-level 'socio-psycho'.

[Ref. lh1:] LARRY HATCH - "*U* COMPUTER DATABASE":

[Ref. go1:] GODELIEVE VAN OVERMEIRE:

The Belgian ufologist indicates that in 1954, on October 12 in France in Orchamps, "At 09:00 p.m. the farmer Franzesko Beuc saw an object and a pilot of small size which penetrated inside the machine. It slipped on the road during 30 meters then rose quickly."

She indicates that the sources are "Carrouges p. 98" and "Jacques Vallée: 'Chronique des apparitions ET' - DENOEL 1972 - J'AI LU COLL. - p. 278".

She indicates that there is another version which says: "The farmer went home again and sees motionless on the edge of the road an apparatus resembling particularly a 4CV supported by 4 wheels of 40cm of diameter. At one meter of the machine he is face to face with a small being dressed of a cap and a leather coat. Having challenged this mysterious visitor, the latter goes up fast in the apparatus which, after having rolled during about thirty meters on the road, takes off in the manner of a plane and takes height."

She gives the source of this other version as "M. FIGUET/ J.L. RUCHON: 'Ovni, premier dossier complet...' - Alain Lefeuvre pub. 1979, p. 154, 155".

[Ref. ar1:] ALBERT ROSALES:

[Ref. dj1:] DONALD JOHNSON:

[Ref. jb1:] JEROME BEAU:

The source is noted "Carrouges, M. 98".

[Ref. lc1:] LUC CHASTAN:

Luc Chastan indicates that in the Doubs in Orchamps Vennes on October 12, 1954 at 09:00 p.m., "the witness goes back to the farm where he works when it suddenly sees motionless on the edge of the road, an apparatus of the particular shape of a 4 CV supported by four wheels of approximately 40 centimeters in diameter. The farmer, within one meter of the machine, is face to face with a small being dressed of a cap and a leather coat. Our witness having challenged the mysterious visitor, the latter goes up in his apparatus which, after having rolled during about thirty meters on the road, takes off in the manner of a plane and takes height quickly."

The source is indicated as "Ovni, Premier dossier complet... by Figuet M./ Ruchon J.L. ** Alain Lefeuvre pub. 1979".

[Ref. ud1:] "UFODNA" WEBSITE:

The website indicates that on 12 October 1954 at 21:00 in Orchamps, France, "A farmer saw a short man (under 5' tall) enter an object. It glided over the road for 30', then rose rapidly."

The website adds: "An object was observed. It departed by rapidly flying straight up until lost to sight. One object was observed by one male witness on a road for 30 minutes (Beuc, F). One 4.9-foot-tall dwarf, wearing a brown jacket and helmet, was seen."

The sources are indicated as "Webb, David, HUMCAT: Catalogue of Humanoid Reports; Michel, Aime, Flying Saucers and the Straight-Line Mystery, S. G. Phillips, New York, 1958; Bowen, Charles, The Humanoids: FSR Special Edition No. 1, FSR, London, 1966; Pereira, Jader U., Les Extra-Terrestres, Phenomenes Spatiaux, Paris, 1974; Vallee, Jacques, Computerized Catalog (N = 3073); Vallee, Jacques, Challenge to Science: The UFO Enigma, Henry Regnery, Chicago, 1966; Vallee, Jacques, Preliminary Catalog (N = 500), (in JVallee01); Vallee, Jacques, A Century of Landings (N = 923), (in JVallee04), Chicago, 1969; Schoenherr, Luis, Computerized Catalog (N = 3173); Carrouges, Michel, Les Apparitions de Martiens, Fayard, Paris, 1963; Delaire, J. Bernard, UFO Register Volume 7 (1976), Data Research, Oxford, 1976; Newspaper Clippings; Civilian Saucer Intelligence-New York; Hatch, Larry, *U* computer database, Author, Redwood City, 2002."

[Ref. ud2:] "UFODNA" WEBSITE:

The website indicates that on 12 October 1954 at 21:00 in Orchamps, France, "a small pilot entered an object."

The website adds: "A farmer, Mr. Beuc, saw a small pilot enter an object in Orchamps, France. It glided over the road for 30 meters and then rose rapidly."

And: "A farmer, Mr. Beuc, saw a small pilot enter an object. It glided over the road for 30 meters, then rose rapidly. An unidentifiable object and its occupants were observed at close range."

The sources are indicated as "Vallee Magonia Database".

[Ref. ta1:] "THINK ABOUT IT" WEBSITE:

[Ref. ni1:] "THE NICAP WEBSITE":

[Ref. gz1:] JULIEN GONZALEZ:

The author indicates that there was a close encounter of the third kind at Orchamps-Vennes, the Doubs, on October 12, 1954, at 09:00 p.m.

Franzesko Beuc, a 48-year-old cultivator, was returning to the farm where he worked when he suddenly saw a 4-CV-shaped device supported by four wheels about 40 centimeters in diameter, motionless along the roadside. The farmer, one meter from the craft, found himself face to face with a small being of 1.50 meters wearing a leather coat and a cap. Mr. Beuc, called up the mysterious visitor, who climbed into his apparatus, which after having rolled for about thirty meters on the road, took off in the manner of an airplane and quickly rose.

