The index page for the 1954 French flap section of this website is here.
Reference for this case: 12-Oct-54-Orchamps-Vennes.
Please cite this reference in any correspondence with me regarding this case.
The Press published the news of October 26, 1954, of an observation of a "saucer or a 4 CV".
The articles told that Francesco Beuc, a 48-year-old farm worker at Orchamps-Vennes in the Doubs, had stated that on October 12, 1954, he had seen a flying saucer, but fearing not to be believed, he said nothing until now.
At about 9 p.m., returning to the farm where he worked, he had suddenly noticed a strange craft of the shape of a 4 CV car supported by four wheels about 40 centimeters in diameter, motionless on the roadside.
He had approached to within one meter from the craft and had noticed in the vicinity, a being of 1.50 meters in height, clad in a leather jacket and wearing a cap. Mr. Beuc questioned this mysterious pilot, but the latter quickly climbed into the craft, which, having rolled for about thirty meters on the road, took off in the manner of an airplane, and quickly rose up.
Subsequently, the story was mentioned extensively in the ufological literature, more or less faithfully. Thus, Jacques Vallée makes no mention of the wheels and the resemblance to an automobile, or of the rather human clothes of what he calls a "being".
The American Alex Mebane found that 4 hp is not enough power for an automobile and thought it had to be the shape of a four-horse-drawn cart.
Michel Carrouges confused the name of the witness and the name of the place and commented that the description was "so baroque that one would discard the incident" but that since the place is on an "orthotenic line" determined by Aimé Michel, it is an "objective" incident, "but its content remains obscure and unusable."
Jader U. Pereira had listed the case as to be rejected because of the risk of misinterpretation by the witness. Many others, however, published the story without any proposal or search for an explanation. More than thirty ufological publications on this case are listed or cited in my file below.
In 1969, the ufology group Lumières Dans La Nuit decided to verify all French UFO cases from 1954 listed in ufologist Jacques Vallée's catalog of "UFO landings." For this case, it was ufologist Jean Tyrode who carried out the follow-up investigation, which remained dormant in the archives until around 2020.
Jean Tyrode specified that the incident occurred on October 12, 1954, around 9:00 p.m. on National Road 461, going from Besançon to Morteau, along the eastern edge of the Bois de la Côte, with the "phenomenon being on or right next to the road."
In addition to contemporary sources, Tyrode gathered information from Mr. Louis Vernier, café owner at "Les Ages de Loray" and press correspondent; Mr. Henri Rognon, the witness's employer; and the Orchamps-Vennes gendarmerie, whose commander, Henry Bodauz, had been present at the time of the events.
Tyrode reported that the sole witness was Mr. Franzesko Beuc, 48 years old, a Polish national, an agricultural worker employed by Mr. Henri Rognon at the La Fougère farm in the commune of Vennes (Doubs), and now deceased. Mr. Beuc had been one of the many foreign farm laborers, Polish or German, who remained in the area after the war. He spoke little French - according to Mr. Vernier, he could make himself understood - but according to the commander of the brigade, he did not know a single word of French, and the latter had to converse with him in Polish. Mr. Beuc was reportedly a hard worker and his employer was satisfied with him, but he was very fond of drinking, and it was not unusual for the gendarmes to find him passed out in a ditch or on a café table. The commander vividly remembered Mr. Beuc's memorable drinking bouts.
Tyrode explained that on the evening of the sighting, Franzesko Beuc was on his way, as usual, to "say a little prayer," as the locals put it, in a nearby place "where the priest is rarely seen, and Bacchus is more venerated than Christ."
He had chosen to go to "Les Ages de Loray," a hamlet in the commune of Loray along the main road, where Mr. Vernier, the local journalist, ran a café-restaurant. Mr. Beuc was coming from Vennes along a small path and had just reached the main road; about a hundred meters ahead was the edge of the woods. Before entering the forest, he looked behind him - for reasons unknown - and then saw, just a few meters away according to the press, a strange craft resembling a Renault 4CV car, supported by wheels 40 centimeters in diameter, "at a spot where the witness had passed a minute or two earlier" without noticing it. Tyrode saw no contradiction between the "few meters away" and the fact that Mr. Beuc had supposedly passed there "a minute or two before," and considered it possible that "this bizarre craft had landed after the man had passed, and that it was the landing he had subconsciously perceived, which made him turn around."
Mr. Beuc also saw a figure near the "craft." The being was "about 1.5 meters tall," dressed in "a leather overall and wearing a cap."
Mr. Beuc approached the object to within a meter and called out to the figure, who, appearing surprised, did not reply and climbed into the craft, which then "moved away" from Mr. Beuc, "rolled" for about thirty meters, and "took off like an airplane."
After this, Mr. Beuc continued on his way, arrived at the café "Les Ages de Loray," and told his story, which Mr. Louis Vernier then relayed to the press.
Tyrode noted that gendarme Henry Bodauz had told him, recalling Beuc's interrogation: "I wonder how Vernier managed to question him; he didn't know a word of French, and I had to speak to him in Polish."
However, Tyrode never considered for a moment that Mr. Beuc might have seen a Renault 4CV and its driver. Instead, he sought to make the case appear stranger than it was. Rather than assuming that Beuc's limited French might have turned a "4CV" into a "flying saucer," Tyrode believed the opposite - that it had turned a flying saucer into a "4CV." He suggested that the four "wheels" were actually four landing struts, that the driver's leather overalls were a smooth extraterrestrial suit, that the cap was a helmet, and so on.
Finally, in 2006, a reader of my website who is from that area confirmed to me by email what appears quite obvious: indeed, Francesco Beuc had been abused by a strong fog, and had seen a 4 CV and its driver. The story of this mistake is well known in the village, my correspondent told me.
