The index page for the 1954 French flap section of this website is here.
Reference for this case: 14-Oct-54-Perpignan.
Please cite this reference in any correspondence with me regarding this case.
The regional newspaper L'Indépendant, of Perpignan, had reported on October 16, 1954, that an inhabitant of the St-Assicle district of Perpignan, a man "who seems perfectly balanced and trustworthy, Mr. Figuères Damien, retired Customs officer, 56 years old, residing at 27, rue de la Guarrigole ", told them that "Thursday evening", therefore on October 14, 1954, around 19:50, he had seen on the road, near the swimming pool campsite, at the intersection of the crossing which joins the Prades road, a large red ball.
The newspaper says that from this ball, "which landed in the middle of the road, came out a tall man, dressed like a scuba diver, then, having made the tour of his apparatus, he returned hurriedly when he saw Mr. Figuères' two dogs arrive. Taking off without making the slightest noise and without spitting the slightest flame, the craft disappeared into the sky with prodigious rapidity."
"Mr. Figuères, who was about thirty meters from the sphere, rushed home, 150 meters from the place of landing of the craft, alerted his son-in-law Mr. Lissoni, driver in the service of Mr. Dot, shipper, and both returned to the scene but they found no trace on the ground, or on the electric or telephone wires which frame the crossroads, forming a square in which the craft must have landed."
The story spread like wildfire in the French and then worldwide press, in brief summaries, the journalists being visibly amused by the idea of the "interpanetary scuba diver" who "was afraid of dogs"; headline generally given to the articles.
Often the name of the witness would become "Siguères", and the date was wrong. This was sometimes reflected in ufological literature, where the story had the usual career by entering Jacques Vallée's catalog in 1969, with the date of October 15, 1954; which is the date of the report and not of the event, This was copied by many others afterwards.
In 1985, the Swiss ufology magazine OVNI Présence #33-34 assured us that it was a "slow meteor" - there was such a meteor on October 14, 1954, but at about 06:13 p.m., not 07:50 p.m. - "seen all over France and elsewhere."
In 2003, I indicated in this file that it was probably one of the many hoaxes of the two journalists of Samedi Soir who diguized as "Martians" in "divers' suits", with a car disguised as a saucer, and fireworks; they wanted to verify or demonstrate that witnesses were mistaken, but as their antics were not claimed with specific places and dates, it obviously leeves some doubts.
[Ref. det1:] "DERBY EVENING TELEGRAPH" NEWSPAPER:
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BANGKOK, Oct. 16 (INS). -- Thailand which has been feeling ignored by interplanetary visitors - heaved a sign of relief today after a flying saucer was sighted over Bangkok.
Bangkok newspapers, quoted by Agence France Presse, not only hailed the sighting of a saucer over their city "at last," but declared that "available information reveals that uninvited guests from outer space ... are directing their attention here with a friendly attitude towards the people of Bangkok."
PERPIGNAN, France, Oct. 16 (INS). -- A retired French customs man today reported he saw a flying saucer land and a tall man dressed in "a diver's suit" step out.
Agence France Presse said Damien Siguère, 56, described the "saucer" as a large red sphere. He added that the occupant jumped back into his craft and took off rapidly, but noiselessly, when he saw Siguere's two dogs.
[Ref. lit1:] "L'INDEPENDANT" NEWSPAPER:
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operated by a "diver"
PERPIGNAN -. Until yesterday it had not been given to us to have an affirmative testimony of the passage of the "flying saucers" in the area of Perpignan. However yesterday evening we learned that an inhabitant from the district of St-Assicle, a man who appears perfectly balanced and worthy of faith, Mr. Figuères Damien, retired Customs officer, 56 years old, living 27, street of Guarrigole, affirmed to us that Thursday evening, around 07:50 p.m., he had seen on the road, close to the camp-site of the swimming pool, at the intersection of the crossing which joined the road of Prades, a large red ball. From it; which landed in the middle of the road, a large man, dressed like a diver, came out, then walked all around his apparatus, and returned hurriedly inside having seen Mr. Figuères' two dogs arriving. Taking off without making the least noise and without spitting the least flame, the craft disappeared in the sky at an extraordinary speed.
Mr. Figuères who was about thirty meters approximately of the sphere, rushed home, 150 meters from the place of landing of the machine, alerted his son-in-law Mr. Lissoni, driver at the service of Mr. Dot, shipper, and both reconsidered the spot but they found no trace neither on the ground, nor even on the electric or telephone wire which frame the crossroads, forming a square inside which the machine had to land.
