The index page for the 1954 French flap section of this website is here.
Reference for this case: 11-oct-54-Meral.
Please cite this reference in any correspondence with me regarding this case.
An article in the newspaper Les Nouvelles de Bretagne et du Mans for October 14, 1954, reports events of Monday, October 11, 1954, at 6 a.m. in the town of Méral in the Mayenne.
Baptiste Potin, 40, a resident of Meral, was going to his workplace at Les Barres de Méral, riding by bike, going towards Saint-Poix, when he saw in front of him, high in the sky, a shining orange ball which seemed to be above Saint-Poix. It seemed to descend as he approached.
Arrived at the top of the hill, at the exit of Méral, Mr. Potin was surprised to see landing before him at about 600 meters, near the power transformer, this luminous ball which barred the road.
Frightened, he stopped at a good distance.
Placed on the ground, the ball had the appearance of a flattened disk in the shape of a dome, with a diameter of about 4 to 5 meters. Its orange brightness was so extreme that it dazzled him. Looking to the right and left, this light allowed him to see distinctly the hedges and the trees at more than two hundred meters.
This "saucer" seemed translucent to him, somewhat "like nylon", and in the middle he distinguished a rather indistinct black shape that did not move.
At the end of some eight or ten minutes the object became redder, it rose slowly at first, without noise, resuming the round shape it had at the beginning, and soon it disappeared at high speed towards the North-West in the direction of Le Pertre.
Mr. Potin resumed his journey and when he crossed the place where the "saucer" had stopped, he saw a kind of cloud that dropped something like bright snow.
Arrived at the farm of Lese Barres, he was surprised, seeing himself in the light, to be covered with a kind of fluff, like the people who "plucked the geese!".
This kind of weird snow was a little sticky between the fingers, like wax. It was embedded in his clothes, leaving many white traces that an energetic brushing could not remove.
The newspaper said that everyone had commented on the facts with animation, and that Mr. Potin had never been so afraid of his life.
Various other shorter versions were subsequently published in the Press. To Aimé Michel, the date became October 14, 1954. The white substance would not have remained long on his clothes, it would have "soon" disappeared "without leaving any traces." The initial color of the "ball" is white and the black form begins to become a "silhouette". This will have ufologist classify the case as a close encounter of the third kind. On this subject, a articulet around 2017 on the website of the Méral town hall rather evokes a "black line". But in the course of the versions, we end up being told it was a "character".
With Jacques Vallée, citing the newspaper La Croix on October 16, 1954, the date is still false, the witness is no longer Mr. Potin but, for some reason, "Mr. Duvivier." whereas Michel indicated that the "transparency" of the object is assumed by the presence of the silhouette, it becomes a certainty.
For Figuet and Ruchon, the case is still wrongly dated, and it is no longer a question of a ball turning to a disc, but only a disc all along, which changes color from white to red.
Finally, one finds around 2017 on the website of the Méral city council, listing unusual stories of the commune, some information that seem unpublished previously: the ball was "the size of the moon", the watch and the dynamo of Mr. Potin stopped during the observation and ever functioned again. And it would seem that among the people who had questioned the witness and observed on his jacket the "sort of white fluff", there were not only the curious but also the gendarmes.
It seems that I was the only one to have checked the presence and location of the Moon that evening; which was not in vain.
[Ref. nbm1:] "LES NOUVELLES DE BRETAGNE ET DU MANS" NEWSPAPER:
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A sort of strange material impregnated the clothes
of the only known witness of this curious occurrence
Monday morning, at 6, Mr. Baptiste Potin, aged 40, resident of the community of Méral, left for his day at the Barres of Méral.
He was climbing the hill of the borough on his bicycle, towards St-Poix, when he saw in front of him, high in the sky, a brilliant ball of orange color which seemed to be above St-Poix. It appeared to go down while approaching.
On the top of the hill, at the exit of Méral, Mr. Potin had the surprise to see this luminous ball landing in front of him at approximately 600 meters and very close to the power transformer station, barring the road to him. Seized by fear, Mr. Potin stopped at a good distance!
Landed on the ground, it had the aspect of a flattened disc in the shape of a dome, its diameter was approximately 4 to 5 meters. Its orange luminosity was so mich intense that it blinded him. While looking on the right and on the left, he managed to note that this light enabled him to distinctly see the hedges and the trees within more than two hundred meters, at 6 o'clock in the morning.
This "saucer" appeared translucent to him, a little like nylon, and in the medium he distinguished a black form, rather indistinct, which did not move.
At the end of some eight or ten minutes the object becomes redder, it raised slowly initially and without noise while regaining its round shape of the beginning, and soon it disappeared at high speed towards the North-West, in direction of Pertre.
Mr. Potin, taking the road again, crossed the place where of the "saucer" had stopped, a sort of cloud which dropped like brilliant snow.
Arrived at the farm of the Barres, he had the surprise to see himself, with the light, covered with a something of the aspect of sleeping bag feathers, as the people who "pluck geese!"
This sort of supposed snow was a little sticking like wax between the fingers. It was encrusted in its clothing leaving many white traces that an energetic brushing could not remove.
Needless to say that everyone discusses on the facts with animation. As for Mr. Potin, he had the fear of his life!
The Austrian Serge Lifar
also saw
a flying saucer
Mr. Harald Kreutzberg, the Austrian Serge Lifar, inhabitant of Seefeld in Tyrol, observed, whereas he was in its garden, a flying saucer which flew over the small locality during a few seconds before moving towards north and disappearing behind mountains.
Some inhabitants of Seefeld also observed the phenomenon and vainly tried to photograph the mysterious machine.
[Ref. jps1:] NEWSPAPER "LE JOURNAL DU PAS-DE-CALAIS ET DE LA SOMME":
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Avignon, 15. -- Early in the afternoon, at 1:30 p.m., the population of Fontaine-de-Vaucluse was in turmoil.
Indeed, a "white disc" hovered slowly above the small town and could be clearly seen with good binoculars.
This disc was surmounted by a spherical cap of the same color.
The lower circular border bore, intermittently, two powerful lights, varying from white to purplish, passing through red.
The Caritat air base (Vaucluse) alerted, immediately directed two jet planes which soon appeared, and after two turns on Fontaine de Vaucluse, took altitude and dived on the "disk."
The radio which was installed on board the planes and which was in communication with the base, announced that the craft was in sight, that it was being chased, but that it was escaping because its speed was higher to theirs.
From Vaucluse, you could clearly see the disc soaring away, pursued by the two jet planes.
Saucers, discs, cigars, etc., were seen in Marseille, Draguignan, Casablanca, Martigues, Mulhouse.
CONTINUED ON PAGE 8
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(Continued from the first page)
NORTH TO SOUTH
AND FROM EAST TO WEST
Nimes. -- Two people saw while returning to their home, a few kilometers north of Nîmes, a greenish glow in a field. They approached and noticed the presence of a craft entirely identical to a rugby ball and appearing to rest on crutches. The strange craft suddenly rose into the air, emitting a low noise and gradually taking on an orange hue.
Graulhet. -- A barrel maker from Graulhet said he saw, at high altitude, a silver craft heading northwest, which he took all first for a jet plane, but not discerning any contrails, the barrel maker went to get a pair of binoculars and distinctly saw a large flexible disc, which undulated on itself, while moving at a high speed.
It was then that the craft seemed to explode in midair. A silvery ball, about one meter in diameter, escaped from the mass and continued on its way, soon disappearing from view, while the rest of the craft fell into several pieces similar to sheets of various sizes which hovered in the air and some of which clung to the telegraph wires. About fifteen people testified to this peculiar case and fragments of this material were collected. They come in the form of clumped silver filaments that crumble when touched.
Angers. -- An inhabitant of the town of Méral (Mayenne) saw a brilliant orange ball in the sky which landed on the ground. The disc, flattened and dome-shaped, with a diameter of 5 to 6 meters, gave off a blinding glow, illuminating the countryside within a radius of 200 meters.
The craft was transparent and from inside we could see a black shape. The disc stayed like that for about ten minutes, became red and quickly disappeared towards the north. The observer then went to the place where the object had landed. There was, he assures, a sort of bright cloud that was slowly falling to the ground.
Arrived at his home he noticed that his clothes were covered with a white layer of a slightly sticky material, like paraffin.
La Roche-sur-Yon. -- A farmer from Angles (Vendée) saw in the sky a shining craft which, while advancing, changed shape and color. The craft was at low height and at a short distance from the cultivator. When the latter wanted to approach it, the apparatus emitted luminous rays which soon formed a screen behind which it disappeared noiselessly. The same phenomenon was observed by several other people from Angles.
London. -- The British Air Ministry does not believe in the existence of flying saucers, cigars and other flying craft.
Indeed, while refusing to comment on the craft reported in France and in other European countries, the official spokespersons of the ministry declare that 99 times out of a hundred, there are natural explanations for the similar appearances reported in Great Britain: most often sounding balloons.