[Ref. brn1:] NEWSPAPER "LE BERRY REPUBLICAIN":
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Besançon, October 26. -- Mr. Franzesko Beuc, 48 years old, an agricultural worker in Orchamps-Vennes (Doubs), stated that on October 12th, he saw a flying saucer but, fearing he would not be believed, had remained silent until now.
Fifteen days ago, around 9 p.m., Mr. Beuc was returning to the farm where he works when he suddenly saw, motionless at the side of the road, a craft particularly resembling a 4CV [car], supported by four wheels about 40 centimeters in diameter.
The farmer approached within a meter of the vehicle and noticed nearby a being about 1.50 meters tall, dressed in a leather coat and wearing a cap. When Mr. Beuc called the mysterious pilot, the figure quickly climbed into the craft, which, after rolling about thirty meters along the road, took off like an airplane and rapidly gained altitude.
[Ref. rve1:] NEWSPAPER "LA REPUBLIQUE VAROISE":
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Besancon, October 26. -- Mr. Francesco Beuc, aged 48, farm laborer in Orchamps-Vennes (Doubs) declared that on this last 12 October, he had seen a flying saucer but that, in fear of not being believed, he had, until now, remained silent.
Fifteen days ago, around 9 p.m., Mr. Beuc regained the farm where he works when he saw suddenly, motionless on the edge of the road, an apparatus affecting the particular shape of one 4 CV car supported by 4 wheels of approximately 40 centimeters in diameter.
The farmer approached within one meter of the machine and noticed in the vicinity, a being of 1 m 50 height, dressed of a leather coat and wearing a cap. Mr. Beuc having called at the mysterious pilot, the latter quickly went up in the apparatus which, after having rolled during about thirty meters on the road, took off like a plane and quickly gained height.
[Ref. jps1:] NEWSPAPER "LE JOURNAL DU PAS-DE-CALAIS ET DE LA SOMME":
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Besançon, 28. - Mr. Francesco Beuc, 48, agricultural worker in Orchamps-Vennes (Doubs) declared that on October 12, he had seen a flying saucer, but that, in fear of not being believed, he had, until now, been silent.
A fortnight ago, around 9:00 p.m., Mr. Beuc returned to the farm where he works when he suddenly saw, motionless on the side of the road, a craft having particularly the shape of a 4 CV, supported by four wheels about 30 centimeters in diameter.
The cultivator approached within one meter of the craft and noticed, nearby, a being, 1.50 meters tall, dressed in leather and wearing a cap. Mr. Beuc having called the mysterious pilot, the latter quickly climbed into the craft, which, after having rolled for about thirty meters on the road, took off like an airplane and quickly went away.
[Ref. cpd1:] NEWSPAPER "LE COURRIER PICARD":
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BESANCON, October 26. - Mr. Francisco Beuc, 43 years old, agricultural worker in Orchamps-Vennes (Doubs), said that, on October 12, he had seen a flying saucer, but that, for fear of not being believed, he had remained silent so far.
A fortnight ago, around 9 p.m., Mr. Beuc was returning to the farm where he works when he suddenly saw, motionless on the side of the road, a craft having particularly the shape of a 4 CV, supported by four wheels about 40 centimeters in diameter.
The farmer approached within a meter from the machine and noticed, nearby, a being of 1 m. 50 tall, wearing a leather coat and a cap. Mr. Beuc having called the mysterious pilot, the latter quickly climbed into the craft which, after having rolled for about thirty meters on the road, took off like an airplane and quickly flew away.
[Ref. nnm1:] NEWSPAPER "LE NOUVEAU NORD MARITIME":
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Besancon, October 26. -- Mr. Francesco Beuc, aged 48, farm laborer in Orchamps-Vennes (Doubs), declared that on this last 12 October, he had seen a flying saucer but that, in fear of not being believed, he had, until now, remained silent.
Fifteen days ago, around 9 p.m., Mr. Beuc regained the farm where he works when he saw suddenly, motionless on the edge of the road, an apparatus affecting the particular shape of one 4 CV car supported by 4 wheels of approximately 40 centimeters in diameter.
The farmer approached within one meter of the machine and noticed in the vicinity, a being of 1 m 50 height, dressed of a leather coat and wearing a cap. Mr. Beuc having called at the mysterious pilot, the latter quickly went up in the apparatus which, after having rolled during about thirty meters on the road, took off like a plane and quickly gained height.
[Ref. lae1:] NEWSPAPER "L'ALSACE":
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Besançon, Oct. 26. -- Mr. Franzesko Beuc, aged 48, farm laborer in Orchamps-Vennes (the Doubs) stated that on last 12th October, he had seen a flying saucer, but that, fearing not to be believed, he had, until now, kept silence.
Fifteen days ago, towards 9 p.m., Mr. Beuc was going back to the farm where he works when he suddenly saw, motionless on the edge of the road, an apparatus in the particular shape of a 4CV, supported by four wheels approximately 40 cm in diameter.
The farmer approached within one meter the machine and noticed, in the vicinity, a being, 1 m 50 in height, dressed of a leather jacket and with a cap on the head. Mr. Beuc having called the mysterious pilot, the latter quickly boarded the apparatus, which, after having rolled on about thirty meters, took off in the manner of a plane and took height quickly.
[Ref. cdn1:] NEWSPAPER "LA CROIX DU NORD":
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We haven't seen it all yet.
After the flying saucer, the rolling saucer! An agricultural worker from Orchamps-Vennes, in the Doubs, saw it! Around 9 p.m., he discovered, motionless at the edge of the road, a craft particularly affecting the shape of a 4 C.V... This is extraordinary, isn't it?
But this is more surprising: this craft was supported by four wheels about 40 centimeters in diameter! The affair becomes mind-blowing! Who would have thought that a flying saucer could have wheels?
even weirder: when the worker called out to the driver - sorry: the Martian - he got into the fantastic craft which, instead of flying away, rolled on the road... (like an ordinary 4 C.V. in short).