(Read the continuation on the last page)
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Mr. Damien Figuères indicates to our photographer the place where, he affirms, he saw the mysterious machine land. Mr. Figuères was then at the place occupied on our photograph by a cyclist.
(Photo R. P., Indépendant).
[Ref. det1:] "L'ESPOIR" NEWSPAPER:
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ROME. - Many mysterious craft were sighted yesterday in the Italian sky.
One of these craft landed near Rovigo, in the so-called place Po di Gnocca area, where several people observed it.
The apparatus of circular shape after slowly hovering, landed on the ground without a sound.
After being motionless a few minutes, it resumed its flight, vertically and silent, but at the place where it had taken off, there is now a fairly deep crater, six meters in diameter. Six poplar that grow there were also charred.
The authorities will go to the scene to verify the authenticity of eyewitness accounts.
Around Modane, a trader saw a glowing "flying cigar" fly at two hundred meters in altitude. After a brief stop, the apparatus reportedly went to the northwest. This observation was confirmed by other witnesses.
Finally, a shimmering silver "flying saucer" flew over the area of Luine at 5,000 meters. Witnesses of this observation stated that the "saucer" did not make any noise and emitted no smoke. It disappeared in the direction of Switzerland.
THE INTERPLANETARY "DIVER" IS AFRAID OF DOGS
Perpignan. -- Mr. Damien Siguères, 58-year-old, a retired Customs officer stated to have seen on the road near his home in the suburbs of Perpignan, a large red sphere. From this, came a tall man, dressed like a diver.
Having toured the apparatus, the "diver" rushed back inside as the Mr. Siguères' two dogs rushed toward him.
The craft then rose silently and disappeared at a prodigious speed.
Mr. Siguères was then about thirty meters of the craft, of which no traces were found on the ground.
[Ref. ppe1:] NEWSPAPER "PARIS-PRESSE":
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A cyclist from Biot, near Antibes, bordered on a disaster: he almost collided with a flying cigar that was parked on the road.
- I had, he said, just the time to brake.. In front of me: a kind of cylinder, terminated by a metallic tail in gray color. The craft went to the vertical with a slight hissing sound.
"Above all, do not reveal my name, I would not like to be taken for a crackpot," asked the witness, telling his story to the first deputy of the town hall of Antibes.
A few hours later, workers announced that they too had seen the cigar. Antibes newspaper "L'Indépendant" has published a special edition.
The Midi, currently, is invaded by saucers. Martians must fear the cold...
One saw above Nice an orange disc, above Cannes a "green tailed yellow craft"; grape pickers from the Var saw a white and blue flying cigar. A pensioner met, near the swimming pool of Perpignan, a Martian dressed in a diving suit, descended from a large reddish sphere, which flew away without a trace.
As for the flying cigar of Fontaine-de-Vaucluse, it turned out, after investigation, that it was only a saucer ghost. Local residents, mayor first, say they saw it. But the two fighter pilots sent to chase it vainly sought it in the sky. They did not even distinguish the slightest weather balloon. One reported another cigar a little later at the Italian border, but this time no one bothered.
Moreover, many cigars were seen yesterday in Italy. The most curious information concerns one who would have landed near Rovigo: at the place where the locals claim to have seen it take off, a crater, six meters in diameter opens, and six poplars trees which stood nearby were half charred.
Finally yesterday afternoon, the residents of Tulle and Brive examined under the binocular a gigantic "elongated drug drop container" which flew over the region until nightfall. It was also seen from the weather station of Puy-Chadrac and from that of Rueyres (Cantal), but observers compare it to an olive surmounted by an antenna...
MONDAY, the continuation of our investigation:
"What you need to know about flying saucers"
[Ref. lml1:] NEWSPAPER "LE MERIDIONAL":
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PERPIGNAN. -- Mr. Damien Siguères, 56-year-old, retired customs officer, stated to have seen on the road, close to his home, in the suburbs of Perpignan, a large red sphere. From it left a big man, dressed like a diver. Having walked around his craft, the "diver" hurriedly got back inside while Mr. Siguères' two dogs rushed towards him.
The craft then rose without noise and disappeared at an extraordinary speed.
Mr. Siguères was then at about thirty meters of the craft, of which no trace was found on the ground.
[Ref. lpl1:] NEWSPAPER "LE PROVENCAL":
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Near la Tour-d'Aigues
The Vaucluse
Looking up, I saw in the sky a disc from 6 to 7 meters provided with a kind of tail of several meters. Having gone in all haste at the place where it had seemed to me that the strange machine had landed, I did not find anything."