When no explanation can be given, the Air Ministry adds, it is usually because the testimonies of people who claim to have witnessed these apparitions are insufficient.
However, no such craft has been reported in Britain in recent weeks.
[Ref. lcx1:] NEWSPAPER "LA CROIX":
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At the beginning of Thursday afternoon, the population of Fontaine-de-Vaucluse was moved by the presence above of the small city of a white disc surmounted by a spherical cap.
The lower circular border of this disc bore, intermittently, two powerful lights, varying from white to purplish, passing through red.
The air base of Caritat (Vaucluse), alerted, immediately directed two jet fighters which, soon after two turns on Fontaine-de-Vaucluse, gained altitude and dived on the "disc".
By radio, the pilots of the planes announced that the craft was in sight, that they were chasing it, but that it escaped with a speed higher than theirs.
From Vaucluse, the disc was clearly seen sweeping away, pursued by the two jets.
Several hunters in the town of Saint-Ambroix (Gard) recently saw seven tiny beings whose shape vaguely recalled that of a human body. When they tried to approach, the beings rushed towards a phosphorescent craft, which flew away immediately.
At the location of the flying saucer pilots, the hunters found a number of odd-looking seeds on the ground, which they had specialists examine.
The latter could not specify the species.
A resident of the village of Méral (Mayenne) stated he saw in the sky a bright orange ball which landed on the ground. The disc, flattened and dome-shaped, with a diameter of 5 to 6 meters, gave off a blinding glow, illuminating the countryside within a radius of 200 meters.
The craft was transparent and inside, a black shape was observed. The disc remained like this for ten minutes, whitened, and quickly disappeared towards the North. The observer then went to the place where the object had landed. There was, he said, a sort of bright cloud that was slowly falling to the ground. When he got home, he noticed that his clothes were covered with a white layer of a slightly sticky material, like paraffin.
A boy baker from Calais said he saw at 3:40 a.m. in the morning, Thursday, at a place called "St-Pierre-Halte", on the road to Saint-Omer, a yellow and shiny craft posed on the railway track.
The curiously shaped object was, according to the baker, two meters high and four meters in diameter.
The daily Maroc-Presse, from Casablanca, announces that an engineer from Meknes who was traveling to Port Lyautey by car, declared to have been stopped on the road, in the forest of Mamora, a man dressed in a brilliant outfit.
This man, who measured 1 m 20 meters approximately, then walked towards a stopped craft on the right of the road. Hardly did he take place inside that the craft disappeared at high speed.
[Ref. len1:] "L'EST REPUBLICAIN" NEWSPAPER:
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Paris. -- One could expect one moment on Thursday afternoon that one of these mysterious objects which furrow the sky of France and Navarre was going to give up its secret. Alas! It was not so, and the claims of the ones and others are so contradictory that one does not know any more who speaks seriously and who is joking.
Around 01:30 p.m., Thursday, the residents of Fontaine-de-Vaucluse were in agitation because of the maneuvers of a white disc slowly hovering above the city, and which was clearly distinguished with the binocular.
This white disc was surmounted by a segment of a sphere of the same color, and the lower circular edge carried, intermittently, two powerful fires, variable from the white to the purplished, passing by the red color.
The air base of Caritat (Vaucluse) was alerted at once and two jet fighters took off. A few moments later, they veered above Fontaine-de-Vaucluse.
It is here that testimonies do not agree any more: the residents stated "the two planes took altitude immediately and dove right on the disc which was still visible. But they could not reach it, for their speed was lower than the speed of the disc. Soon, planes and disc disappeared at the horizon."
This report is the topic of an official statement of the secretary of State to the Air who states: "the two pilots of the Orange [Orange-Caritat] air base who flew over Fontaine-de-Vaucluse at various altitudes on October 14 in the afternoon did not observe any unknown machine during their search.
"The two pilots are experienced officers and their report is bulletproof."
Then, who is to be believed?
The testimony of an inhabitant of Graulhet (the Tarn) also deserves a stop for the novelty it brings to the "saucers" file. This man, who is a craftsman, stated to have seen Wednesday evening, at high altitude, a silver-colored craft which he initially thought to be a jet plane.
But he soon saw, binoculars at the eyes, a large flexible disc which undulated on itself while moving at high speed.
At this point in time the machine seemed to explode in full flight. A silver-colored ball, from a diameter of one meter approximately, escaped from the mass and soon disappeared from sight, while the remainder of the machine fell in several pieces similar to cloths of various dimensions which hovered in the sky, and of which some clung to telegraph poles.
About fifteen people collected pieces of this material which appeared as silver-colored agglomerated threads that fell to pieces when touched.
Apart from these observations of some interest, the other statements by witnesses in good faith differ little from those told many times already.
Two people, close to Nîmes, saw in a field, at nightfall, a craft absolutely similar to a rugby ball and appearing to rest on crutches.
The strange apparatus raised in the airs while emitting luminous rays which soon formed a screen of orange color.
An engineer from Meknès, who went to Port-Lyautey by car, stated to have been stopped Thursday afternoon on the road, in the forest of Mamora, by a man covered of a shining outfit.
This man, who measured 1 m 20 approximately, then moved to the right of the road. Hardly had he taken seat inside that the craft flew away and disappeared at high speed.
A resident of Bourg-de-Méral (the Mayenne) saw a transparent machine which released a dazzling gleam on a radius of two hundred meters at ground level. Inside the craft a black shape was distinguished.
The disc remained like this for ten minutes, reddened and disappeared towards the north. The observer went then to the place where the object had been posed. There was, he claims, a kind of shining cloud which fell slowly on the ground. Arrived home, it realized that his clothes were covered with a matter, a bit sticky, like parafinne.
People in Savoy, balanced people if there ever were, were not fooled by the machine which flew over their mountains Thursday. It had too much the shape of a sounding-balloon for not being one. And to see a parachute descending to which scientific devices hung did not surprise them more. The sounding-balloon continued its travel towards Gap where, today undoubtedly, there will be a report of a mysterious machine which... etc, etc...
[Ref. nnm1] NEWSPAPER "LE NOUVEAU NORD MARITIME":
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London, 15. - The British Air Ministry does not believe in the existence of flying saucers, cigars or other flying craft, in fact, while refusing to comment on the craft reported in France and in other European countries. [?] Ministry states that 99 times out of 100 there are natural explanations for similar occurrences reported in Britain. These are most often weather balloons, when no explanation can be given, the Air Ministry adds, it is generally because the testimonies of people who claim to have witnessed such appearances are insufficient.
However, no such craft has been reported in Great Britain in recent [?]
Mulhouse, 15. - A salesman driving on Thursday evening, in the company of a friend, saw a luminous craft in the shape of an ovoid fireball.
This, according to the salesman, described a large "S" in the sky, moving at a dizzying pace and at an altitude of about 300 m. The craft which was preceded by a long luminous trail, changed color from orange to white, then disappeared.
Martigues, 15. - An eight-year-old child, who was with her mother and her aunt on the road to the hamlet of Saint- Pierre, near Martigues, saw in the sky a luminous craft of elongated shape, from which, she specified, came a kind of fireworks display. The parents have certified their child's statements.
Marseille, 15. - Two luminous craft flying at high altitude were seen in the sky of the Rove at the beginning of the afternoon of Thursday. Observers noted that these craft stopped for a few moments and then resumed their flight.
Draguignan, 15. - Several residents of Draguignan observed Thursday towards the end of the afternoon a luminous object crossing the sky at the speed of a meteor.
Casablanca, 15. Workers of Subsistances Militaires de Casablanca said they saw Thursday afternoon, above the city, a sort of phosphorescent cigar which, after having descended gently like a dead leaf, resumed its horizontal course at breakneck speed to finally disappear.
Angers, 15. - A resident of the town of Méral (Mayenne) stated he saw a shiny orange ball in the sky which landed on the ground. The flattened, dome-shaped disc, five to six meters in diameter, gave off a blinding glow, lighting up the countryside within a 200-meter radius.
The craft was transparent and a black shape was inside. The disc remained like this for ten minutes, reddened, and quickly disappeared towards the north. The observer then went to the place where the object had landed. There was, he assures, a sort of bright cloud that was slowly falling to the ground. When he got home, he noticed that his clothes were covered with a white layer of something a little sticky, like paraffin.
La Roche-sur-Yon, 15. - A farmer from Angle (Vendée) said he saw a shining craft in the sky which, as it advanced, changed shape and color. The craft was at a low height and a short distance from the cultivator. When the latter wanted to approach it, the craft emitted luminous rays which soon formed a screen behind which it silently disappeared. The same phenomenon was observed by several other people from Angles.