The rest of the story lacks originality. At the end of around thirty meters, the craft flew away, like an ordinary saucer.
[Ref. lbr1:] NEWSPAPER "LA BOURGOGNE REPUBLICAINE":
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Besançon (A.F.P.). -- Mr. Franzesko Beuc, 48, a farm worker in Orchamps-Vennes (Doubs), said that on October 12, he saw a flying saucer, but that, for fear of not being believed, he had so far remained silent.
A fortnight ago, around 9 p.m., Mr. Beuc was returning to the farm where he works, when he suddenly saw, motionless on the side of the road, an apparatus particularly affecting the shape of a 4 CV, supported by four wheels about 40 centimeters in diameter.
The farmer approached one meter from the craft and noticed, nearby, a 1.50 m tall being, dressed in a leather coat and wearing a cap. Mr. Beuc having challenged the mysterious pilot, he quickly climbed into the craft, which, after having rolled about thirty meters on the road, took off like a plane and quickly gained height.
Saint-Usage (from our correspondent.). -- Monday morning, going by 4 CV to their work, at the Solvay factories, MM. D. Besançon and R. Belleterre saw, at 5:45, an object crisscrossing the sky. Immediately stopping the car on the bridge of Saint-Jean-de-Losne (Côte-d'Or), driver and passenger were able to observe for ten seconds a brilliant disc leaving behind a trail of bluish smoke.
This craft, which moved at a relatively low altitude (approximately 500 m) and at a high speed, disappeared behind a curtain of clouds towards the north.
Again this is not a hallucination.
[Ref. tbr1:] TED BLOECHER:
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[... other cases...]
On the 12th [of October 1954], a curious object with four wheels was seen by Franzesko Beuc on the farm where he worked on Orchamps-Vennes; nearby was a 5-foot helmeted being who jumped into the device, which rolled along the road for some distance before it gradually ascended. 48/
[... other cases...]
The source "48" is given as "La Republique Varoise (Toulon), 10/27"
[Ref. ame1:] ALEXANDER MEBANE:
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Besançon, October 26. -- Mr. Francesco Beuc, 48, farm worker in Orchamps-Vennes (Doubs), has testified that on Oct. 12 he saw a flying saucer, but that, fearing he would not be believed, he has said nothing until now.
Two weeks ago, about 9 p.m., M. Beuc was returning to the farm where he works when he suddenly noticed, motionless beside the road, an machine looking similar to a "4 CV" (quatre-chevaux; presumably a car or truck or tractor of some kind)*.
The farmer approached to within a meter of the craft, and noticed, nearby, a being 150 cm (slightly under 5 feet) tall, dressed in a leather jacket and wearing a helmet. After M. Beuc questioned the mysterious pilot, he immediately jumped into the machine, which after rolling about 30 meters down the road, took off like an airplane and rapidly gained altitude.
(* 4 hp is too small for a power vehicle. A four-horse farm wagon, perhaps?)
[Ref. aml1:] AIME MICHEL:
Aimé Michel mentions the case in relation to others he thinks to be one a straight line.
He indicates that at Orchamps, there was a landing with appearance of the little pilot.
He indicates that the case comes from La Bourgogne Républicaine and the Charles Garreau file.
[Ref. gqy1:] GUY QUINCY:
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October 12 [, 1954]
[... other cases...]
? [=unknown hour]: Orchamps-Vennes(10 km NW.Morteaux--Doubs):sph.on ground+dwarf
[... other cases...]
[Ref. gqy2:] GUY QUINCY:
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[... other cases...]
October 12, 1954: Orchamps-Vennes (10 km ISL in the NNW Morteau--Doubs) (lumin.sph. on the ground + "pilot" small size)
[... other cases...]
[Ref. mcs1:] MICHEL CARROUGES:
The author indicates that on October 12, 1954 around 21 hours in Beuc, in the countryside where it must be dark, a 48-year-old farm laborer is alone, when he suddenly sees a "saucer" already posed on the ground 1 meter from him. He said that it had the shape of a 4CV and was on wheels.
At the side of the saucer there is a pilot, 1.50 meters tall approximately, carrying a cap and a leather coat.
The witness calls him but the pilot does not answer and jumps on board. His apparatus rolls on about thirty meters on the road and takes off like a plane.
Michel Carrouges indicates that his source is a news release of the A.F.P. for October 26, 1954.
He comments on that description is so baroque that it calls for rejection of the case but that the place is on a "orthotenic line" determined by Aimé Michel and that thus it must be an "objective" incident, "but its contents remain obscure and unusable."
[Ref. jve5:] JACQUES VALLEE:
| 316 | -006.53031 | 47.13120 | 12 | 10 | 1954 | ORCHAMPS-DOUBS | F | 3012 | C | *283 |
[Ref. aml4:] AIME MICHEL:
But the idea by Mr. Castou to plot all the sighting of the flap on a single map is nevertheless interesting. It gives for Bavic an unexpected result: this alignment goes from 7 spots (counting la Sierra de Gardunha) to 13 spots perfectly in line (two observations in the south of Dole, one on the departmental road 60 between Saint-Romain-sous-Gourdon and les Brosses-Thillot, one in Paray-le-Monial, a second observation in Gelles, one lastly at Orchamps).
[Ref. jve1:] JACQUES VALLEE:
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242) October 12, 1954, 09:00 p.m., Orchamps (France):
A farmer, Mr. Beuc, saw a small pilot enter an object. It glided over the road for 30 m, then rose rapidly. (M 167; Carrouges 98)
[Ref. fle1:] FERNAND LAGARDE:
Studying what he thinks to be a relation between UFOs and geological faults, this ufologist cites "Orchamps", in the Doubs, as a case of UFO on or near the ground, with the source "M.O.C." by Aimé Michel page 205.