And M. Reynier adds: "I acknowledge that I was a little afraid; as for my son, he was sick with it."
This testimony was confirmed by several people who saw the object from different places.
Valence (C.P.)
Thursday night a little after 6 p.m., Mr. Jean Gabert, agent of the principal receipt of Valence, returned by car with his young woman, from Saint-Perey when before Grange-les-Valence, they saw at a low height a ball of fire which followed the valley of the Rhone. They both had the impression that the machine flew over Valence. It was a ball of green color with a tail that ended in yellow color. Mr. and Mrs. Gabert saw it well during a few seconds. Then suddenly the unknown object disappeared.
Tresques (C.P.)
Thursday, at 05:30 p.m., Mr. Payan Yves, who was plowing his field, Saint Martin district, had the surprise to see passing above him at low altitude a machine of an intense luminosity, leaving a dazzling trail and not making any noise. The object moved at a vertiginous speed from West to East. He alerted Mr. Teissier Raoul who was hunting and both followed its flight until complete disappearance in direction of the east.
Carpentras (C.P.)
Thursday evening, around 6 p.m., several people saw from the district of Peyguière, a machine which crossed the sky west of Carpentras. It had the shape of a cigar, shone, and appeared to drop sparks behind.
Fuveau (C.P.)
Thursday, October 14, at 6:10 p.m., on the ground of basket-ball of "Trente-Gouttes", Mr. Martin, schoolteacher in Fuveau, initiated his pupils and alumni to basket-ball when, in the middle of the meeting, he saw in the sky a luminous machine of lengthened form, whose color reminded that of the glow-worms. The appearance lasted 3 to 4 seconds. According to the distance, the observer thinks that the machine was moving at high speed to fly over Peynier while moving towards Rousset; besides he described a trajectory which disappeared behind the village's bell-tower. This kind of rocket left behind a short luminous sparkling trail.
The pupils who surrounded their teacher also saw for a short moment this "phenomenon".
Perpignan (A.F.P.).
M. Damien Siguères, 56 years old, retired customs officer, stated to have seen on the road, close to his home, in the suburbs of Perpignan, a large red sphere. A tall man came out of it, dressed like a diver. Having made a tour of his apparatus, the "diver" went back inside hurriedly while Mr. Siguères' two dogs were rushing towards him.
The machine then rose without noise and disappeared at an extraordinary speed.
Mr. Siguères was then at about thirty meters of the machine, of which no trace was found on the ground.
[Ref. lqh1:] NEWSPAPER "LE QUOTIDIEN DE LA HAUTE-LOIRE":
Mr. Damien Siguère, aged 56, retired customs officer, stated to have seen on the road, close to his residence, in the suburbs of Perpignan, a large red sphere. From it, left a tall man, dressed like a diver. Having made a tour around his craft, the "diver" went back in there hurriedly, while Mr. Siguère's two dogs rushed towards him. The craft then rose without noise and disappeared at an extraordinary speed.
[Ref. tdt1:] "DAILY TIMES" NEWSPAPER:
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PERPIGNAN, France (INS) -- A retired French customs official reported today he saw a flying saucer land and a tall man dressed in "a diver's suit" step out. Agence France Presse said Damien Sigueres, 56, described the "saucer" as a large red sphere. He added that the occupant jumped back into his craft and took off rapidly, but noiselessly, when he saw Sigueres' two dogs.
BANGKOK (INS) -- Thailand - which has been feeling ignored by interplanetary visitors - heaved a sigh of relief today after a flying saucer was sighted over Bangkok.
[Ref. ddh1:] "DELPHOS DAILY HERALD" NEWSPAPER:
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PERPIGNAN, France (INS) -- A retired French customs official reported today that he saw a flying saucer land and a tall man dressed in "a diver's suit" step out. Agence France Presse said Damien Sigueres, 56, described the "saucer" as a large red sphere. He added that the occupant jumped back into his craft and took off rapidly, but noiselessly, when he saw Sigueres' two dogs.
[Ref. tdh1:] "TYRONE DAILY HERALD" NEWSPAPER:
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PERPIGNAN, France (INS) -- A retired French customs official reported today he saw a flying saucer land and a tall man dressed in "a diver's suit" step out. Agence France Presse said Damien Sigueres, 56, described the "saucer" as a large red sphere. He added that the occupant jumped back into his craft and took off rapidly, but noiselessly, when he saw Sigueres' two dogs.