Nîmes, 14. - Two people saw last night, on their way back to their home, a few kilometers north of Nîmes, a greenish gleam in a field. They approached and noticed the presence of a craft totally identical to a rugby ball and appearing to rest on crutches. The strange craft suddenly rose into the air, emitting a weak noise and gradually taking an orange hue.
Graulhet, 14. - A barrel maker of Graulhet declared to have seen Wednesday at the end of the afternoon, at high altitude, a silvery craft heading northwest, which he at first took for a jet plane, but not discerning any contrail, the barrel maker went to look for a pair of binoculars and distinctly saw a large flexible disc, which undulated on itself, while moving at high speed.
It was then that the craft seemed to explode in mid-flight. A silver ball, about one meter in diameter, escaped from the mass and continuing on its way, soon disappearing from view, while the rest of the craft fell in several pieces similar to sheets of various dimensions which hovered in the sky and some of which cling to the electric wire. About fifteen people testified about this singular case and fragments of material were collected. They appear as agglomerated silvery filaments which crumble when touched.
Melun, 15. - Near Montargis, on the National Road Nr 7, a resident of this town, declared to have seen in the sky a yellow mass of rounded and very bright shape.
Avignon, 15. - Early Thursday afternoon at 1:30 p.m., the population of Fontaine de Vaucluse, was in a turmoil.
Indeed, a "white disc" hovered slowly above the small city and could be clearly distinguished with good binoculars.
This white disc was surmounted by a spherical cap of the same color.
The lower circular border intermittently emitted two powerful fires, varying from white to purplish, passing through red.
The air base of Caritat (Vaucluse), alerted, immediately directed two jets which, soon, made their appearance, and after two turns on Fontaine-de-Vaucluse, gained altitude and dived on the "disk".
The radio installed on board the planes and which was in communication with the base, announced that the craft was in sight, that it was being chased, but that it escaped because its speed was greater than the theirs.
From Vaucluse, the disc could clearly be seen sweeping away, pursued by the two jets.
[Ref. nmn1:] NEWSPAPER "NORD-MATIN":
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A resident of the town of Méral (Mayenne) said he saw in the sky a bright orange ball that landed on the ground. The flat, domed disc, five to six meters in diameter, gave off a blinding glow, illuminating the countryside within a 200-meter radius.
The craft was transparent and from the inside one observed a black shape. The disc remained like this for about ten minutes, blushed and disappeared towards the North. The observer then went to the place where the object had landed. There was, he assures, a king of bright fog that slowly fell to the ground. When he got home, he noticed that his clothes were covered with a white layer of a slightly sticky material, like paraffin.
A baker boy from Calais said he saw at 3:40 a.m., at a place called "Saint-Pierre-Halte", on the road to Saint-Omer, a yellow and shiny machine landing on the railway.
The oddly shaped object was, according to the baker, two meters high and four meters in diameter.
Other appearances include this one:
A barrel maker from Graulhet said that he had seen a silvery craft heading northwest at the end of the afternoon; which he first took for a jet plane, but not discerning any condensation trail, the observer went to get a pair of binoculars and distinctly saw a large flexible disc which undulated on itself, while moving at high speed.
It was then that the craft seemed to explode in mid-flight. A silver ball, about a meter in diameter, escaped from the mass and continued on its way, while the rest of the craft fell in several pieces similar to sheets of various dimensions which hovered in the sky and some of which hung on the telegraph wires. About fifteen people testified to this singular case and fragments of material were collected. They come in the form of agglomerated silver filaments which crumble when touched.
In our section devoted to flying saucers yesterday, we cited the following information: a "white disc" had hovered over Fontaine-de-Vaucluse.
The Caritat air base (Vaucluse), alerted, immediately directed two jet planes which soon appeared, and after two turns on Fontaine-de-Vaucluse, took altitude and dove on the "disc".
The radio installed on the planes and which was in communication with the base, announced that the craft was in sight, that it was chased, but that it escaped because its speed was higher than theirs.
From Vaucluse, one could clearly see the disc moving away like an arrow, chased by the two jet planes.
As expected, the "authorities" denied the information in these terms:
"The Secretary of State for the Armed Forces (Air) wishes to point out that the two pilots from the Orange base who flew at different altitudes over Fontaine-de-Vaucluse, on October 14 in the afternoon, did not observe any unknown craft during their search. The two pilots are experienced officers and their reports are formal."
[Ref. nll1:] NEWSPAPER "NORD LITTORAL":
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Angers. -- A resident of the town of Méral (Mayenne) said he saw in the sky a bright orange ball that landed on the ground. The flat, domed disc, with a diameter of five to six meters, give off a blinding glow, lighting up the countryside within a radius of 200 meters.
The craft was transparent and from the inside a black shape was observed. The disc remained like this for about ten minutes, reddened, and quickly disappeared towards the North. The observer then went to the place where the object had landed. There was, he says, a sort of bright cloud that slowly fell to the ground.
Arriving at his home, he noticed that his clothes were covered with a white layer of slightly sticky material, "like paraphine [sic]".
***
La Roche sur Yon. -- A grower of Angle (Vendée) said he saw in the sky a brilliant craft which, while advancing, changed shape and color. The craft was at a low height and a short distance from the cultivator. When he wanted to approach it, the craft emitted luminous rays which soon formed a screen behind which it disappeared without noise. The same phenomenon was observed by several other people from Angles.
Avignon, October 15. -- At the beginning of the afternoon, at 1:30 p.m., the population of Fontaine de Vaucluse was in turmoil.
Indeed, a "white disc" hovered slowly over the small city and it could be clearly distinguished with good binoculars.
This white disc was surmounted by a spherical cap of the same color.
The lower circular border intermittently bore two powerful lights, varying from white to purplish, passing through red.
The air base of Caritat (Vaucluse), alerted, immediately directed two jet planes which, soon, appeared, and after two turns on Fontaine de Vaucluse, gained altitude and dove on the "disc."
The radio installed on the planes and which was in communication with the base, announced that the craft was in sight, that it was chased, but that it escaped because its speed was higher than theirs.
From Vaucluse, one could clearly see the disc moving away like an arrow, chased by the two jet planes.
[Ref. lon1:] NEWSPAPER "L'OISE-MATIN":
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If they seem to sulk the Oise with persistence, the "flying saucers" have shown themselves, say various testimonies, more numerous than ever during the last 24 hours in the rest of France. Two witnesses have witnessed, they say, curious demonstrations on the part of these machines and, in the sky of Avignon, two French jet fighters have unleashed a futile hunt for "saucers."
It is a barrel-maker from Graulhet, who first declared to have witnessed the explosion of a saucer. A silvery ball, he declared, then seemed to escape from the mass of the craft and continue on its way, while the debris of it fell in several pieces, like sheets that hovered in the sky. Fragments of material were collected; they come in the form of agglomerated silvery filaments which crumble when touched.
The second witness, a resident of the village of Méral (Mayenne), declared that he witnessed the takeoff of a saucer, which quickly disappeared towards the north. At the place where the object had landed, assures the witness, there was a kind of shining cloud which fell slowly to the ground.
When he got home, he said, he noticed that his clothes were covered with a white layer of something a little sticky, like paraffin.
Finally, it is near Avignon, at the fountain of Vaucluse, where the residents in turmoil report that a white disc was hovering above the small town. The neighboring Caritat air base, alerted, immediately directed two jets which, according to the Secretary of State for the Armed Forces (air), returned without noticing anything abnormal.
Also said they saw saucers, cigars or other bizarre contraptions in the sky: two people returning to their homes, a few kilometers from Nîmes; an inhabitant of Montargis, on the national road n ° 7; inhabitants of Marseille, in the sky of Rove; a farmer from Angle, in Vendée; workers from Casablanca, above the city; a representative and his friend, between Niffer and Kembs (Alsace); an eight year old child and her parents, near Martigues, and a baker boy from Calais, on the road to Saint-Omer.
Despite these numerous testimonies, the British Air Ministry in London has let it be known that it does not believe in saucers.
Ninety-nine times out of a hundred, official spokespersons for the English ministry said, natural explanations were found for similar appearances reported in Britain: they are most often sounding-balloons. When no explanation can be given, one adds at the Air Ministry, it is generally for lack of insufficiently [sic] precise testimony.
Spokesmen further indicated that no bizarre craft have been reported in Britain in recent weeks.
[Ref. las1:] NEWSPAPER "LIBRE ARTOIS":
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A resident of the town of Méral (Mayenne) said he saw in the sky a bright orange ball which landed on the ground. The flat, domed disc, five to six meters in diameter, giving off a blinding glow, lit the countryside within a 200-meter radius.
The craft was transparent and from the inside a a black shape was observed. The disc remained like this for about ten minutes, reddened and disappeared quickly towards the north. The observer then went to the place where the object had landed. There was, he assures, a kind of bright cloud that slowly fell to the ground. Arrived at his home, he noticed that his clothes were covered with a white layer of a slightly sticky material, like paraffin.