The sources are indicated as Michel Carrouges, "Les apparitions de Martiens", page 98; C. Garreau and R. Lavier, "Face aux Extra-Terrestres", page 111; Michel Figuet and Jean-Louis Ruchon, "OVNI: le premier dossier complet des rencontres rapprochées en France", pages 154-155; Jean Sider, "Le dossier 1954 et l'imposture rationaliste", page 197; Les Dernières Nouvelles d'Alsace for October 27, 1954; La Bourgogne Républicaine for October 27 1954.

[Ref. ub1:] "UFO-DATENBANK":

This database recorded this case 14 times instead of one:

[Ref. pr2:] PETER ROGERSON - "INTCAT":

Note: The source reference "Gross URECAT" is my file here. No link is given and its content is not really reflected.

Points to consider:

A reader of my website which is from the area informed me via email in 2006 that indeed, Francesco Beuc had been deceived by a strong fog, and that he actually saw a 4CV and its driver, as its description suggests it. The story of this confusion was well-known in the village.

Later, I discovered the newspaper article in "La République Varoise" of October 27, 1954; which shows that the confusion with a 4CV car was already a considered idea at the time of the sighting.

The very popular 54' Renault 4-CV:

List of issues:

Evaluation:

Confusion, man in 4CV car.

Sources references:

* = Source I checked.
? = Source I am told about but could not check yet. Help appreciated.