[Ref. jte1:] JEAN TYRODE:
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CAT J.VALLE [sic]. CASE No 242.
Investigator: J. TYRODE.
OBSERVATION PIERREFONTAINE-LES-VARANS 2
DATE AND TIME: Tuesday, October 12, 1954, around 9:00 p.m.
WITNESS: Mr. Franzesko BEUC, 48 years old, Polish nationality, agricultural worker employed by Mr. Henri ROGNON at the La Fougère farm, commune of Vennes (Doubs).
LOCATION OF THE OBSERVATION: on route N 461 (Besançon-Morteau), at the eastern edge of the hillside forest.
POSITION OF THE PHENOMENON: On N 461 or immediately adjacent to it.
NOTE: Since the sole witness is now deceased, we report the facts as given by the AFP dispatch of October 26, local newspapers of October 27, Mr. Louis VERNIER, café owner and press correspondent at LES AGES DE LORAY, Mr. Henri ROGNON, farmer at LA FOUGERE, and the ORCHAMPS-VENNES gendarmerie, whose commander was present at the time of the events.
Who was the witness? Mr. BEUC was one of many foreign agricultural workers, Polish or German, who remained in the area after the war. He spoke little French. According to Mr. VERNIER, he could still make himself understood; according to the brigade commander, he did not know a word of French and conversed with him in Polish. BEUC was hardworking, and his employer was generally satisfied, but he had a strong tendency to drink, and it was not uncommon for the gendarmes to find him in a ditch or on a café table. The commander remembered well BEUC's memorable drunken episodes.
OBSERVATION: That evening, Francesco went, as usual, to "say a little prayer," as the locals put it, in a nearby location where the parish priest was rarely present and where Bacchus was more revered than Christ.
On October 12, for reasons unknown, he had chosen to go to LES AGES, a hamlet in the commune of Loray on the edge of the national road, where Mr. VERNIER, a local journalist, ran a café-restaurant. Everything went smoothly: the drinker found the café, and the witness found the journalist.
Mr. Beuc was therefore coming from Vennes along the small path, now classified, and had just reached the national road, about a hundred
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Several meters ahead was the edge of the forest. Before entering it, BEUC looked back; why he did so will likely never be known. In any case, he saw, a few meters away, a strange object - or one that may seem strange if one relies on the description reported by the press, which literally stated:
Mr. BEUC allegedly saw, a few meters from him, a strange device resembling a Renault 4 CV car, supported by wheels 40 centimeters in diameter, at a location he had passed one or two minutes earlier and had not noticed. It is possible that this unusual craft landed after he passed, and it was this landing that he unconsciously perceived, prompting him to turn around. But what is peculiar is the shape of the device, described with remarkable precision, considering the events took place at night at the edge of a darkened pine forest. The rest of the story is just as fantastic, if not more so, and the account is incredibly detailed.
The witness, having turned around, not only saw the craft but also a figure standing nearby. BEUC then approached the object, coming within about a meter - though the story does not specify the distance to the figure.
He then addressed the figure. It was an individual about 1.5 meters tall, wearing a "leather tunic and a cap." The individual, seemingly surprised, did not respond and climbed into the craft. The craft then moved away from BEUC, "rolled" about thirty meters, and flew off like an airplane. BEUC saw nothing further and continued toward the café at LES AGES, where he would recount his very recent experience.
It was Mr. Louis VERNIER, the local newspaper correspondent and café owner, who was the first to be informed.
WHAT ONE MIGHT THINK OF THIS CASE:
I have reflected a great deal on all of this, conversed with Mr. VERNIER, and then thoroughly studied the matter with Gendarme Henri BAUDOZ of the ORCHAMPS-VENNES brigade. The conclusions I have drawn are that BEUC certainly saw something, but the facts were distorted - almost certainly more by the journalist than by BEUC himself. I will not forget the gendarme's words: "I wonder how VERNIER managed to interview him; he did not know a word of French, and I had to speak to him in Polish." (This refers to BEUC's interrogation.)
BEUC, who could not easily express himself, recounted his experience using the terms he knew, comparing the object he saw to familiar things, and the journalist interpreted the account accordingly.
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It is even highly likely that BEUC primarily communicated through gestures. He may well have used terms like 4CV, airplane, or wheel, and indicated by gestures his cap and leather tunic (which he often wore). Mr. VERNIER made the mistake of transcribing all of this literally, without trying to understand the meaning of Franzesko's thoughts.
From this observation, it seems to me that the key point is that the witness saw, from fairly close range - 10 to 50 meters - a craft resting on the road or in an adjacent meadow near the forested hillside.
The craft was about the size of a car and was on or very near the ground, approximately forty centimeters high. It rested on four legs or supports, which were probably not wheels in the proper sense. How BEUC could have seen them so clearly in the dark night is uncertain; he likely assumed them to be wheels, and they were described as such to Mr. VERNIER.
Near the object stood a relatively small being. BEUC indicated its height: shorter than himself, and it was VERNIER who fixed it at 1.5 meters. The being was probably smaller, but the journalist did not believe true dwarfs or gnomes could exist; writing 1 meter seemed ridiculous, but perhaps this is what Franzesko intended to convey.
The being was described as wearing a leather tunic and a cap. This was how the journalist imagined the occupant, but is that what BEUC actually meant? Two precise features struck him: the tunic and the cap. The "leather tunic" may have been a mistranslation of Franzesko's words and gestures, meant to indicate a smooth, shiny, dark, and stiff garment, fitting the body like the "black suit" of the ARC SOUS CICON being. And, as with that being, did the top of the head not appear flat? BEUC indicated this with a gesture, which the journalist translated as "cap." BEUC approached, but not within a meter of the craft (another misunderstood detail), and it took off after rolling. Mr. VERNIER could not imagine flying other than like an airplane, which is why he used that expression, just as he described the being "climbing" into the craft. How did it climb? Certainly VERNIER imagined it like a motorist entering a car, but is that how the witness saw it? We are far from being able to assert that, and I would even suspect it was quite different.