A boy baker from Calais said he saw at 3:40 a.m., at a place called Saint-Pierre-Halte, on the road to Saint-Omer, a yellow and shiny craft landing on the railroad tracks.
The object of weird shape, was according to the baker, two meters high and four meters in diameter.
Among the other appearances, let us also note this one:
A barrel maker from Graulhet said that he had seen a silvery craft heading northwest at the end of the afternoon; which he took at first for a jet plane, but not discerning any trail of condensation, the observer went to get a pair of binoculars and distinctly saw a large flexible disc, which was undulating on itself, while moving at high speed.
It was then that the craft seemed to explode in flight. A silver ball, about one meter in diameter, escaped from the mass and continued on its way, soon disappeared from view, while the rest of the machine fell in several pieces similar to sheets of various dimensions which hovered in the sky and some of which clung to telegraph wires. About fifteen people testified to this singular case and fragments of material were collected. They come in the form of agglomerated silver filaments which crumble when touched.
In our section yesterday devoted to saucers, we quoted the following information: a "white disc" hovered over Fontaine-de -Vaucluse.
The air base of Caritat (Vaucluse), alerted, immediately directed two jet planes which, soon appeared, and after two turns on Fontaine-de-Vaucluse, gained altitude and dove on the disc.
The radio installed on the planes and which was in communication with the base, announced that the craft was in sight, that it was chased, but that it escaped because its speed was higher than theirs.
From Vaucluse, one could clearly see the disc moving away like an arrow, chased by the two jet planes.
As expected, the "authorities" denied the information in these terms:
The Secretary of State for the Armed Forces, (Air) wishes to specify that the two pilots of the Orange base who flew over Fontaine-de-Vaucluse at different altitudes, on October 14 in the afternoon, did not observe any unknown craft during their search. Both pilots are experienced officers and their reports are formal.
[Ref. cmn1:] NEWSPAPER "CENTRE MATIN":
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AVIGNON. - In early afternoon yesterday Friday the population of Fontaine-de-Vaucluse, was in turmoil.
Indeed, a "white disc" was hovering slowly over the small town and one could clearly distinguish it with good binoculars.
This white disc was surmounted by a spherical cap of the same color.
The lower circular edge carried intermittently two powerful fires varying from white to purple color, passing by the red color.
Caritat Air Base (Vaucluse), alerted, immediately scrambled two jets which soon appeared, and after two turns on Fontaine-de-Vaucluse, they took altitude and dove on the "disc".
The radio installed on the jets was in communication with the base, it announced that the craft was in sight, it was chased, but it escaped because its speed was greater than theirs.
From Vaucluse, one could clearly see the disk go away fast, pursued by the two jets.
Here are also some other information about flying saucers appearances:
Mulhouse. - A trader in a car last night in the company of a friend, between Niffer and Kembs, suddenly saw in the sky a luminous machine in the form of an oval fireball. The latter, according to the trader, followed a large "8" in the sky, moving at a tremendous pace and at an altitude of about 300 meters the craft, which was preceded by a long trail of light, changed color passing from orange to white color, then went to the southeast.
Martigues. - An 8 year old child, who was with his mother and aunt on the road in the hamlet of Saint-Pierre, near Martigues, saw in the sky an elongated luminous machine, from which, she specified, a sort of fireworks came out. The parents have certified to the statements of their child.
Calais. - A baker boy of Calais said he had seen at 3:40 a.m., at the place called "St. Pierre Halte" on the road to Saint-Omer, a yellow and shining craft landing on the railway.
The oddly shaped object was, according to the baker, two meters high and four meters in diameter.
Nimes. - Two people saw last night, returning to their home, a few kilometers north of Nîmes, a greenish glow in a field.
They approached and noted the presence of a vehicle identical in all respects to a rugby ball and appearing to rest on crutches. The strange apparatus suddenly rose in the air while emitting a low noise and gradually taking an orange hue.
Graulhet. - A barrel-maker from Graulhet stated to have seen late yesterday afternoon, at high altitude, a silver craft heading toward the northwest, he first thought it was a jet plane, but discerning no contrail, the barrel-maker fetched binoculars and distinctly saw a broad flexible disc that undulated on itself while moving at a high speed.
That's when the craft seemed to explode in flight. A silver ball, one meter in diameter, escaped the mass and continued on his way, soon disappeared from view, while the rest of the craft fell into pieces similar to sheets of various sizes that hung in the sky and some of which clung to telegraph son. Fifteen people have testified to this singular event and material fragments were collected. They were in the form of agglomerated silver filaments and crumbling to the touch.
Melun. - Near Montargis on National Road No. 7, a resident of this city, said he saw in the sky a yellow mass of rounded and very brilliant form.
Marseille. - Two luminous craft flying high were seen in the sky of the Rove earlier this afternoon. Observers noted that these apparatuses were immobilized a moment and then resumed their flight.
Draguignan. - Several residents of Draguignan observed towards the end of the afternoon, a luminous object crossing the sky at the speed of a meteor.
Casablanca. - Workers of the military logistics of Casablanca stated to have seen this afternoon, above the city, a kind of phosphorescent cigar that, after gently going down like a dead leaf resumed its horizontal course at breakneck speed and eventually disappear.
Angers. - A resident of the village of Méral (the Mayenne), said he saw in the sky, a bright orange ball which landed on the ground.
The disc, with a flattened dome, of a diameter of five to six meters produced a blinding light, illuminating the countryside in a radius of 200 meters.
The craft was transparent and inside, one observed a black shape. The disc remained like this for ten minutes, turned reddish, and quickly disappeared to the north. The observer then went to the place where the object had landed. There was, he says, a kind of brilliant cloud that fell slowly to the ground.
Arrived at his home he noticed that his clothes were covered with a white layer of a slightly sticky material like paraphine [sic].
London. - The Ministry of the British Air does not believe in the existence of "saucers", "cigars" and other flying contraptions.
While refusing to comment on the craft reported in France, official spokesmen stated that natural explanations are usually given to these phenomena in Britain and that only insufficient explanations let the mystery survive.
No mysterious object was reported in the skies of Britain in recent weeks.
[Ref. aml1:] AIME MICHEL:
Aimé Michel indicates without giving the date precisely but mentioning the case in a discussion on alignments of UFO sighting reports of October 14, 1954, that in Méral, a peasant who was getting ready to return from the fields saw a ball of orange color arriving, which landed for the ground not far from him. He approached, and saw a disc in the shape of a dome with a flat bottom. The object emitted a powerful gleam which illuminated the countryside on a radius of 200 meters. The machine seemed translucent insofar that a black shape could be seen as in silhouette. The witness observed this during 10 minutes, then the color of the object changed to white, it took off and disappeared quickly in direction of the north.
The witness went to the place where the object had landed, and he told:
"There was a kind of luminescent mist which fell slowly on the ground. I looked at it with curiosity then returned at home. While taking off my jacket, I realized that my clothing was covered with a layer of white matter, a little sticking, like paraffin, which soon disappeared without leaving a trace."
Aimé Michel indicates that the white matter was posed on clothing of the witness but not on his face nor his hands, and he thinks that whatever this matter was, it can be the fact that the clothing was at ambient temperature which made that the matter on the clothing was not sublimated.
[Ref. aml3:] AIME MICHEL:
Aimé Michel, thinking that French cases of 1954 of the same date are aligned, cites Méral in the department of Mayenne as "again a sighting on the ground."
[Ref. aml5:] AIME MICHEL:
|
An odd straight line.
At the time I undertook (after many other attempts) to study the arrangement of observations on a map region by region, when something curious caught my attention to the Center-East of France. From South of Poligny to a spot located near Gueugnon, in the Saône-et-Loire, five observations made a rigorously rectilinear arrangement over a distance of 150 kilometers.
Along this line, from East to West, were the observations of the Wood of Poligny, of Saint-Germain du Bois, of Saint-Romain sous Gourdon, of the Departmental 60 near Ciry le Noble, and Departmental 25 near Chazey Wood. While checking their date I discovered with astonishment that all these cases were all of October 14, then that on the 5 observations, one (Saint-Germain) was a luminous object on the ground, the next one (Saint-Romain) an immobile luminous object, placed on the ground, blocking an engine and extinguishing a headlight, the third a luminous object flying over the country-side (Departmental 60), the fourth a similar object blocking an engine and extinguishing headlights. Only the observation of Poligny could at best be taken for a meteor. All the others had the most incredible characters attributed to the saucers.
This first straight line gave me another idea: since 5 cases of October 14 were aligned, why not examine whether the other cases of the same day did not also present some interesting positions? I discovered then, this same day, a new alignment of 4 observations: Poligny (already on the other line), Palleau (Saône-et-Loire), Meursanges (Côte d'Or), and finally, 460 kilometers away, Méral, in the Mayenne. And Méral was also a ground observation [but the 11th and not the 14th].