• [---] ? Press Release by AFP (Agence France Presse), France, October 26, 1954.
• [rv1] * Article in the regional newspaper La République Varoise, Toulon, France, October 27, 1954.
• [la1] * Article in the regional newspaper L'Alsace, Mulhouse, France, October 27, 1954.
• [---] ? Article in the regional newspaper Les Dernières Nouvelles d'Alsace, Mulhouse, France, October 27, 1954.
• [---] ? Article in the regional newspaper La Bourgogne Républicaine, France, October 27, 1954.
• [---] ? Article in the regional newspaper Le Bien Public, France, October 27, 1954.
• [tb1] * Lecture by Ted Bloecher, in Civilian Saucer Intelligence of New York, Public Meeting, USA, January 28, 1956.
• [al1] * Newspaper clipping without reference translated by Alexander Mebane, USA, the 1950's.
• [am1] * "Mystérieux Objets Célestes", book by Aimé Michel, Seghers publishers, page 225, 1958.
• [am1] * "Flying Saucers and the Straight Lines Mystery", book by Aimé Michel, English version of "Mystérieux Objets Célestes", S.G. Phillips publisher, USA, 1958.
• [mc1] * "Les Apparitions de Martiens", book by Michel Carrouges, (aka Louis Couturier), Fayard publisher, France, pages 80,93, 1961.
• [jv5] * "Catalogue préliminaire de 500 observations", listing in "Les Phénomènes Insolites de l'Espace", book by Jacques and Janine Vallée, Table Ronde publisher, France, 1966.
• [jv1] * "Un Siècle d'Atterrissages", article by Jacques Vallée, in the ufology magazine Lumières Dans la Nuit (LDLN), France, ¦103, page 4, December 1969.
• [jv4] * "Anatomy of a Phenomenon - UFOs in Space", book by Jacques Vallée, Henry Regnery publisher, pages 197, USA, 1965.
• [jv4] * "Anatomy of a Phenomenon - UFOs in Space", book by Jacques Vallée, Neville Spearman publisher, U-K, 1966.
• [---] ? "O Livro Vermelho dos Discos Voadores", book by Flavio A. Pereirade, Florença publisher, Brazil, page 389, 1966.
• [jv1] * "Passport to Magonia - On Ufos, Folklore, and Parallel Worlds", book by Jacques Vallée, Contemporary Books publishers, USA, 1969.
• [jp1] * "Les Extra-Terrestres", by Jader U., Pereira, in the ufology magazine Phénomènes Spatiaux, GEPA ufology group, France, #29, page 25, September 1971.
• [jv3] * "Chronique des Apparitions Extra-Terrestres", French translation of "Passport to Magonia", book by Jacques Vallée, J'Ai Lu publisher, France, page 278, 1972.
• [jv2] * Summary by Jacques Vallée in "The Humanoids: A Survey of World-Wide Reports of Landings of Unconventional Aerial Objects and their Alleged Occupants", book by Charles Bowen, Neville Spearman publishers, U-K., 1969.
• [am1] * "A Propos des Soucoupes Volantes", book by Aimé Michel, reprint of "Mystérieux Objets Célestes", Planète publishers, page 205, 1972.
• [jv2] * Summary by Jacques Vallée in "En Quête des Humanoïdes", book by Charles Bowen, French translation of "The Humanoids", J'ai Lu publisher, pp 51-52, 1974.
• [jv3] * "Anatomy of a Phenomenon - UFOs in Space", book by Jacques Vallée, Tandem Books publisher, U-K, page 143, 1974.
• [gl1] * "Face Aux Extra-Terrestres", book by Charles Garreau and Raymond Lavier, Delarge publisher, France, page 111, 1975.
• [bd1] * "The UFO Register - The Official Organ of Data Research Contact International (U.K.)", compiled by J. Bernard Delaire, volume 7, part 1 and 2, page 44, 1976.
• [pr1] * "The Catalogue - An international catalogue of type 1 reports", compiled by Peter Rogerson, in the ufology magazine MUFOB, U-K., New Series #3, pp 8-9, Summer 1976.
• [---] ? "HUMCAT: Catalogue of Humanoid Reports", compiled by David Webb and Ted Bloecher, CUFOS, USA, circa 1978.
• [jv5] * "Catalogue préliminaire de 500 observations", listing in "Les Phénomènes Insolites de l'Espace", book by Jacques and Janine Vallée, Robert Laffont publisher, France, page 250, 1978.
• [fr1] * "OVNI, Premier Dossier Complet des Rencontres Rapprochées en France", book by Michel Figuet and Jean Louis Ruchon, Alain Lefeuvre publisher, France, pp 154-155, 1979.
• [bb2] * "Le ressac d'une vague", article by Jacques Brucker and Gérard Barthel, in the ufology magazine Inforespace, SOBEPS, Belgium, Special Issue #3, pp 40-41, December 1979.
• [vi1] * Catalogue dans le bulletin d'ufologie Vimana 21, du groupe d'ufologie A.D.R.U.P., Dijon, France, N° 10-11, numéro spécial 54, page 30, 3^rd quarter 1982.
• [mf3] * "ATTERRISSAGES D'UFO sur le continent français du 26 septembre 1954 au 18 octobre 1954", liste par Michel Figuet dans le magazine d'ufologie Lumières Dans La Nuit (LDLN), France, N° 249-250, page 27, March / April 1985.
• [mf1] * "Catalogue Francat des rencontres rapprochées en France (Listing 800 1982) (2 - Suite)", list compiled by Michel Figuet, in the ufology magazine Lumières Dans La Nuit (LDLN), France, #257-258, page 18, November - December 1985.
• [ld1] * "La Grande Peur Martienne - Canular après enquête!", article by the "Groupe d'Enquête sur 1954 de Lumières Dans La Nuit", in the ufology magazine Lumières Dans La Nuit (LDLN), France, #299, page 33, September / October 1989.
• [lg1] * "The Fifth Horseman of the Apocalypse - UFOs: A History - 1954 October", monography by Loren E. Gross, USA, page 41, 1991.
• [---] ? "Computerized Catalog", compiled by Luis Schoenherr.
• [js1] * "Le Dossier 1954 et l'Imposture Rationaliste", book by Jean Sider, Ramuel publisher, France, page 197, 1997.
• [lh1] * "*U* Computer Database", database by Larry Hatch, USA, circa 2002.
• [go1] * "Chronologie OVNI", web page compiled by Godelieve Van Overmeire, Belgium, circa 1999, at users.skynet.be/sky84985/afin54.htm
• [ar1] * "1954 Humanoids Reports", compiled by Albert Rosales, circa 2003, at www.ufoinfo.com/humanoid/humanoid1954.shtml.
• [dj1] * "Encounters With Aliens On This Day", written by Donald A. Johnson, Ph.D., compiled from the UFOCAT 2003 computer database, www.ufocat.com.
• [jb1] * "Mardi 12 octobre 1954", web page by Jérôme Beau, France, RR0 website, circa 2006, at www.rr0.org/data/1/9/5/4/10/12/index.html
• [lc1] * Base OVNI France, website by Luc Chastan, France, circa 2005, at baseovnifrance.free.fr/detobs.php?numobs=914
• [ud1] * "12 Oct 1954 - Orchamps, France", web page at the UFOdna website, circa 2007, at www.ufodna.com/uf02/uf2/022628.htm
• [ud2] * "12 Oct 1954 - Orchamps, France", web page at the UFOdna website, circa 2007, at www.ufodna.com/uf18/uf9/189
• [ta1] * "1954: October Sightings", catalog on the UFO website Think About It, USA, not dated, found 2014, at http://www.thinkaboutitdocs.com/8-1954-october-sightings
• [ni1] * List on The NICAP Website, USA, found in 2014, at http://www.nicap.org/reports/1954_ufocat.htm
• [gz1] * "RR3 - Le Dossier des Rencontres du Troisième Type en France", book by Julien Gonzalez, Le Temps Présent publishers, France, pp 132-133, 2014.
• [ub1] * Online database UFO-Datenbank, Germany, found in 2016, at ufodatenbank.de
• [pr2] * "INTCAT 1954", catalogue compiled by Peter Rogerson, U-K., circa 2016, at https://intcat.blogspot.com/search?q=1954

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This page was last updated on September 9, 2019.