The dialogue between a witness unable to express himself and a journalist willing to believe his story but unable to interpret what he was told, who only produces a literal transcription, is, in my opinion, a dialogue of the deaf. By trying to relate to our beings and earthly objects things that have no connection, Mr. VERNIER completely distorted the observation and reported what was originally a remarkable sight in such a transformed manner that it becomes implausible and hardly credible.
For my part, I see a strong analogy with
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ARC SOUS CICON.
The little man resembled, in size, the beings from ARC. The leather tunic would correspond to the black suit, and the cap to the flat, slightly shiny top of the head. The rapid boarding could be similar to the escape of the being from JOELLE.
As for the size of the craft, it may also be comparable. At ARC, the grass formed a burned circle about one meter in diameter, but one must take into account the two crowns of "abnormal" grass I discovered around the circle, which extend the diameter to three meters. The craft at ARC was not seen, but it is not impossible that it was similar to BEUC's. An object the size of a 4CV car could very well leave marks of comparable size during takeoff, similar to those recorded at ARC.
The story of the 4CV, its wheels, its rolling, and its flight carries little credibility in the region. However, the people to whom I presented my version of events were unanimous in recognizing: "I would be more likely to believe this." Unfortunately, Franzesko is no longer alive, and the truth can never be discovered.
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[Ref. jte2:] JEAN TYRODE:
Commenting on observations in the Doubs, Jean Tyrode mentions that Orchamps is on the "BAVIC" line.
[Ref. jpa1:] JADER U. PEREIRA:
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| # | DATE | PLACE, TERRITORY DIVISION, COUNTRY OR NATION | WITNESSES | SOURCES |
| 6 | 10/12/54 | Orchamps, Doubs, Fr. | Beuc | 6.95-98/C242 |
[Ref. jve3:] JACQUES VALLEE:
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October 12, 1954, 09:00 p.m. Orchamps (France):
A farmer, Mr. Beuc, saw a small pilot enter an object. It glided over the road for 30 m, then rose rapidly. (Carrouges)
[Ref. jve2:] JACQUES VALLEE:
The author indicates that on October 12, 1954, at approximately 9 hours of the evening, Orchamps (the Jura), a farmer, Mr. Beuc, saw a UFO and a small pilot who entered the machine. The apparatus slipped on the road during approximately 30 meters, then rose quickly.
[Ref. jve8:] JACQUES VALLEE:
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| 12 Oct., 1954 | Orchamps | France | M. Beuc | a pilot | 1 |
[Ref. jve3:] JACQUES VALLEE:
Jacques Vallée indicates that the UFO occupant reported in Orchamps, France, during the 1954 flap, was of the "heavily equipped" type.
He says that like in other cases, there is a "definite correlation" between the small size of the being and the fact he wears a diving suit.
[Ref. gal1:] CHARLES GARREAU AND RAYMOND LAVIER:
The two ufologists report in their book the case of Orchamps-Vennes, in Doubs, October 12, around 9 p.m., indicating newspaper clipping and personal files as sources.
A farm laborer, Franzesko Beuc, aged 48, which was going back to the farm where he worked, found himself face to face with a being of small size (less than 1,50 m) who was busy around a machine of the size of a small car:
"I called the character. He rushed into his machine which slipped on about thirty meters before taking height quickly."
[Ref. agd1:] ALAIN GAMARD:
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| Case # | Date | Time | Locality | Department | Witness(es) name |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 050 | 12/10/1954 | 21.00 | Orchamps. | 25 | Beuc. |
[Ref. prn1:] PETER ROGERSON:
417 12 October 1954 2100 hrs
ORCHAMPS (FRANCE) A farmer Mr Beuc saw a small man enter an object. It glided over the road for 30 then rose rapidly (M242; Michel II, 167: Carrouges, 98)
[Ref. tbw1:] TED BLOECHER AND DAVID WEBB:
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54-68 Oct. 12, 1954 2100 Orchamps-Vennes, France Type B
Franzesko Beuc encountered, beside the road, a machine resembling a "4-CV" supported by 4 wheels l6" in diameter. Nearby was a man slightly under 5 ft tall, dressed in a leather jacket & wearing a helmet. When B. spoke to him, he jumped into the machine, which rolled 30 yards down the road, then took off in the sky.
Investigator:
Source: Toulon La Republique Varoise, 10/27/54.
[Ref. fru1:] MICHEL FIGUET AND JEAN-LOUIS RUCHON:
The two authors indicate that in Orchamps-Vennes in the department of Doubs on October 12, 1954 at 09:00 p.m., Franzesko Beuc, farmer, aged 48, regained the farm where he worked when he suddenly saw, motionless on the edge of the road, an apparatus affecting the characteristic shape of a 4 CV car supported by four wheels of approximately 40 centimeters in diameter. The farmer, within one meter of the machine, came nose with nose with a small being dressed of a cap and a leather coat. Our witness having challenged the mysterious visitor, this one went up in his apparatus which, after having rolled during about thirty meters on the road, takes off in the manner of a plane and quickly takes altitude.
The authors note that it is not known whether he heard a sound or not, but there was no effect on the witness.
[Ref. bbr2:] GERARD BARTHEL ET JACQUES BRUCKER:
We took care to conduct an investigation on a particularly strange case; which involves a number of questions: a man claims to have observed on October 12, 1954 a Four HP Renault... equipped with four wheels about forty centimeters in diameter, and which, with its pilot rolled on the road... before taking off!! Yes, this sinister joke is part of the Vallée catalog: Orchamps Vennes, it would be laughable if it was not so sad.