[Ref. abj1:] "AKRON BEACON JOURNAL" NEWSPAPER:
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PERPIGNAN, France (INS) -- A retired French customs agent reported Saturday he saw a flying saucer land and a tall man dressed in "a diver's suit" step out.
Agence France Presse said Damien Sigueres, 56, described the "saucer" as a large red sphere. He added that the occupant jumped back into his craft and took off rapidly, but noiselessly, when he saw Sigueres' two dogs.
[Ref. rdr1:] "RADAR" MAGAZINE:
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WITH the accent of the country of Clemence Isaure, Olivier tells his great adventure. "I was not going to run the risk of forgetting the features of the Martian, and those who had the privilege of meeting them are not so numerous." Right away, on the toilet doors, I drew mine with the chalk. In the neighborhood of La Croix-Daurade, not far from L[...], a slight whistling sound caught my attention, leaving behind an intense luminous trail, a kind of giant rocket landed in a field masked by a nearby hangar. I ran and there, I saw, with my eyes saw, a diving suit of about 1 m 20. It radiated a slight fog and when I wanted to come closer, I was like paralyzed."
[Photo caption:]
Panero (left) and Oliver saw the Martian of L[...] street.
[Ref. ldt1:] "LEBANON DAILY NEWS" NEWSPAPER:
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PERPIGNAN, France (INS) -- A retired French customs official reports that he saw a flying saucer land and a tall man dressed in "a diver's suit" step out. Agence France Presse said Damien Sigueres, 56, described the "saucer" as a large red sphere. He added that the occupant jumped back into his craft and took off rapidly, but noiselessly, when he saw Sigueres' two dogs.
[Ref. hws1:] HAROLD T. WILKINS:
The author indicates that on October 14, 1954, a customs officer at Perpignan in France, testified on oath that a strange reddish object landed near him, and that a man in a sort of "space suit" came out of it. The man was apparently scared by barking dogs and climbed back and took off at fantastic speed.
Further in the book, he mentions that in November 1954, Saucer entities buzzed off from barking dogs, at Perpignan.
[Ref. gbr1] GRAY BARKER:
At Perpignan retired French Custom Official Damien Siguères saw a flying saucer land and a tall man dressed in a diver's suit get out of the craft. But the man jumped back into the saucer and took off when he saw M. Sigueres' two dogs. This saucer was described as a large red sphere.
[Ref. jve8:] JACQUES VALLEE:
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| 14 Oct., 1954 | Perpignan | France | Figuères | "Diver" near a machine | 1 |
[Ref. jve5:] JACQUES VALLEE:
| 329 | -002.90431 | 42.68700 | 14 | 10 | 1954 | PERPIGNAN | F | 011 | A |
[Ref. jve1:] JACQUES VALLEE:
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261) October 15, 1954, Perpignan (France):
Near the swimming pool in Saint-Assiscle, Damien Figueres, fifty-six-year-old, was walking with his dogs when a reddish, luminous sphere landed 30 m away and an individual in a diving suit walked around it. The dogs barked at him. He boarded the machine, and it flew away in silence. (P. 65, Carrouges 120).
[Ref. jve2:] JACQUES VALLEE:
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October 15, 1954, Perpignan (France):
Near the swimming pool in Saint-Assiscle, Damien Figueres, 56, was walking with his dogs when a reddish, luminous sphere landed 30 m away and an individual in a diving suit walked around it. The dogs barked at him. He boarded the machine, and it flew away in silence. (Paris-Presse, France-Soir, Oct. 17, 1954, Carrouges 120).
[Ref. mcs1:] MICHEL CARROUGES:
The author indicates that on October 13, 1954 in Perpignan, Mr. Figuère, pensioner, 76 years old, saw, posed at less than 30 meters of him a "large illuminated reddish sphere", from which a "Martian" dressed like a diver came out, and quickly walked around the craft, went up on board, and took off.
[Ref. mcs2:] "MICHEL CARROUGES":
The author notes that "Perpignan" is one of the 8 French cases of 1954 having taken place in a city with 20,000 to 260,000 inhabitants.
[Ref. gcn1:] GORDON CREIGHTON:
41. Perpignan, France (October 15, 1954)
Near the swimming-pool at Saint-Assicle, Monsieur Damien Figuères was walking with his dogs when a reddish luminous sphere landed 30 metres from them and an individual in a "diving-suit" emerged and walked around it. The dogs barked at him. He then re-entered the craft, which took off silently.
Jacques Vallée: Case No. 261 of A century of Landings, in Lumières Dans la Nuit, No 102 (October 1969) and Passport to Magonia.