(to be continued)
[Ref. gqy1:] GUY QUINCY:
|
October 10 [, 1954]
[... other cases...]
06:00 a.m.: Rd.Méral-Saint-Poix (20 km SW.Laval--Mayenne): luminous dome posed on the ground of 4,50 m diameter
[... other cases...]
[Ref. gqy2:] GUY QUINCY:
|
[... other cases...]
October 10, 1954: Rd. Méral-Saint-Poix (20 km ISL SW Laval--Mayenne): (hemispherical craft diameter 4,50 m, on the ground
[... other cases...]
[Ref. gqy3:] GUY QUINCY:
|
[... other cases...]
October 14, 1954: Méral (20 km ISL in the SW. Laval--Mayenne):peasant (disc with dome,with flat lower part / human silhouette by transparency + white threads after the departure of the craft)
[... other cases...]
[Ref. mcs1:] "MICHEL CARROUGES":
The author mentions cases of landings in which the witnesses announced black silhouettes or human forms inside, including one in Méral. He says it lasted 10 minutes
[Ref. mcs2:] "MICHEL CARROUGES":
The author indicates that the observation of the "landing" type of Méral is one of two whose observation distance was 200 meters.
[Ref. jve8:] JACQUES VALLEE:
|
| 14 Oct., 1954 | Méral | France | a peasant | black shape .... | 1 |
[Ref. rhl1:] RICHARD HALL - NICAP:
| Date | Location | Physiological | Physical | Traces | Description | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10/14/1954 | Meral, France | X | Sticky deposit | (85) |
[Ref. ton1:] THOMAS M. OLSEN:
| DATE | GEOGRAPHICAL LOCATION | SOURCE | PAGE |
|---|---|---|---|
| Oct. 14, 1954 | MERAL (MAYENNE), FRANCE | (MICHEL-1958 P 176 1 W.) | 3-36 |
[Ref. jve5:] JACQUES VALLEE:
| 286 | 001.00358 | 47.96280 | 10 | 10 | 1954 | RTE MERAL-ST POIX | RTE MERAL-ST POIX | F | 001 | 2G |
| 346 | 000.97928 | 47.96100 | 14 | 10 | 1954 | 20 | 00 | 210 | MERAL-MAYENNE | F | 011133 | C** | 295 |
[Ref. prn1:] PETER ROGERSON - "INTCAT":
|
430 14 October 1954 Nightfall
MERAL (FRANCE) A farmer observed an orange sphere land and went near it. He found it was shaped like a flattened dome, 5.5m diameter, & gave off a blinding light which illuminated the countryside for about 200m. It was transparent, and a dark rigure could be seen inside. After remaining at ground level for 16 mins. it flew north, while a bright cloud slowly fell to the ground at the site. When the witness arrived home he found his clothes covered with a white film of adhesive substance, not unlike parafin wax. (M255; La Croix 16 Oct 54; Michel II, 176)
[Ref. cln1:] CORAL AND JIM LORENZEN:
The authors indicate that in Meral, in the department of Mayenne, France, on October 14, 1954, a farmer was getting ready to leave his field when he saw an orange-colored ball arrive and land on the ground not far from him. He approached the object and saw that it was a dome-shaped disc with a flat bottom and it emitted a blinding light which illuminated the field for about 200 yards around.
The craft appeared to be translucent and a dark shape could be seen silhouetted inside it.
For approximately ten minutes the witness watched the thing, and suddenly the color of the object changed from white to red and it took off and disappeared into the north at great speed.
After it left, the witness went to the spot where the craft had been and found a sort of "luminescent steam" falling to the ground. He watched for a while and then went on home. When he arrived there and took off his jacket he found that his clothes were covered with a layer of white, somewhat sticky residue, not unlike paraffin, which soon disappeared without leaving any trace.
The authors indicate that this was first reported in Aimé Michel's book "Flying Saucers and the Straight Line Mystery", New York, Criterion Books, 1958.
[Ref. obr1:] OTTO BINDER:
October 14, 1954, Meral, France. A farmer in his fields at dusk saw an orange-colored ball land on the ground not far away, after which a blinding light was turned on that illuminated the farmer and his fields for 200 yards around for some 10 minutes.
[Ref. jve1:] JACQUES VALLEE:
|
255) October 14, 1954, nightfall, Méral (France):
A farmer, Mr. Duvivier, observed an orange sphere land and went near it. He found it was shaped like a flattened dome, 5.5 m in diameter, and gave off a blinding light, which illuminated the countryside for about 200 m. It was transparent, and a dark figure could be seen inside. After remaining at ground level for 10 min it flew north, while a bright cloud slowly fell to the ground at the site. When the witness arrived home he found his clothes covered with a white film of adhesive substance, not unlike paraffin wax. (La Croix, 16 oct 1954) (62; M 174).
Jacques Vallée gives a wrong witness name and confuses the date at which the case was publicized in the regional place with the case date.
[Ref. hdt1:] "HENRI DURRANT":
In a chapter about the "angel hair" phenomenon, Henri Durrant evoked the article of the magazine "Lumières Dans La Nuit (LDLN), Volume XII, nr 99, p. F.G.H.," in which Mr. F. Lagarde published "on this topic an excellent article of synthesis" and where appears the theory of the threads of migratory spiders was developed. He quotes:
"One of the spectacular manifestations of our MOCs [Mysterious Celestial Objects], which never ceases to intrigue the observers, is the drop of white filaments, said to be melting; which one observes at the passage of some of these craft. They sometimes fall in considerable mass, clinging to trees, roofs, telegraph wires, fences, or spreading on clothes or on the ground, questions arise both about their nature and about the process of their appearance."
Cases are cited as examples, including these four French 1954 cases:
"Sepember 20, 1954, in Saint-Père-du-Retz (Loire-Atl.) [sic]"
"October 13, 1954 in Graulhet (Tarn)"
"October 14, 1954, in Méral (Mayenne)"
"October 18, 1954 in Vienne (Isère)"
[Ref. tps1:] TED PHILLIPS:
|
Oct 14, 1954
812 pm
FRANCE, Meral. "A farmer who was getting ready to leave his field saw an orange-colored ball arrive and land on the ground not far away. Approcahing, he saw a dome-shaped disc, flat on the bottom, emitting a blinding light that illuminated the field for 200 yds. around. The object seemed to be translucent, and a black shape could be silhouetted inside it. For ten minutes the witness watched the bizarre spectacle. Then the color of the object changed from white to red; it took off and disappeare rapidly to the north.
The witness then went to the spot where the object jad been. "There was a sort of luminescent steam there," he said, "which was slowly falling to the ground. I looked at it with curiosity, and then I went home. When I took off my jacket, I noticed that my clothes were covered with a layer of white, rather sticky stuff, like paraffin, which soon disappeared without leaving any marks." (Michel)
[Ref. gal1:] CHARLES GARREAU AND RAYMOND LAVIER:
The authors indicate that on October 14, 1954 in Méral in the Mayenne, according to a newspaper and their personal files, an inhabitant of the village, Mr. Duvivier, saw a brilliant ball landing.
The craft then seemed to him to be a flattened disc, surmounted of a dome, of a diameter of 5 to 6 meters. It emitted a dazzling light, which lit the countryside in a radius of 200 meters. The witness told:
"The apparatus was transparent. In the inside I distinguished a black silhouette. The disc remained so for ten minutes. Then the gleam became redder. The apparatus took off and moved away quickly in the direction of the North."
Mr. Duvivier decided to go to the place where the landing occurred, where he noticed a kind of shining cloud, which fell slowly on the ground. When he was back home, he realized that his clothes were covered with a white film, a little sticking "like paraffine."
[Ref. fle1:] FRANCOIS LAGARDE:
French ufologist François Lagarde lists this case in a listing of French cases of observations with "angels hair" within an article about this phenomenon:
[...]
October 14, 1954 in Méral (Mayenne.)
[...]
[Ref. agd1:] ALAIN GAMARD:
|
| Case # | Date | Time | Locality | Department | Witness(es) name |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 056 | 14/10/1954 | Ev.ng | Méral. | 53 | Duvivier. |
[Ref. tbw1:] TED BLOECHER AND DAVID WEBB:
|
54-73 Oct. 14, 1954 Evening Meral, France Type A
A farmer saw an orange object land in his field. Approaching, he saw a domed disc so brilliant that it illuminated the fields for more than 200 yards around. It was translucent, and a dark shape could be seen silhouetted inside it. After 10 min. the luminosity changed from white to red, and it took off. At the spot was left a slowly-settling luminescent mist. Arriving home, the witness found his clothes covered with a soft white substance resembling paraffin, which soon evaporated.
Investigator:
Source: Michel, Straight-Line Mystery, pp. 176f.