[Ref. via1] UFOLOGY BULLETIN "VIMANA 21":
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WEDNESDAY 27 OCTOBER: FLYING AND ROLLING SAUCER - BESANCON
Besançon - Mr. Franzesko Beuc, 48, farm worker in Orchamps-Vennes (Doubs) declared on October 12th, that he had seen a flying saucer, but that, for fear of not being believed, he had hitherto kept silent. 15 days ago, at about 9 p.m., Mr. Beuc was returning to the farm where he works when he suddenly perceived, motionless on the side of the road, an apparatus particularly affecting the shape of a 4 CV supported by four wheels of about 46 cm in diameter. The farmer approached within a meter from the machine and noticed, in the vicinity, a being of 1m50 in height dressed in a leather coat and wearing a cap. Mr. Beuc having questioned the mysterious pilot, the latter climbed fast in the apparatus which, after having rolled for about thirty meters on the road, took off in the manner of an airplane and quickly took height.
The source fot this article is indicated as being the newspaper Le Bien Public.
[Ref. mft3:] MICHEL FIGUET:
| Nr of the J. C. Fumoux list | Nr of Francat list | Localization | Date | Class | Credibility | Sources | Number of W |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 071 | 184 | Orchamps-Vennes | 12/10 | CE3 | NI RS P J.V. | 2-p 154 | 1T |
[Ref. mft1:] MICHEL FIGUET:
This ufologist noted:
| CASE Nr | CLASSIFICATION | DATE | HOUR | PLACE | ZIP CODE | CREDIBILITY SOURCE |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 184 | CE3 | 12 10 1954 | 21.00 | Orchamps- Vennes | 25390 E4 | NI, OVNI: p. 154 |
[Ref. ldf1:] UFOLOGY MAGAZINE "LUMIERES DANS LA NUIT":
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14. Orchamps - Vennes (Jura), October 12, 1954. B&B version: We took care to conduct an investigation on a particularly strange case ... Yes, this sinister joke is an integral part of the Vallée catalog. (lnforespace n°3 Hors Série. Le ressac d'une vague p. 40).
LDLN version: We investigated on the spot in 1977, and we were able to speak, not to the witness, Francesco Beuc, who had died several years ago, but to farmers who had long been his employers, and where he lived. They took us to the place where Mr. Beuc had lived his adventure: the place called "Les Fuves", at the end of the straight line, just before the village, coming from Besançon. Francesco Beuc had ended up in Orchamps-Vennes after experiencing terrible tragedies, which he obviously could not forget: his wife and daughter had been murdered by the Nazis in Yugoslavia during the war. He lived as he could... When he had earned some money on the farm, he sometimes disappeared for a while. He lived then, withdrawn from the world, sleeping in the forest. But he always ended up coming back. He was a dejected man, but frank and hardworking, certainly not joking. A sinister joke? We gladly leave B&B responsible for their comments. And we are waiting for the arguments...
[Ref. lgs1:] LOREN GROSS:
October 12th. Orchamps-Vennes, France, (no known hour)
According to a Toulon newspaper:
"On the 12th, a curious object with four wheels was seen by Franzesko Beuc on the farm where he worked on Orchamps-Vennes; nearby was a 5-foot helmeted being who jumped into the device, which rolled along the road for some distance before it gradually ascended."
[Ref. jsr1:] JEAN SIDER:
The author indicates that on October 12, 1954, at 9:00 p.m. in Orchamps-Vennes, the Doubs, Mr. Francesco Beuc was returning to the farm where he was working when he suddenly saw a strange object on the side of the road he was taking. It was a device "vaguely shaped like a 4CV Renault, on four wheels moreover (!)"; which were about 40cm each. Having reached a meter from the object, the witness found himself face to face with a little creature wearing a cap and a leather coat. Mr. Beuc questioned the individual, but his initiative provoked no reaction. The being returned into his machine which rolled about thirty meters before taking off in the manner of an airplane to quickly take altitude.
Jean Sider indicates that the source is "Figuet, pp. 154-155."
He comments that this case "better explains why an almost identical testimony", that of Neuilly-l'Évêque, "was put on the account of a real 4CV Renault by a low-level 'socio-psycho'.
[Ref. lhh1:] LARRY HATCH - "*U* COMPUTER DATABASE":
4082: 1954/10/12 21:00 5 6:31:40 E 47:08:00 N 3333 WEU FRN DBS 8:6
ORCHAMPS,FR:OID BOARDS PHONY CAR!:GLIDES OVER ROAD/30min THEN ^ FAST:/r30p154
Ref#217 Jean SIDER: Le DOSSIER 1954 (2 vol.) Page No. 197: ROAD+RAILS
[Ref. goe1:] GODELIEVE VAN OVERMEIRE:
The Belgian ufologist indicates that in 1954, on October 12 in France in Orchamps, "At 09:00 p.m. the farmer Franzesko Beuc saw an object and a pilot of small size which penetrated inside the machine. It slipped on the road during 30 meters then rose quickly."
She indicates that the sources are "Carrouges p. 98" and "Jacques Vallée: 'Chronique des apparitions ET' - DENOEL 1972 - J'AI LU COLL. - p. 278".
She indicates that there is another version which says: "The farmer went home again and sees motionless on the edge of the road an apparatus resembling particularly a 4CV supported by 4 wheels of 40cm of diameter. At one meter of the machine he is face to face with a small being dressed of a cap and a leather coat. Having challenged this mysterious visitor, the latter goes up fast in the apparatus which, after having rolled during about thirty meters on the road, takes off in the manner of a plane and takes height."
She gives the source of this other version as "M. FIGUET/ J.L. RUCHON: 'Ovni, premier dossier complet...' - Alain Lefeuvre pub. 1979, p. 154, 155".
[Ref. ars1:] ALBERT ROSALES:
154.