[Ref. gcn2:] GORDON CREIGHTON:
45. Perpignan, Pyrénées-Orientales, France - October 15, 1954.
Mr. Damien Figuères was walking with his dogs when a luminous red sphere landed some 30 m from him. An individual wearing a "diver's outfit" got out and began to walk around the object. The dogs barked afterwards. Then the being returned to the ship, which took to the air in total silence.
Ref.: J. Vallée: Case nr 261, "A century of landings", LDLN and "Passport to Magonia".
[Ref. gal1:] CHARLES GARREAU AND RAYMOND LAVIER:
The two authors indicate that on October 13, 1954 in Perpignan, Mr. Figuéras [and not Figuères] a 76 years old pensioner [and not 56], sees a landed reddish luminous sphere, at about thirty meters of him. A small character equipped as a diver comes down from the craft. He walks around the sphere and goes up on board. The craft takes off at once. Mr. Figuéras noticed that the dogs of the vicinity barked furiously during all this scene.
[Ref. agd1:] ALAIN GAMARD:
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| Case # | Date | Time | Locality | Department | Witness(es) name |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 054 | 13/10/1954 | - | Perpignan. | 66 | Damien Figuères. |
[Ref. prn1:] PETER ROGERSON:
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438 15 October 1954
PERPIGNAN (FRANCE) Near the swimming pool in St Assiscle, Damien Figueres (56) was walking with his dogs when a reddish, luminous sphere landed 30m away and an individual in a diving suit walked around it. The dogs barked at him. He boarded the machine, and it flew away in silence. (M26l, Paris-Presse, FranceSoir, 17 Oct 54; Carrouges, 120)
[Ref. tbw1:] TED BLOECHER AND DAVID WEBB:
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54-77 Oct. 15, 1954 Near Perpignan, France Type B
Retired French customs man Damien Figueres, 56, reported he saw a large red sphere land, and a tall man dressed in a "diver's suit" step out. The occupant jumped back into his craft and took off without sound when he saw F.'s two dogs.
Investigator:
Sources: INS dispatch in New York Journal-American, 10/17/54; Vallee, Magonia, p. 229.
[Ref. fru1:] MICHEL FIGUET AND JEAN-LOUIS RUCHON:
The two authors indicate that in Perpignan on October 15, 1954, a person is in front of his residence, close to the swimming pool of Saint-Assiscle and walks his two dogs.
He then sees a reddish sphere which is posed on the road. From this object emerges a big man, dressed like a diver. Having walked around his apparatus, the pilot quickly goes back in there, while the two barking dogs leap towards the object.
The object then rose without noise and disappeared at an extraordinary speed. The witness was at about thirty meters of the apparatus. No traces were found on the road.
The authors indicate that the sources are case 261 of the Vallée catalogue; Michel Carrouges in "Les Apparitions de Martiens" page 120; C. Garreau and R. Lavier in "Face aux E.T." page 172; le Provençal for 10/17/1954; la Montagne for 10/18/1954; Paris-Presse and France-Soir for 10/17/1954.
[Ref. op1:] OVNI-PRESENCE:
According to an article in the ufology magazine OVNI Présence #33-34 of December 1985, the sighting explains as a "slow meteor" seen "all over France and elsewhere."
[Ref. jge1:] JEAN-FRANCOIS GILLE:
| ICOD | DESIGNATION | (57) | DATE | JV4 | jve1 | COMMENTS | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 089 | 1570 | PERPIGNAN ST-ASSISCLE | RF66 | 541015 | 261 | 329 | @, CE3 | |
[Ref. mft3:] MICHEL FIGUET:
| Nr of the J. C. Fumoux list | Nr of Francat list | Localization | Date | Class | Credibility | Sources | Number of W |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 089 | 210 | Perpignan Saint-Assiscles | 15/10 | CE3 | P NI J.V. | 2-p. 168 | 1 T |
[Ref. mft1:] MICHEL FIGUET:
| CASE Nr | CLASSIFICATION | DATE | HOUR | PLACE | ZIP CODE | CREDIBILITY SOURCE |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 210 | CE3 | 15 10 1954 | hnp | Perpignan "St-Assiscle" | 66000 B6 | NI-RS-D, B-B 99-1 00 |
[Ref. jsr1:] JEAN SIDER:
66 - 14 octobre, 19h30, Perpignan, Pyrénées Orientales.
Mr. Damien Figuères, 56 ans.
