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October 12, 1954, Frasne, Doubs:

Reference for this case: 12-Oct-54-Frasne.
Please cite this reference in any correspondence with me regarding this case.

Summary:

In his 1958 book on the French wave of 1954, Aimé Michel evoked a case in Frasne in the Doubs; which he said came from the newspaper La Bourgogne Républicaine and the file of Charles Garreau, journalist and ufologist.

On October 12, 1954, around 10:45 p.m., Michel Vieille, an industrialist at Dompierre-les-Tilleuls, was driving with a friend on the national road 471 from Pontarlier to Frasne when their attentions were attracted by a "yellow ocher and violet" glow in the sky on their left; which moved with a moderate pace on a line going from East to West.

They reportedly noticed that it was a round craft, and stopped the car to observe it.

At that moment, the object that had been "at some height" descended at low altitude in a jerky flight. Mr. Vieille then turned off the headlights, the object then changed direction and took a Southwest course that was parallel to the road, being then in front of the car but at some distance.

Mr. Vieille restarted and followed the craft in the car, this being repeated several times until arriving near Dompierre where the two men stopped.

The object reportedly continued its flight towards Frasne where it was lost from sight while it was moving towards the South-West while taking speed and altitude.

Reports:

[Ref. aml1:] AIME MICHEL:

Aimé Michel explains that on October 12, 1954, at about 10:45 P.M., Michel Vieille, industrialist of Dompierre-les-Tilleuls, was driving with a friend on road Route Nationale 471 from Pontarlier towards Frasnes [sic] when their attentions were drawn by a "yellow amber and purple" gleam in the sky on their left, which moved at a moderate pace on a line going from East to West. They noted that it was a craft of round shape, and stopped the car to observe it.

At this time, the object which had moved at an altitude descended at a low altitude in a jerked flight. Mr. Vieille then extinguished the car's headlights, the object then changed direction and took a South-western course which paralleled the road. It was subsequently in front of the car but at some distance. Mr. Vieille started the car again and followed the craft, and this repeated several times until they arrived near to Dompierre where the two men stopped.

The object continued its flight in direction of Frasnes where it was lost from sight while it moved towards the South-west taking speed and altitude.

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

[Ref. jve5:] JACQUES VALLEE:

320 006.19101 46.87200 12 10 1954 22 45 1 (DOMPIERRE-TILLEUL) F 3012 G

321 -006.16221 46.85670 12 10 1954 22 45 1 FRASNE F 301244 C** 283

[Ref. jve1:] JACQUES VALLEE:

Scan.

246) October 12, 1954, 10:45 p.m., Dompierre-les-Tilleuls (France):

A businessman, Mr. Vielle, was on Route N471 between Frasnes [sic] and Pontarlier when he saw a circular flying craft, which gave off a yellowish and a purple light. Losing altitude, the craft came very close to the ground, changed its course to southwest, and rose again in the sky. (Quincy; M 167).

[Ref. aml5:] AIME MICHEL:

The same for the manoeuver in falling leaf: see for example the numerous cases so well observed in the end of the wave (Beaune-Chevigny, Niffer-Kembs, Frasne, etc.).

[Ref. jve2:] JACQUES VALLEE:

The author indicates that on October 12, 1954, close to Dompierre-les-Tilleuls, Mr. Vieille, a businessman, saw a circular flying machine which projected a yellowish and crimson light. It lost altitude, approached the ground, changed direction towards the south-west and rose in the sky again.

[Ref. gqy1:] GUY QUINCY:

Scan.

October 12 [, 1954]

[... other cases...]

10:45 p.m.: Dompierre-les-Tilleuls(Doubs):lum.sph.mov. near the ground + dead leave maneuver and chang. of direction

? [=unknown hour]: Frasne (Doubs): "jellyfish-saucer"

[... other cases...]

[Ref. gqy2:] GUY QUINCY:

Scan.

[... other cases...]

October 12, 1954: Dompierre-les-Tilleuls (3 km ISL in the NNE of Frasne-,on Nale. rd. 471 at Frasne--Doubs): Mr. Michel Vieille, industrialist in Dompierre and a friend (UAP performing a change of heading of 137° approx. to the SW, by maneuvering in dead leaf, near the ground, then followed on 3 km by car)

[... other cases...]

[Ref. jve3:] JACQUES VALLEE:

The author indicates that Aimé Michel in "Mystérieux Objets Célestes" reports that in Frasnes, a round object emitting ocher-yellow and violet light flew in straight line at moderate speed. When the witness, an industrialist, and his friend, had stopped their car, the object started to descend with a jerky movement", it then stopped and started off towards the Southwest.

[Ref. jve4:] JACQUES VALLEE:

Scan.

October 12, 1954, 10:45 p.m., Dompierre-les-Tilleuls (France):

A businessman, Mr. Vielle, was on Route N471 between Frasnes [sic] and Pontarlier when he saw a circular flying craft, which gave off a yellowish and a purple light. Losing altitude, the craft came very close to the ground, changed its course to southwest, and rose again in the sky. (Quincy).

