The article below was published in the daily newspaper Franc-Tireur, Paris, France, page 6, on October 6, 1954.
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The "saucer" round continues, ever livelier and ever more varied, but made up of increasingly vague craft.
In Aurec-sur-Loire (Haute-Loire), two campers observed two luminous objects resembling large headlights.
Near Lens, two people saw in the sky a craft shaped like a glowing pot, spinning on itself.
In Clermont-Ferrand, a large star changed color several times before disappearing while spinning.
What is certain, however, is that a retired miner from Beuvry-les-Béthune (Pas-de-Calais), known in his town as an incorrigible prankster, did not fail to build "saucers" to amuse himself at the expense of nearby towns' residents.
Inspired by the hot-air balloon system, the merry retiree built craft out of wrapping paper that reached three meters in diameter and made them rise with the heat generated by a bundle of burning tow. The craft floated with the wind, surrounded by yellowish and orange glows and quite a visual spectacle.
It was following the discovery of one of these craft near a haystack; which it nearly set on fire, that the police were led to suspect the retiree.
He admitted to having already launched more than a thousand "saucers"... and he was fined for "dangerous amusement."