Sur la route de Prades, quartier St. Assiscle, près du camping de la piscine, le témoin (retraité des Douanes), voit une grande boule rouge qui se pose au centre de chaussée. Un grand homme vêtu comme un scaphandrier en sort. Il fait le tour de son appareil et le réintègre précipitamment en voyant arriver les deux chiens du témoin, lesquels se précipitent vers lui. L'un d'eux avait aboyé auparavant en direction de l'objet. Puis l'en¬gin décolle et disparaît.
Source locale: L'indépendant, Perpignan, 16 octobre 1954, p. 1 et dernière.
Nota: Figuet date le cas au 15. Non, ma source dit bien: "Jeudi soir'', ce qui correspond au 14 octobre. La réaction des chiens est extraordinaire, car elle semble indiquer que le phénomène était bien de nature physique (peut-être même temporairement maté¬rielle). En d'autres circonstances, des chiens ont fui ce qui pour¬rait indiquer une nature différente chez le phénomène qui s'est manifesté (psychique, holographique, énergétique, avec utilisa¬tion d'émissions d'ondes inconnues qui perturbent et affolent les systèmes perceptifs des animaux).
Further on in his book, Jean Sider refers to the article of the newspaper L'Indépendent of October 16, 1954, to specify that at the time of the incident of October 14, 1954 at 07:30 p.m. in Perpignan, one of the dogs of Mr. Damien Figuères who was an Alsatian, had barked at the object landed in the middle of the road, and that his two dogs had rushed in the direction of the object.
[Ref. lhh1:] LARRY HATCH - "*U* COMPUTER DATABASE":
4123: 1954/10/14 19:50 18 2:54:00 E 42:41:20 N 3333 WEU FRN PYO 9:3
St ASSISCLE,FR:LUM OVOID ^:MAN/DIVING SUIT EXITS:DOGS BARK:^ SLNT:/r217p261
Ref#197 WEINSTEIN, D: French Newsclips 1954 Page No. 88 : PASTURE
[Ref. goe1:] GODELIEVE VAN OVERMEIRE:
The Belgian ufologist indicates that on October 15, 1954 in France in Perpignan, Damien Figuères walked with his dogs not far from the swimming pool of St-Assiscle, when a reddish sphere lands and a tall being, dressed like a diver, walked around it. The dogs barked after him. He went up on board the machine which flew away silently.
The sources are indicated as Jacques Vallée: "Chronique des apparitions ET", Denoël 1972, J'Ai Lu collection, p. 282.
The ufologist adds that in reality, according to OVNI Présence #33/34 Dec. 1985, it was a "slow meteor" seen on all France and elsewhere.
[Ref. ars1:] ALBERT ROSALES:
167.
Location. Near Perpignan France
Date: October 15 1954
Time: unknown
Retired French customs man Damien Figueres, 56, reported he saw a large red sphere land, and a tall man dressed in a "diver's suit" step out. The occupant jumped back into his craft and took off without sound when he saw Figuere's two dogs.
Humcat 1954-100
Source: Jacques Vallee, Passport to Magonia
Type: B
[Ref. djn1:] DONALD JOHNSON:
On this Day
October 15
[...]
1954 - Near the community swimming pool in Saint-Assiscle, Perpignan, France Damien Figueres, age 56, was walking with his dogs when a red luminous sphere landed 30 meters away. A humanoid being in a diving suit got out and walked around it. The dogs barked at him. The being then boarded the craft and it flew away in silence. (Source: Jacques Vallee, Passport to Magonia: A Century of Landings, p. 229).
[...]
[Ref. jay1:] JORDI ARDANUY:
Jordi Ardanuy summarizes the whole of the sources which I published in this file in date of 2006; the references indicate that it comes from my page.
He then comments on that "all the information on the case is dubious", that there is neither agreement on the name nor agreement on the date, that on October 14, 1954, what was probably a slow meteor was seen in several place of France and thus the case is certainly a divagation around an original testimony on the slow meteor; although my file said it was a "Probable hoax by the two journalists of 'Samedi Soir'".
[Ref. jbu1:] JEROME BEAU:
Friday, October 15, 1954
In Perpignan (France), Damien Figuères (56 years old) walks with his dogs not far from the swimming pool of Saint-Assiscle, when a reddish luminous sphere lands at 30 m and 1 being dressed like a diver walks around it. The dogs bark after him. He climbed on the apparatus which flies away silently.
Jérôme Beau indicates that the sources are Paris-Presse, France-Soir, October 17, 1954, and "Carrouges, M. 120".
[Ref. uda1:] "UFODNA" WEBSITE:
The website indicates that on 15 October 1954 in Perpignan, France, "Near swimming pool a man was walking his dogs when red luminous sphere landed 30 m away, entity in diving suit walked around it. Dogs barked. Entity boarded, flew away silently."