[Ref. fru1:] MICHEL FIGUET ET JEAN-LOUIS RUCHON:
The authors indicate that on October 14, 1954 at twilight in Méral, Mr. Duvivier, farmer, was on the point of returning from the fields and saw a ball of orange color which arrived and landed on the ground.
He approached and saw a disc, flat at the lower part, in the shape of a dome, which seemed translucent and released a blinding gleam that lighted the countryside on approximately 200 meters. A black shape was visible inside.
The disc remained like that for ten minutes, then its color changed from white to red, it took off and quickly disappeared towards the north.
The witness then went where it had been posed, and he told "there was a kind of luminescent mist which fell slowly towards the ground ".
Arrived home, he realized that his clothes were covered with a white stuff, a little sticky, like paraffin, which disappeared without leaving traces. It had some on the clothes but not on the face nor the hands.
The authors indicate that the sources are Aimé Michel in "A Propos des S.V." pages 215,216; case 255 of the Vallée catalogue; C. Garreau and R. Lavier in "Face aux ET" pages 141,142; La Croix for 10/16/54.
[Ref. tps2:] TED PHILIPPS:
October 14, 1954, Meral, France: orange disc lands, humanoid, 10 mn, glowing hue, white layer, sticky substance on site.
[Ref. cme1:] CLAUDE MAUGE:
|
Méral 14.10.54 : I : F. p. 162-163
The source is said to be the UFOCAT catalog; the "F." source is said to be Michel Figuet's book; the F3 source is said to be "M. FIGUET, Francat-Humcat, listing 1982."
[Ref. mft1:] MICHEL FIGUET:
| Nr of the J. C. Fumoux list | Nr of Francat list | Localization | Date | Class | Credibility | Sources | Number of W |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 083 | 202 | Méral | 10/14 | CE3 | NI [= "Not Identified".] P. [="Press"] J.V. [= Vallée catalog.] | 2-p. 162 | 1 W |
[Ref. krs1:] KEVIN RANDLE AND RUSS ESTES:
The authors indicate that on October 14, 1954, in Meral, France, a farmer was leaving his home when a glowing ball landed not far from him. It gave off a bright light that illuminated the fields for about 200 yards. As he approached it, he saw a domed disc that appeared to be translucent. Behind the glow he could see a dark shape moving about. Then the light changed from white to red and the object took off at great speed.
[Ref. jsr1:] JEAN SIDER:
Jean Sider indicates that on October 11, 1954, in the twilight, in Méral in Mayenne, Mr. Baptiste Potin crosses the road after the takeoff of a UFO and finds there a kind of cloud which drops like a brilliant snow.
Arrived at his workplace, he notes that he is covered with a kind of sticking stuff like wax and that even an energetic brushing cannot remove it completely, many white spots remain.
Jean Sider indicates that the source is L'Indépendant de Chateau-Gontier for October 23, 1954, page 6.
[Ref. lgs1:] LOREN GROSS:
14 October. Meral, France. (Dusk)
Dome-shaped disk. Black silhouette.
Michel wrote:
"A farmer who was getting ready to leave his field saw an orange-colored ball [apparently the disk looked like glowing ball of light at a distance] arrive and land on the ground not far away. Approaching, he saw a dome-shaped disk, flat on the bottom, emitting a blinding light that illuminated the field for 200 yards around.
"The object seemed to be translucent, and a black shape could be seen silhouetted inside it. For ten minutes the witness watched the bizarre spectacle. Then the color of the object changed from white to red; it took off and disappeared rapidly toward the north.
"The witness then went to the spot where the object had been. 'There was a sort of luminescent steam there,' he said, 'which was slowly falling to the ground. I looked at it with curiosity, and then I went home. When I took off my jacket, I noticed that my clothes were covered with a layer of white, rather sticky stuff, like paraffin, which soon disappeared without leaving any marks."' (xx.)
(xx.) Michel, Aime. Flying Saucers and the Straight-Line Mystery. pp.176-177)
[Ref. lhh1:] LARRY HATCH - "*U* COMPUTER DATABASE":
4110: 1954/10/14 18:00 12 0:58:40 W 47:57:40 N 3332 WEU FRN MYN A:7
MERAL,FR:6M SCR ^:DRK FIG.INSIDE:^+>>N:WAXY ANGEL HAIR FALLS:/r138#9+/r217p195
Ref#197 WEINSTEIN, D: French Newsclips 1954 Page No. 79 : FARMLANDS
[Ref. goe1:] GODELIEVE VAN OVERMEIRE:
Godelieve van Overmeire indicates that on October 14, 1954 in France in Méral in the Mayenne, at twilight, farmer Duvivier observed the landing of an orange sphere. He went closer. It had the shape of a flattened dome, a diameter of approximately 5,50m and it emitted a dazzling light illuminating the countryside in a radius of 200 meters. It was transparent and inside, one could see a dark silhouette. After having remained on the level of the ground during ten minutes, it flew away towards the north while a brilliant cloud went down gently towards the ground of the site. When he returned home the witness noted that his clothing was covered with a white film of adhesive substance, similar to paraffin.
The source is indicated as Jacques Vallée in "Chronique des apparitions ET", Denoël 1972, J'Ai Lu collection, pages 280, 281.
[Ref. nip1:] THE NICAP WEBSITE:
The website indicates that on October 14, 1954, in Meral, France, a farmer was leaving his home when a glowing ball landed not far from him. It lit up the fields for 200 YD round. The domed disc appeared to be translucent. Behind the glow he could see a dark shape moving around.
The source is indicated as Randle/Estes, FOV pg269.
[Ref. uma1:] "UFOMANIA" MAGAZINE:
To note that on that October 14, 1954, several similar observations were made at nightfall by farmers, such as in Méral (53), [...]
[Ref. ars1:] ALBERT ROSALES:
Albert Rosales indicates that according to Aimé Michel, in Meral, France, in the evning of October 14, 1954, a farmer saw an orange object land in his field. Approaching, he saw a domed disc so brilliant that it illuminated the fields for more than 200 yards around. It was transparent, and a dark shape could be seen silhouetted inside it.
After 10 minutes the luminosity changed from white to red, and it took off. A slowly settling luminescent mist was left at the spot. Arriving home, the witness found his clothes covered with a soft white substance resembling paraffin, which soon evaporated.
Albert Rosales indicates that the source is Aime Michel.
[Ref. jbu1:] JEROME BEAU:
Jérôme Beau indicates that on Thursday October 14, 1954, in the twilight, in Méral, in France, 1 farmer observes the landing of 1 orange sphere. It approaches, noting that it has the shape of a flattened dome, of a diameter of 5,5 m and that it emits a blinding light illuminating the countryside on a radius of 200 m. It is transparent and, inside, one can see a dark silhouette. After having remained on the level of the ground during 10 mn, it flies away towards the north, while a shining cloud comes down gently towards the ground at the site it had just occupied. While returning home, the witness noted that his clothes is covered with a white film of adhesive stuff, relatively similar to paraffin.
Jérôme Beau indicates that the source is La Croix, October 16, 1954.
[Ref. uda1:] "UFODNA" WEBSITE:
The website indicates that on 10 October 1954, in Meral, France, "an object was sighted that had an appearance and performance beyond the capability of known earthly aircraft. One object, about 5 feet across, was observed."
The sources are indicated as 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).
[Ref. uda2:] "UFODNA" WEBSITE:
The website indicates that on 14 October 1954, at 18:00, in Meral, France, there was an orange flattened dome, 5.5 meters in diameter; a dark figure could be seen inside. A farmer observed an orange sphere land and went near it. He found it was shaped like a flattened dome, 5.5 meters in diameter, and gave off a blinding light, which illuminated the countryside for about 200 meters. It was transparent, and a dark figure could be seen inside. After remaining at ground level for ten minutes it flew north, while a bright cloud slowly fell to the ground at the site. When the witness arrived home he found his clothes covered with a white film of adhesive substance, not unlike paraffin wax.
The website comments that "an object was observed. Occupants of the craft were seen. Angel hair was found. One orange ball, about 20 feet across, was observed by one experienced male witness on a farm for ten minutes. A silhouetted being was seen."
The website then adds that a farmer saw an orange object land in his field. Approaching, he saw a domed disc so brilliant that it illuminated the fields for more than 200 yards around. It was transparent, and a dark shape could be seen silhouetted inside it. After 10 minutes the luminosity changed from white to red, and it took off. At the spot was left a slowly settling luminescent mist. Arriving home, the witness found his clothes covered with a soft white substance resembling paraffin, which soon evaporated.