Location. Orchamps-Vennes France
Date: October 12 1954
Time: 2100
Franzesko Beuc encountered, beside the road, a machine resembling a "4-CV" supported by 4 wheels of 15" diameter. Nearby was a man slightly less than 5 ft tall, dressed in a leather jacket and wearing a helmet. Beuc spoke to him, he jumped into the machine, which rolled 30 yards down the road, then took off into the sky.
Humcat 1954-91
Source: Humcat quoting newspaper source
Type: B
[Ref. djn1:] DONALD JOHNSON:
On this Day
October 12
[...]
1954 - A farmer, Mr. Beuc, saw a small pilot enter an object in Orchamps, France. It glided over the road for 30 meters and then rose rapidly. (Sources: Aime Michel, Flying Saucers and the Straight Line Mystery, p. 167; Jacques Vallee, Passport to Magonia: A Century of Landings, p. 226)
[Ref. jbu1:] JEROME BEAU:
[...]
09:00 p.m. In Orchamps (France), Mr. Beuc (farmer) sees an object and a pilot of small size which entered inside the machine. It slips on the road during 30 m then rises quickly.
[...]
The source is noted "Carrouges, M. 98".
[Ref. lcn1:] LUC CHASTAN:
Luc Chastan indicates that in the Doubs in Orchamps Vennes on October 12, 1954 at 09:00 p.m., "the witness goes back to the farm where he works when it suddenly sees motionless on the edge of the road, an apparatus of the particular shape of a 4 CV supported by four wheels of approximately 40 centimeters in diameter. The farmer, within one meter of the machine, is face to face with a small being dressed of a cap and a leather coat. Our witness having challenged the mysterious visitor, the latter goes up in his apparatus which, after having rolled during about thirty meters on the road, takes off in the manner of a plane and takes height quickly."
The source is indicated as "Ovni, Premier dossier complet... by Figuet M./ Ruchon J.L. ** Alain Lefeuvre pub. 1979".
[Ref. uda1:] "UFODNA" WEBSITE:
The website indicates that on 12 October 1954 at 21:00 in Orchamps, France, "A farmer saw a short man (under 5' tall) enter an object. It glided over the road for 30', then rose rapidly."
The website adds: "An object was observed. It departed by rapidly flying straight up until lost to sight. One object was observed by one male witness on a road for 30 minutes (Beuc, F). One 4.9-foot-tall dwarf, wearing a brown jacket and helmet, was seen."
The sources are indicated as "Webb, David, HUMCAT: Catalogue of Humanoid Reports; Michel, Aime, Flying Saucers and the Straight-Line Mystery, S. G. Phillips, New York, 1958; Bowen, Charles, The Humanoids: FSR Special Edition No. 1, FSR, London, 1966; Pereira, Jader U., Les Extra-Terrestres, Phenomenes Spatiaux, Paris, 1974; Vallee, Jacques, Computerized Catalog (N = 3073); Vallee, Jacques, Challenge to Science: The UFO Enigma, Henry Regnery, Chicago, 1966; Vallee, Jacques, Preliminary Catalog (N = 500), (in JVallee01); Vallee, Jacques, A Century of Landings (N = 923), (in JVallee04), Chicago, 1969; Schoenherr, Luis, Computerized Catalog (N = 3173); Carrouges, Michel, Les Apparitions de Martiens, Fayard, Paris, 1963; Delaire, J. Bernard, UFO Register Volume 7 (1976), Data Research, Oxford, 1976; Newspaper Clippings; Civilian Saucer Intelligence-New York; Hatch, Larry, *U* computer database, Author, Redwood City, 2002."
[Ref. uda2:] "UFODNA" WEBSITE:
The website indicates that on 12 October 1954 at 21:00 in Orchamps, France, "a small pilot entered an object."
The website adds: "A farmer, Mr. Beuc, saw a small pilot enter an object in Orchamps, France. It glided over the road for 30 meters and then rose rapidly."
And: "A farmer, Mr. Beuc, saw a small pilot enter an object. It glided over the road for 30 meters, then rose rapidly. An unidentifiable object and its occupants were observed at close range."
The sources are indicated as "Vallee Magonia Database".
[Ref. tai1:] "THINK ABOUT IT" WEBSITE:
Location: Orchamps-Vennes France
Date: October 12 1954
Time: 2100
Franzesko Beuc encountered, beside the road, a machine resembling a "4-CV" supported by 4 wheels 15" diameter. Nearby was a man slightly less than 5 ft tall, dressed in a leather jacket & wearing a helmet. The Beuc [sic] spoke to him, he jumped into the machine, which rolled 30 yards down the road, then took off into the sky.
Source: Humcat quoting newspaper
Source: Jacques Vallee, Passport to Magonia 242
[Ref. nip1:] "THE NICAP WEBSITE":
*Oct. 12, 1954 - At 9:00 p.m. a farmer, Mr. Beuc, saw a small pilot enter an object in Orchamps, France. The UFO then glided over the road for 30 meters and then rose rapidly. (Sources: Aime Michel, Flying Saucers and the Straight Line Mystery, p. 167; Jacques Vallee, Passport to Magonia: A Century of Landings, p. 226, case # 242).
[Ref. jgz1:] JULIEN GONZALEZ:
The author indicates that there was a close encounter of the third kind at Orchamps-Vennes, the Doubs, on October 12, 1954, at 09:00 p.m.
Franzesko Beuc, a 48-year-old cultivator, was returning to the farm where he worked when he suddenly saw a 4-CV-shaped device supported by four wheels about 40 centimeters in diameter, motionless along the roadside. The farmer, one meter from the craft, found himself face to face with a small being of 1.50 meters wearing a leather coat and a cap. Mr. Beuc, called up the mysterious visitor, who climbed into his apparatus, which after having rolled for about thirty meters on the road, took off in the manner of an airplane and quickly rose.