[Ref. prn1:] PETER ROGERSON - "INTCAT":

Scan.

421 12 October 1954 2245 hrs

DOMPIERRE-LEs-TILLEULS (FRANCE) A businessman, Michel Vielle, was on Rt N471 between Frasnes and Pontarlier when he saw a circular flying craft giving off a yellowish and purple light. Losing altitude, the craft came very close to the ground, changed its course to southwest and rose again in the sky. Vielle was travelling with a friend at the time, and both saw the object. (M246; Quincey [sic]; Michel II, 167)

[Ref. fru1:] MICHEL FIGUET AND JEAN-LOUIS RUCHON:

The two authors indicate that in Dompierre-les-Tilleuls in the department of the Doubs, on October 12, 1954, Michel Vieille, industrialist, and a friend, drove on National Road N471, between Frasne and Pontarlier, had their attention drawn by a luminous and circular machine, on their left, which moved from the East to the West. The object released a yellow and violet gleam. They stopped their vehicle for better observing. At this time the object lost altitude and descended towards the ground in jerks. Arrived at low altitude, it changed direction and took that of the south-west, parallel to the road. It followed the witnesses up to Frasne where it disappeared by taking altitude.

The sources are given as case 246 of the Vallée catalogue; Quincy; and Aimé Michel in "A Propos des S.V." page 205.

[Ref. lhh1:] LARRY HATCH - "*U* COMPUTER DATABASE":

4086: 1954/10/12 22:50 1 6:09:40 E 46:51:20 N 3333 WEU FRN DBS 6:7

nr FRASNE,FR:SCR FOLOS N471>SW/LO ALT:2/CAR FOLLOW SCR!:UP+AWAY FAST:/r30p157

Ref#194 LUMIERES dans la NUIT.(LDLN France) Issue No. 104 : FOREST

[Ref. goe1:] GODELIEVE VAN OVERMEIRE:

The Belgian ufologist indicates that in 1954, on October 16, in France at 22:45 in Dompierre-les-Tilleuls, "Mr. Vieille, businessman, was on the N.471, between Frasnes [sic] and Pontarlier, when he saw a circular machine in flight which released a yellowish and violet light. Losing altitude it came close to the ground, obliqued in the south-west and rose again in the sky (Quincy)".

[Ref. amn1:] AUGUSTE MEESSEN:

Auguste Meessen indicates that on October 12, 1954, one observed a UFO which "went down in jerked flight". August Meessen comments on that a more detailed description would have been desirable, but that the witnesses or the investigators do not always realize its importance.

[Ref. djn1:] DONALD JOHNSON:

On this Day

October 12

[...]

1954, Dompierre-les-Tilleuls, France - Mr. Vielle, a businessman, was on Route N471 between Frasnes [sic] and Pontarlier when he saw a circular flying craft that gave off a yellowish and a purple light. Losing altitude, the craft came very close to the ground, changed its course to southwest, and then rose again in the sky. (Sources: Aime Michel, Flying Saucers and the Straight Line Mystery, p. 167; Jacques Vallee, Passport to Magonia: A Century of Landings, p. 227).

[Ref. jbu1:] JEROME BEAU:

Tuesday October 12, 1954

[...]

In Dompierre-les-Tilleuls (France), Mr. Vieille, businessman, is on the N471, between Frasnes [sic] and Pontarlier, when he sees a circular machine in flight releasing a yellowish and violet light. Losing altitude, it comes close to the ground, obliques with south-west and rose again in the sky.

[...]

The source is indicated as "Quincy".

[Ref. lcn1:] LUC CHASTAN:

Luc Chastan indicates that in the Doubs in Dompierre les Tilleuls on October 12, 1954 at 22:45 hours "Two people circulate on N471, between Frasne and Pontarlier, when their attention is drawn by a luminous and circular machine, on their left, which moves from East to West. The object releases a yellow gleam and violet. They stop their vehicle for better observing. At this time the object loses altitude and goes down towards the ground in a jerked manner. Arrived at low altitude, it changes direction and takes that of the south-western, parallel with the road. It will follow the witnesses until Frasne where it disappears by taking altitude."

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

[Ref. uda1:] "UFODNA" WEBSITE:

The website indicates that on 12 October 1954 at 22:45, "N471, near Frasne, France", "An object was sighted that had an appearance and performance beyond the capability of known earthly aircraft. One object was observed by two male witnesses on a highway (Vieille)."

The sources are indicated as "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; 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); Hatch, Larry, *U* computer database, Author, Redwood City, 2002."

[Ref. uda2:] "UFODNA" WEBSITE:

The website indicates that on 12 October 1954 at 22:45 in Dompierre-les-Tilleuls, France, "A circular flying craft, which gave off a yellowish and a purple light."

The website adds: "Mr. Vielle, a businessman, was on Route N471 between Frasnes [sic] and Pontarlier when he saw a circular flying craft that gave off a yellowish and a purple light. Losing altitude, the craft came very close to the ground, changed its course to southwest, and then rose again in the sky."