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; Lorenzen, Coral E., Flying Saucer Occupants, Signet T3205, New York, 1967; Lorenzen, Coral E., Encounters with UFO Occupants, Berkley Medallion, New York, 1976, ISBN:425-03093-8; Bowen, Charles, The Humanoids: FSR Special Edition No. 1, FSR, London, 1966; 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; Binder, Otto, What We Really Know About Flying Saucers, Fawcett T1863, Greenwich, 1967; Hall, Richard H., The UFO Evidence, NICAP, Washington, 1964; Olsen, Thomas M., The Reference for Outstanding UFO Sighting Reports, UFOIRC, Riderwood, 1966; Phillips, Ted R., Physical Traces Associated with UFO Sightings, CUFOS, Chicago, 1975; Delaire, J. Bernard, UFO Register Volume 7 (1976), Data Research, Oxford, 1976; Rosales, Albert, Humanoid Sighting Reports Database."
[Ref. djn2:] DONALD JONHSON:
Donald Johnson indicates that on October 14, 1954, at around 7:00 p.m. Messr. Duvivier, a farmer in Meral, Mayenne, France observed an orange sphere land and he walked out to approach it. When he got close he found it was shaped like a flattened dome, 5.5 meters in diameter, and it gave off a blinding light, which illuminated the countryside for about 200 meters. It was also transparent, and a dark figure could be seen inside. After remaining at ground level for 10 minutes it left by flying to the north, while a bright cloudy misty material fell slowly to the ground at the site. When the witness arrived home he found his clothes were covered with a white film of adhesive substance, not unlike paraffin wax.
The sources are indicated as "Aime Michel, Flying Saucers and the Straight Line Mystery, p. 174; Jacques Vallee, Passport to Magonia: A Century of Landings, case # 255, citing La Croix, October 16, 1954; Richard Hall, The UFO Evidence, p. 97; Coral and Jim Lorenzen, Flying Saucer Occupants, p. 31."
[Ref. prn2:] PETER ROGERSON:
October 14 1954. Nightfall.
MERAL (PAYS DE LA LOIRE : FRANCE)
A farmer observed an orange sphere land and approached it. He found that it was shaped like a flattened dome, 5.5m in diameter, and gave off a blinding light, which illuminated the countryside for about 200m. It was transparent and a dark figure could be seen inside. After remaining at ground level for 10 minutes it flew north, while a bright cloud slowly fell to the ground at the site. When the witness arrived home he found his clothes covered by a white film of adhesive substance, not unlike paraffin wax.
Vallee case 255, citing La Croix 16 October 1954:: Michel 1958 p.176)
[Ref. tai1:] "THINK ABOUT IT" WEBSITE:
Location: Meral France
Date: October 14 1954
Time: evening
A farmer saw an orange object land in his field. Approaching, he saw a domed disc so brilliant that it illuminated the fields for more than 200 yards around. It was transparent, and a dark shape could be seen silhouetted inside it. After 10 minutes the luminosity changed from white to red, and it took off. At the spot was left a slowly settling luminescent mist. Arriving home, the witness found his clothes covered with a soft white substance resembling paraffin, which soon evaporated.
Source: Aime Michel
[Ref. nip2:] "THE NICAP WEBSITE":
*Oct. 14, 1954 - At around 7:00 p.m. Messr. Duvivier, a farmer in Meral, Mayenne department, France observed an orange sphere land and he walked out to approach it. When he got close he found it was shaped like a flattened dome, 5.5 meters in diameter, and it gave off a blinding light, which illuminated the countryside for about 200 meters. It was also transparent, and a dark figure could be seen inside. After remaining at ground level for 10 minutes it left by flying to the north, while a bright cloudy misty material fell slowly to the ground at the site. When the witness arrived home he found his clothes were covered with a white film of adhesive substance, not unlike paraffin wax. (Sources: La Croix, October 16, 1954; Aime Michel, Flying Saucers and the Straight Line Mystery, p. 174; Jacques Vallee, Passport to Magonia: A Century of Landings, case # 255; Richard Hall, The UFO Evidence, p. 97; Coral & Jim Lorenzen, Flying Saucer Occupants, p. 31).
[Ref. jgz1:] JULIEN GONZALEZ:
The author indicates that there was a close encounter of the third kind in Méral, the Mayenne, on October 11, 1954, at 06:00 am:
Baptiste Potin was riding by bicycle, climbing the hill at the exit of the village, on the road to St. Poix, when he suddenly saw an orange ball which landed on the road about 600 meters from him.
It turns out that it was a discoidal form of four to five meters in diameter whose luminosity illuminates the surrounding landscape, translucent in shape like nylon.
In the middle was a motionless black form.
At the end of eight to ten minutes, the craft rose to become round again and disappeared towards Le Pertre.
The witness then went to the spot where the ball had stood and noticed that there was still a sort of cloud from which fell like bright snow.
When he arrived at his workplace he noticed in the light that he was covered with a kind of sticky fluff like wax that an energetic brushing could not completely remove because many white spots remained visible.
Sources are indicated as L'Indépendant (Château-Gontier) for October 23, 1954; Aimé Michel, "Mystérieux Objets Célestes", pages 295 et 298; C. Garreau and R. Lavier, "Face aux Extra-Terrestres", pages 141-142; Michel Figuet and Jean-Louis Ruchon, "OVNI: le premier dossier complet des rencontres rapprochées en France", pages 162-163; Jean Sider, "Le dossier 1954 et l'imposture rationaliste, page 195.
[Ref. men1:] "MERLIN":
1h30 later [on November 11, 1954, sic], around 6:00 in the morning at Méral in Mayenne, the witness left for his day at the Barres de Méral. He was riding his bike up the coast of the village, towards St-Poix, when he saw in front of him, high in the sky, a shiny orange ball which seemed to him to be above St-Poix. It seemed to descend as it came closer.
At the top of the hill, at the exit of Méral, the witness was surprised to see land in front of him at about 600 meters and very close to the transformer this luminous ball which blocked his way. Taken with fear, the witness stopped at a good distance!
Placed on the ground, it looked like a flattened dome-shaped disc, its diameter was about 4 to 5 meters. Its orange brightness was so extreme that it blinded him. Looking to the right and left, this light allowed him to clearly see the hedges and trees over two hundred meters away.
This "saucer" seemed translucent to him, a bit like nylon, and in the middle he could make out a black shape, rather indistinct, which did not move.
After about eight or ten minutes the object became redder, it rose slowly at first and silently, resuming its original round shape, and soon it disappeared at high speed towards the northwest, towards Le Pertre.
The witness, resuming his journey, crossed the place where the "saucer" was stopped, he saw a kind of cloud which let fall like shining snow. Arrived at the Ferme des Barres, he was surprised to see himself in the light covered with a kind of down, like the people who "pluck geese!". This presumed kind of snow between the fingers was a little sticky like wax. It became encrusted in his clothes, leaving numerous white marks that an energetic brushing could not remove.
[Ref. ubk1:] "UFO-DATENBANK":
This database records that same case.... 18 times!
| Case Nr. | New case Nr. | Investigator | Date of observation | Zip | Place of observation | Country of observation | Hour of observation | Classification | Comments | Identification |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 19541010 | 10.10.1954 | Meral St Poix | France | |||||||
| 19541010 | 10.10.1954 | Meral St Poix | France | CE II | ||||||
| 19541014 | 14.10.1954 | Méral | France | |||||||
| 19541014 | 14.10.1954 | Meral | France | Evening | CE III | |||||
| 19541014 | 14.10.1954 | Meral | France | Evening | CE III | |||||
| 19541014 | 14.10.1954 | Meral | France | |||||||
| 19541014 | 14.10.1954 | Meral | France | Nightfall | CE III | |||||
| 19541014 | 14.10.1954 | Meral | France | 07.00 p.m. | CE III | |||||
| 19541014 | 14.10.1954 | Meral | France | 08.00 p.m. | ||||||
| 19541014 | 14.10.1954 | Meral | France | Nighfall | CE III | |||||
| 19541014 | 14.10.1954 | Meral | France | Evening | CE III | |||||
| 19541014 | 14.10.1954 | Meral | France | CE III | ||||||
| 19541014 | 14.10.1954 | Meral | France | |||||||
| 19541014 | 14.10.1954 | Meral | France | CE II | ||||||
| 19541014 | 14.10.1954 | Meral | France | Nighfall | CE III | |||||
| 19541014 | 14.10.1954 | Meral | France | CE II | ||||||
| 19541014 | 14.10.1954 | Meral | France | CE I | ||||||
| 19541014 | 14.10.1954 | Meral | France | CE III |
[Ref. mml1:] MERAL CITY HALL WEBSITE:
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What happened in Méral on October 11, 1954?
On that day an extraordinary event took place on Meral; which made a great noise at this time throughout the country. The main witness was Baptiste Potin.
Early in the morning, Baptiste, on his way to his work (Rte de St Poix), perceived in the sky a red ball, the size of the moon; the more he advanced, the more it grew as it rushed towards him. The ball, reaching the width of the road, suddenly landed close to him, becoming orange. At this moment, the dynamo of the bike and the watch of Baptiste Potin were blocked (these 2 apparatuses were never able to operate again). Terribly shocked, he tries to "recover his spirits" and at this moment he sees again the ball decrease in size (without a line in the middle) in the sky, moving a little to the right towards "Chanteil". As it moves away, the craft becomes a "cigar" and is surrounded in the middle by a black line, followed by a long, narrow, dark red trail. The gendarmes (and the curious) questioned Baptiste (still very shocked), and were able to observe on his jacket a sort of white fluff (like bright snowflakes ...).