The sources are indicated as Michel Carrouges, "Les apparitions de Martiens", page 98; C. Garreau and R. Lavier, "Face aux Extra-Terrestres", page 111; Michel Figuet and Jean-Louis Ruchon, "OVNI: le premier dossier complet des rencontres rapprochées en France", pages 154-155; Jean Sider, "Le dossier 1954 et l'imposture rationaliste", page 197; Les Dernières Nouvelles d'Alsace for October 27, 1954; La Bourgogne Républicaine for October 27 1954.
[Ref. ubk1:] "UFO-DATENBANK":
This database recorded this case 14 times instead of one:
| 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 | Orchamps-Vennes | France | 21.00 | CE III | |||||
| 19541012 | 12.10.1954 | Orchamps | France | 21.00 | CE III | |||||
| 19541012 | 12.10.1954 | Orchamps | France | CE III | ||||||
| 19541012 | 12.10.1954 | Orchamps | France | 21.00 | CE III | |||||
| 19541012 | 12.10.1954 | Orchamps | France | 21.00 | CE III | |||||
| 19541012 | 12.10.1954 | Orchamps | France | CE III | ||||||
| 19541012 | 12.10.1954 | Orchamps | France | 21.00 | CE III | |||||
| 19541012 | 12.10.1954 | Orchamps | France | 21.00 | CE III | |||||
| 19541012 | 12.10.1954 | Orchamps | France | 21.00 | CE III | |||||
| 19541012 | 12.10.1954 | Orchamps | France | 21.00 | CE III | |||||
| 19541012 | 12.10.1954 | Orchamps | France | 21.00 | CE III | |||||
| 19541012 | 12.10.1954 | Orchamps | France | CE III | ||||||
| 19541012 | 12.10.1954 | Orchamps | France | 21.00 | CE III | |||||
| 19541012 | 12.10.1954 | Orchamps Vennes | France | 21.00 | CE III |
[Ref. prn2:] PETER ROGERSON - "INTCAT":
October 12 1954. 2100hrs.
ORCHAMPS-VENNES (DOUBS: FRANCE)
A farm labourer Franzesko Beuc (48) was returning home on this foggy night when he encountered an object shaped like a Citroen 4CV, sitting on wheels 40cm in diameter. As Beuc got closer he met a man, 1.5m tall, dressed in a cap and leather jacket. When Beuc called out to him, the man got into the vehicle, which drove on for 30m, then took off like a plane and flew away.
Evaluation - It was a 4CV and its driver with the 'take off' an illusion caused by the fog. Vallee turned this into a small man entering an object no details provided.
Note: The source reference "Gross URECAT" is my file as it appears in my CE3 catalogue URECAT; the file content is the same as this page of my France 1954 catalogue. No link is given and is content is not really reflected.
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A reader of my website which is from the area informed me via email in 2006 that indeed, Francesco Beuc had been deceived by a strong fog, and that he actually saw a 4CV and its driver, as its description suggests it. The story of this confusion was well-known in the village.
Jean Sider is thus right in noting the strong resemblance with the case in Neuilly-l'Evêque; but he seems to believe that this resemblance means the explanation is false when one resemblance is that the same explanation applies... (I do not know who is the "low-level socio-psycho" or "socios-psychos from the East" he mentions.)
Later, I discovered the newspaper article in La République Varoise for October 27, 1954; which shows that the confusion with a 4CV car was already a considered idea at the time of the sighting.
Below: The very popular 54' Renault 4-CV car:
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(These keywords are only to help queries and are not implying anything.)
Orchamps-Vennes, Orchamps, Doubs, object, occupant, humanoid, landing, fast, Beuc, 4cv, wheels, road, helmet, leather, man
[----] indicates sources that are not yet available to me.
| 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 [mcs1], [goe1], [djn1], [jbu1], [lcn1], [uda1], [uda2]. |
| 1.1 | Patrick Gross | May 16, 2010 | Addition [lae1], addition of the case in URECAT. |
| 1.2 | Patrick Gross | June 29, 2010 | Addition [jve5]. |
| 1.3 | Patrick Gross | August 14, 2013 | Addition [prn1]. |
| 1.4 | Patrick Gross | October 9, 2014 | Addition [tai1]. |
| 1.5 | Patrick Gross | November 15, 2014 | Addition [nip1]. |
| 1.6 | Patrick Gross | December 21, 2016 | Additions [tbr1], [jpa1], [lgs1], [ubk1]. |
| 1.7 | Patrick Gross | March 2, 2017 | Additions [ame1], [jsr1], [jgz1], Summary. |
| 1.8 | Patrick Gross | January 9, 2019 | Additions [via1], [lhh1], [mft3], [mft1], [bbr2], [ldl1], [prn2]. |
| 1.9 | Patrick Gross | September 9, 2019 | Additions [aml4], [fle1], [jte2]. |
| 2.0 | Patrick Gross | January 27, 2020 | Addition [cpd1]. |
| 2.1 | Patrick Gross | February 21, 2020 | Addition [nnm1]. |
| 2.2 | Patrick Gross | April 2, 2020 | Addition [cdn1]. |
| 2.3 | Patrick Gross | May 21, 2020 | Addition [jps1]. |
| 2.4 | Patrick Gross | February 26, 2021 | Addition [lbr1]. |
| 1.5 | Patrick Gross | September 3, 2021 | Addition [tbw1]. |
| 1.6 | Patrick Gross | May 6, 2022 | Additions [gqy1], [gqy2]. |
| 1.7 | Patrick Gross | June 3, 2022 | Addition [agd1]. |
| 1.8 | Patrick Gross | July 3, 2022 | Addition [jve8]. |
| 1.9 | Patrick Gross | March 21, 2025 | Addition [brn1]. |
| 2.0 | Patrick Gross | October 14, 2025 | Addition [jte1]. In the Summary, addition of the information from [jte1]. |