And: "A businessman, Mr. Vielle, was on Route N471 between Frasnes and Pontarlier when he saw a circular flying craft, which gave off a yellowish and a purple light. Losing altitude, the craft came very close to the ground, changed its course to southwest, and rose again in the sky."

The source is indicated as "Vallee Magonia Database".

[Ref. uda3:] "UFODNA" WEBSITE:

The website indicates that on 12 October 1954 at 22:45 in Dompierre-Tilleul, France, "One object was observed by two witnesses."

The source is indicated as Vallee, Jacques, Challenge to Science: The UFO Enigma, Henry Regnery, Chicago, 1966.

[Ref. nip1:] "THE NICAP WEBSITE":

*Oct. 12, 1954, Dompierre-les-Tilleuls, France - Mr. Vielle, a businessman, was on Route N471 between Frasnes and Pontarlier on this night when he saw a circular flying craft that gave off a yellowish and a purple light. Losing altitude, the craft came very close to the ground, changed its course to southwest, and then rose again in the sky. (Sources: Aime Michel, Flying Saucers and the Straight Line Mystery, p. 167; Jacques Vallee, Passport to Magonia: A Century of Landings, p. 227, case # 246).

[Ref. ubk1:] "UFO-DATENBANK":

This database recorded this case 8 times:

Case Nr. New case Nr. Investigator Date of observation Zip Place of observation Country of observation Hour of observation Classification Comments Identification
19541012 12.10.1954 Dompierre Tilleul France 22.45 CE I
19541012 12.10.1954 Dompierre Tilleul France
19541012 12.10.1954 Dompierre France 22.45
19541012 12.10.1954 Frasne France 22.45
19541012 12.10.1954 Frasne France 22.45 CE I
19541012 12.10.1954 Frasne France 22.45
19541012 12.10.1954 Frasne France 22.45 NL
19541012 12.10.1954 Frasne France 22.45 NL

[Ref. prn2:] PETER ROGERSON - "INTCAT":

October 12 1954. 2245hrs.

DOMPIERRE-LES-TILLEURS (DOUBS : FRANCE)

A local industrialist, Michel Vielle and a friend were driving on the N47 between Pontarlier and Frasne when their attention was caught by an ochre-yellow and violet light in the sky to their west, moving east to west. It was a round object flying straight at moderate speed. They stopped the car to watch as the object started to descend with a jerky motion. When it reached a low altitude it turned off to the southwest-the same direction as the road. Michel followed it to Dompierre where he stopped, while the object accelerated on towards Fasne, gaining altitude.

Explanations:

Map.

So we are in principle on October 12, 1954, around 10:45 p.m., near Frasne thus at 46° 51' 24'' North, 6° 9' 39'' East.

The Moon, the usual candidate for explaining UFOs chasing cars, stopping when the car stops and restarting when the car restarts - an explanation that no one has bothered to evaluate so far in this case - was in the sky at 129° 19', to the southeast of the witnesses, and at an elevation of 48° 22'. And it was a full moon.

Map.

This coincides with an object that was "to their left", which "takes a Southwest course that was parallel to the road", which is "round in shape", which moves at "moderate pace".

To be, at the end of the observation, "in front of" the automobile, we can think that the witnesses, who were going to Dompierre, forked from the N 471 to take one or the other of the roads going to their left towards the Southeast (blue lines).

In conclusion, I think there is a good chance that "the craft" was a red moon, with an appearance probably altered by a presence of clouds, and a story perhaps misunderstood by the press or deformed by Garreau (saucer biff and journalist of La Bourgogne Républicaine) who would have told it a bit lively to Michel.

Note: Aimé Michel indicates La Bourgogne Républicaine, of which Charles Garreau was a journalist, as a source; but I did not find anything on this case in this diary for 1954 to 1956 at least.

Keywords:

(These keywords are only to help queries and are not implying anything.)

Frasne, Frasnes, Doubs, Dompierre-les-Tilleuls, Pontarlier, Vieille, object, craft, manoeuvers, straight, jerky, yellow, amber, purple, multiple, car, road

Sources:

[----] indicates sources that are not yet available to me.

Document history:

Version: Created/Changed by: Date: Change Description:
0.1 Patrick Gross April 7, 2003 First published.
1.0 Patrick Gross March 11, 2009 Conversion from HTML to XHTML Strict. First formal version. Additions [jve3], [djn1], [jbu1], [lcn1], [uda1], [uda2], [uda3].
1.1 Patrick Gross December 30, 2009 Addition [goe1].
1.2 Patrick Gross January 14, 2010 Addition [amn1].
1.3 Patrick Gross June 29, 2010 Addition [jve5].
1.4 Patrick Gross November 15, 2014 Addition [nip1].
1.3 Patrick Gross February 21, 2017 Addition [ubk1].
1.4 Patrick Gross May 3, 2019 Additions [prn1], [lhh1], [prn2], Summary. Explanations changed, were "Not looked for yet."
1.5 Patrick Gross September 12, 2019 Addition [aml5].
1.6 Patrick Gross May 6, 2022 Additions [gqy1], [gqy2].

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