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In view of the indication on the size similar to that of the moon and the orange color, it is necessary to check the presence or the absence of the moon that Monday, October 11, 1954, at 6 o'clock in the morning in Méral, latitude: 47° 57' 38" North, longitude: 0-° 58' 50" West.
The moon was there, low on the horizon. Direction 275° 40' and elevation 2° 0'. It rose at 05:30 p.m. the day before and sets down at 06:14. It is therefore in a situation conducive to misunderstandings.
It still had to not be in the form of a crescent, given the description at the beginning of the observation: "a ball".
It is indeed the case: its phase was of 0.98293, it is indeed a Full Moon with 98.3% of its surface illuminated.
There remains the question of the direction. If the witness looked at his "ball" by turning his back to the moon, we should forget this explanation. If he looks straight at the moon, and does not say a word about the presence of the moon in addition to the "ball", this explanation will be considerably reinforced.
The reports fortunately give us some indications, though no quantified direction is indicated.
[nbm1] indicates that he left the town of Méral, going up a hill that goes towards Saint-Poix. The "ball" would be in front of him near a power transformer, it bars the way. At the end the "ball" had left "at high speed towards the North-West, towards the Pertre." [len1] and most ufological sources have reported that the ball "took off towards the north" or "disappeared towards the north". [mml1] indicates that the thing, at the end, is heading a little to the right, towards "Chanteil".
It is therefore quite clear that the ball landing in front of him on the road lands on the departmental road D4 called "route de Saint-Poix": it is the road that goes straight from Méral to Saint-Poix. What a surprise: the direction of this road is 277°, almost exactly the direction where the moon set down:
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It is not surprising that he observed it for about ten minutes. The road is totally straight between the two communes, for 4 kilometers.
How did the moon "leave" to the north? If the witness rode until Saint-Poix, the moon could not seem to change direction because the road is totally straight. But nothing in the story tells us that he went as far as Saint-Poix by the road. I suspect he was going to a workplace on the left of D4; there are several roads leading to dwellings or farms or other (Les Barres, La Viotterie, La Méhoderie, La Petite Herronerie, Les Haies, La Mascotière). Turning then on his left towards one of these places, he could be the victim of the illusion according to which the Moon appears to change location; it seems to depart to the right, that is to say, towards the North as he branches off towards the South.
Now, we are indeed told that he was going to "Les Barres de Méral" or that he "arrived at the Barres Farm". He would have logically turned on his left, then placing the "ball" in the direction "Chanteil" or "Le Pertre" - this is the same NW direction.
It does not escape me that the ball is said tto have been "high in the sky" initially; but should we be astonished at what may have been a misunderstanding, an approximation? It may have seemed relatively high in the sky to the witness who interpreted it as a craft, or simply higher initially than later, but not actually at a high elevation. The fact remains that the road is a straight line exactly in the direction of the setting moon. If the witness saw a craft, this craft must have landed "on top of the moon", he should have seen the moon and mentioned that. But no, he sees only one ball, so how would it not be the Moon when almost everything matches the moon?
There was in the middle of the ball a "black shape". This is what led the ufologists to make this case a "close encounter of the third kind"... But not only was there nothing to justify the "close" word, this is "a black form, rather indistinct, that did not move". Is this necessarily a UFO occupant? Nothing is less certain to me. It will be noted that in some ufological versions, the "black form, rather indistinct, that does not move" becomes by magic "a dark silhouette" and even a "character"... It will be noted that in [mml1], we get a "black line"; maybe this was later referred to as the "somewhat indistinct black form" or "dark silhouette". The Moon is sometimes barred by a cloud, some narratives corresponding to a misunderstanding caused by the moon evoke a ball split in two...
Then, we have the shape changes. They are explained very well by the Moon. Initially, the Moon appears round; it is indeed the full moon, still above the horizon. "Posed" on the ground, "it takes on the appearance of a flattened disc in the shape of a dome": of course: when it sets, passing more and more under the horizon, the witness sees only the upper part of the Moon. Better: we were told that he was biking uphill. Then the moon, which is very low at this hour, was masked by this hill as long as he ascended it, and then appeared round again after he reached the top. Then the moon begins to hide behind the horizon. So, finally, by "moving away, the machine becomes 'cigar,'" says [mml1]. The reason is that, descending more and more beneath the horizon, there remains only the upper part, increasingly thin, less and less thick and less and less wide, leading to believe that the "craft" is going away.
The color, orange, even red, is not surprising. It corresponds to a "red moon", a phenomenon that can occur when the Moon is low. It is precisely this color all the same unusual for the Moon that is often a factor causing such misunderstandings.
There would be the mystery of the stopped watch and dynamo; but I have a strong doubt about this since it appears only in a very late (about 2017); whereas none of the press sources of the time I have at disposal mention this.
Finally, what about the "white fluff" that was difficult to remove completely from his clothes?
It is impossible to locate the exact place where he thinks the saucer landed. What I subdued was that he passed near a place where this "snow" was hovering, and deduced that it came from the saucer. Is it absurd to suppose that he had in fact passed some place where some plant let go of such fluff?
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Graines plumeuses d'épilobes. |
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Circes des Champs |
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Anémones pulsatiles. |
There is no shortage of plants that can cause a kind of white fluffy "snow", much less recognizable than seeds of dandelions, "diaspora" plants, or plants that release seeds. Some make sorts of "fluffs" that make them difficult to remove from a garment.
In addition, I wonder if mushroom spores could not be at the origin of this "snow" and its traces compared to wax or paraffin; but some research I did failed to find bulletproof confirmation that such a thing can occur.
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Finally, I obviously have no "scientific proof" that the whole affair is a mistake caused by the moon, but I do not see what would disprove it.
(These keywords are only to help queries and are not implying anything.)
Méral, Mayenne, Baptiste Potin, farmer, sphere, orange, dome, light, luminous, transparent, occupant, landing, cloud, traces, paraffin, substance, Duvivier, wax, snow
[----] indicates sources that are not yet available to me.
| Version: | Created/Changed by: | Date: | Change Description: |
|---|---|---|---|
| 0.1 | Patrick Gross | April 14, 2003 | First published. |
| 1.0 | Patrick Gross | December 19, 2008 | Conversion from HTML to XHTML Strict. First formal version. Additions [mcs1], [cln1], [nip1], [goe1], [jbu1], [uda1], [uda2]. |
| 1.1 | Patrick Gross | December 20, 2008 | Addition [jsr1]. |
| 1.2 | Patrick Gross | April 1, 2009 | Addition [fru1]. |
| 1.3 | Patrick Gross | February 28, 2010 | Addition [djn2]. |
| 1.4 | Patrick Gross | June 28, 2010 | Addition [jve5]. |
| 1.5 | Patrick Gross | August 15, 2010 | Addition [len1]. |
| 1.6 | Patrick Gross | August 14, 2013 | Addition [prn1]. |
| 1.7 | Patrick Gross | October 9, 2014 | Addition [tai1]. |
| 1.8 | Patrick Gross | November 15, 2014 | Additions [cmn1], [uma1], [ubk1]. |
| 1.9 | Patrick Gross | February 7, 2017 | Additions [jgz1], [mml1]. Addition of the Summary. Explanations changed, were: "Not looked for yet." |
| 2.0 | Patrick Gross | April 30, 2019 | Additions [krs1], [lhh1], [prn2]. |
| 2.1 | Patrick Gross | August 27, 2019 | Addition [hdt1], [aml5], [prn1]. |
| 2.2 | Patrick Gross | December 14, 2019 | Additions [rhl1], [ton1]. |
| 2.3 | Patrick Gross | April 5, 2020 | Addition [nmn1]. |
| 2.4 | Patrick Gross | June 9, 2020 | Addition [nll1]. |
| 2.5 | Patrick Gross | June 12, 2020 | Addition [las1]. |
| 2.6 | Patrick Gross | November 6, 2020 | Addition [nnm1]. |
| 2.7 | Patrick Gross | May 13, 2021 | Addition [lon1]. |
| 2.8 | Patrick Gross | September 5, 2021 | Additions [aml3], [mcs2], [agd1], [tbw1], [mft1], [cme1], [lgs1], [men1]. |
| 2.9 | Patrick Gross | March 11, 2022 | Addition [jps1]. |
| 3.0 | Patrick Gross | May 3, 2022 | Additions [gqy1], [gqy2], [gqy3], [tps1]. |
| 3.1 | Patrick Gross | July 3, 2022 | Addition [jve8]. |