The website adds: "Close encounter with an unidentified craft and its occupants. One red sphere, around 100 feet away, was observed by one male 56-year-old witness in a yard (Figueres, D). No sound was heard. One tall being, wearing a diver's suit, was seen."
And: "Retired French customs man Damien Figueres, 56, reported he saw a large red sphere land, and a tall man dressed in a "diver's suit" step out. The occupant jumped back into his craft and took off without sound when he saw Figuere's two dogs."
The sources are indicated as "Webb, David, HUMCAT: Catalogue of Humanoid Reports; FSR, FSR (formerly Flying Saucer Review), FSR, London, 1966; Bowen, Charles, The Humanoids: FSR Special Edition No. 1, FSR, London, 1966; Wilkins, Harold T., Flying Saucers Uncensored, Citadel, 1955; Pereira, Jader U., Les Extra-Terrestres, Phenomenes Spatiaux, Paris, 1974; 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; Rosales, Albert, Humanoid Sighting Reports Database".
[Ref. uda2:] "UFODNA" WEBSITE:
The website indicates that on 15 October 1954 in Perpignan, France, "A reddish, luminous sphere landed 30 meters away and an individual in a diving suit walked around it."
And: "Near the community swimming pool in Saint-Assiscle, Perpignan, France Damien Figueres, age 56, was walking with his dogs when a red luminous sphere landed 30 meters away. A humanoid being in a diving suit got out and walked around it. The dogs barked at him. The being then boarded the craft and it flew away in silence."
And: "Near the swimming pool in Saint-Assiscle, Damien Figueres, 56, was walking with his dogs when a reddish, luminous sphere landed 30 meters away and an individual in a diving suit walked around it. The dogs barked at him. He boarded the machine, and it flew away in silence."
And: "One red ball was observed."
The source is indicated as "Vallee Magonia Database".
[Ref. uda3:] "UFODNA" WEBSITE:
The website indicates that on 14 October 1954 at 19:50 in St Assiscle, France, "Luminous ovoid descends. Man in diving suit exits. Dogs bark. UFO takes off, no sound. Close encounter with an unidentified craft and its occupants. One ovoid object was observed by one witness. No sound was heard."
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); Hatch, Larry, *U* computer database, Author, Redwood City, 2002".
[Ref. prn4:] PETER ROGERSON:
October 15 1954.
PERPIGNAN (PYRENEES-ORIENTALES: FRANCE)
Near the swimming pool in St-Assiscle, Damien Figueres (56) was walking with his dogs when a reddish luminous sphere landed 30m away and an individual wearing a diving suit walked around it. The dogs barked at him. He boarded the machine, which flew away in silence.
[Ref. tai1:] "THINK ABOUT IT" WEBSITE:
Location: Near Perpignan France
Date: October 15 1954
Time: unknown
Retired French customs man Damien Figueres, 56, reported he saw a large red sphere land, and a tall man dressed in a “diver’s suit” step out. The occupant jumped back into his craft and took off without sound when he saw Figuere’s two dogs.
Source: Jacques Vallee, Passport to Magonia 261
[Ref. nip1:] "THE NICAP WEBSITE":
*Oct. 15, 1954 – Near the community swimming pool in Saint-Assiscle, Perpignan, France Damien Figueres, age 56, was walking with his dogs when a red luminous sphere landed 30 meters away. A humanoid being in a diving suit got out and walked around it. The dogs barked at him. The being then boarded the craft and it flew away in silence. (Source: Jacques Vallee, Passport to Magonia: A Century of Landings, p. 229, case # 261; Michel Carrouges, Les Apparitions de Martiens, p. 120).
[Ref. jgz1:] JULIEN GONZALEZ:
The author indicates that on October 14, 1954, at 7:30 p.m. in Perpignan, Damien Figuères, 56 years old, retired from the customs, on the road of St Prades, district St Assicles close to the camp-site of the swimming pool, saw a large red ball land in the center of the roadway.
A great man dressed like a diver came out, made a tour of his apparatus and returned inside hurriedly when seeing the two dogs of the witness rush towards him. One of the dogs had barked before in direction of the object. Then the machine takes off and disappears.
The sources are indicated like as L'Indépendant for October 16, 1954, Michel Figuet and Jean-Louis Ruchon in Le Premier Dossier des Rencontres Rapprochées en France, pages 168-169, and Jean Sider in Le Dossier 1954 et l'Imposture Rationaliste on page 202.
[Ref. ubk1:] "UFO-DATENBANK":
This database recorded the case 14 times!
| Case Nr. | New case Nr. | Investigator | Date of observation | Zip | Place of observation | Country of observation | Hour of observation | Classification | Comments | Identification |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 19541013 | 13.10.1954 | Perpignan | France | CE III | ||||||
| 19541013 | 13.10.1954 | Perpignan | France | CE III | ||||||
| 19541014 | 14.10.1954 | Perpignan | France | |||||||
| 19541014 | 14.10.1954 | Perpignan | France | CE II | ||||||
| 19541014 | 14.10.1954 | Perpignan | France | CE II | ||||||
| 19541015 | 15.10.1954 | Perpignan | France | CE III | ||||||
| 19541015 | 15.10.1954 | Perpignan | France | CE III | ||||||
| 19541015 | 15.10.1954 | Perpignan | France | CE III | ||||||
| 19541015 | 15.10.1954 | Perpignan | France | CE III | ||||||
| 19541015 | 15.10.1954 | Perpignan | France | CE III | ||||||
| 19541015 | 15.10.1954 | Perpignan | France | |||||||
| 19541015 | 15.10.1954 | Perpignan | France | CE III | ||||||
| 19541015 | 15.10.1954 | Perpignan | France | CE III | ||||||
| 19541016 | 16.10.1954 | Perpignan | France |
[Ref. prn2:] PETER ROGERSON - "INTCAT":
October 15 1954. 1930hrs.
PERPIGNAN (PYRENEES-ORIENTALES : FRANCE)
Near the swimming pool in St-Assiscle, Damien Figueres ( 56 or 76) was walking with his dogs when a reddish luminous sphere landed 30m away and a tall individual wearing a diving suit walked around it. The dogs barked at him. He boarded the machine, which flew away in silence.
Vallee Case 261 citing Paris Presse + France-Soir 17 October 1954. + Carrouges 1964 p120)
Gross 1954.
Evaluation - There is much confusion on the age some sources say 56 some 76, there are various spellings of the name (some say Figueras) and the date, 13, 14 and 15 all given. Possibly the Samedi Soir hoaxers, or fantasy based on October 14 meteor.
Note: "Gross 1954" is supposed to indicate my page, no link being given; the "evaluation" was fished there by Peter Rogerson.
Probable hoax by the two journalists of "Samedi Soir".
|
(These keywords are only to help queries and are not implying anything.)
Perpignan, Pyrénées-Orientales, Damien Figuères, Damien Siguères, Damien Figuéras, sphere, luminous, red, landing, occupant, diving suit, humanoid, animals, silence, object, craft
[----] indicates sources that are not yet available to me.
| Version: | Created/Changed by: | Date: | Change Description: |
|---|---|---|---|
| 0.1 | Patrick Gross | October 26, 2003 | First published. |
| 1.0 | Patrick Gross | December 29, 2008 | Conversion from HTML to XHTML Strict. First formal version. |
| 1.1 | Patrick Gross | April 20, 2009 | Additions [mcs1], [goe1], [djn1], [jbu1], [uda1]. |
| 1.2 | Patrick Gross | March 7, 2010 | Addition [jay1], [lml1], [uda2], [uda3]. |
| 1.3 | Patrick Gross | June 29, 2010 | Addition [jve5]. |
| 1.4 | Patrick Gross | August 14, 2013 | Addition [prn4]. |
| 1.5 | Patrick Gross | September 24, 2014 | Additions [esr1], [tai1], [nip1]. |
| 1.6 | Patrick Gross | October 11, 2016 | Additions [lit1], [jgz1]. |
| 1.7 | Patrick Gross | October 17, 2016 | Addition [lpl1]. |
| 1.8 | Patrick Gross | December 8, 2016 | Additions [gbr1], [ubk1]. |
| 1.9 | Patrick Gross | September 20, 2017 | Additions [tdt1], [ddh1], [tdh1], [abj1], [ldt1]. |
| 2.0 | Patrick Gross | February 5, 2020 | Additions [ppe1], [rdr1], [prn1], [jge1], [mft3], [mft1], [lhh1], [prn2]. |
| 2.1 | Patrick Gross | February 16, 2021 | Additions [mcs2], [gcn2]. |
| 2.2 | Patrick Gross | September 6, 2021 | Additions [tbw1], Summary. |
| 2.3 | Patrick Gross | June 7, 2022 | Addition [agd1]. |
| 2.4 | Patrick Gross | July 5, 2022 | Addition [jve8]. |
