The 1954 French flap:

A cyclist from Antibes
almost crushed
a flying cigar

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 hissind 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...

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MONDAY, the continuation of our investigation:

"What you need to know about flying saucers"

Saucers, cigars, etc.

From Cannes to Ruyères
"cigars" and "olives"
wander in the sky
of France

It becomes a permanent display and a real interplanetary carousel.

In Cannes, several people observed a luminous yellow craft with a green tail.

Mr. Casella, employee at the municipal tax office in Antibes, returning home to Biot, found himself "nose to nose" with "an enormous mechanical machine, measuring 7 to 8 meters in diameter, posed in the middle of the road." The witness, who was on a bicycle, approached the craft until he almost touched it, but then it rose vertically and, with a slight whistling sound, disappeared into the sky.

In the Provence sky, in Venergues, several grape pickers saw an elongated craft, like a cigar, said one of them, and white and blue, said a second. A third harvester said the rocket appeared to emit light rays.

In Le Puy, a shiny object was observed by the Puy-Chadrac weather station. The craft appeared like a straight olive with, at the top, a sort of black antenna. The station chief specified that he believed to be in the presence of the planet Jupiter, but the sudden disappearance of the object showed that he had made a mistake. The same phenomenon was seen by the center of Ruyères (Aveyron).

We can compare these testimonies to that of several residents of Tulle who saw in the sky, in a South-South-East direction, a big bright and still point; it seemed transparent and took the shape of a cylinder with both ends conical.

Similar observations were made in Murat.

Finally, in the Finistère, Mr. René Le Viol, transporter in Fouesnant, saw a craft appear behind a curtain of trees of flat shape "looking like an upturned plate", surrounded by a reddish glow. This first disc was then followed by a second; both disappeared towards the sea.

They land
in the Siamese jungle...

France does not have a monopoly on these now incessant sarabandes.

In the Siamese capital, several hundred people saw a glittering disc, apparently one-third the diameter of the full moon, which seemed to be traversed by a wave progressively pacing its surface from left to right, exactly like some neon billboards.

The saucer, after drifting slowly from north to south for about a quarter of an hour, disappeared.

... where a mysterious ray
had charred
several villagers

On the other hand, a Thai weekly reported this week "multiple appearances of flying saucers over the border regions of Siam and Burma." Some of these craft reportedly landed in the jungle.

Finally, according to the same weekly, a "mysterious ray" charred several villagers.

In Italy, a craft landed
and charred six poplars

Italy, too, sees numerous and mysterious craft sailing in its sky.

One of them landed near Rovigo, in the area known as Po Di Gnocca, where several people observed it. The craft, circular in shape, after having slowly glided, landed silently on the ground. After a few minutes of stillness, it resumed its silent flight vertically, but where it took off, there is now a fairly deep crater six meters in diameter. Six poplars that stood around there were also charred. The authorities went to the scene to verify the authenticity of the witnesses accounts.

MIGRATING TO MEDITERRANEAN COUNTRIES

Saucers flew over Provence and Italy

Do saucers fear the cold? We cannot answer this question, but, in any case, the accounts of the mysterious apparitions are becoming scarce north of Lyon and increase in the South of France and northern Italy.

Indeed, many mysterious craft were seen Friday in the sky of Italy.

Near Rovigo, several people were able to observe a circular craft which, after slowly hovering, landed silently on the ground. After a few minutes of immobility, it resumed its silent flight vertically. At the place of takeoff, witnesses noticed a fairly deep crater six meters in diameter. Six poplars in the area had also been charred.

Authorities will visit the scene to verify the authenticity of the witnesses' accounts.

In the Modano region, a trader saw an incandescent "flying cigar" flying over the country at an altitude of around two hundred meters. After a brief stop, the craft would have headed for

Continued on the last page
under the title: SAUCERS

Saucers

the northwest. This observation was confirmed by other witnesses.

Finally, a flying saucer with silver reflections flew over Luino, near the Swiss border. Many witnesses said they saw it.

IN THE PROVENCE SKY

Mr. Bérenger, mayor of Saint-Laurent-du-Var, general councilor and many people saw an orange disc over Nice on Friday.

Several residents also observed, above Cannes, a luminous machine of yellow color with a green tail. The most interesting testimony was brought by an employee of the municipal recipe of Antibes, Mr. Casella, who, returning home, found himself "nose to nose with a huge mechanical machine measuring 7 to 8 meters in diameter and posed in the middle of the road."

The witness approached the craft. He was going to touch it when it rose vertically and disappeared into the sky with a slight hissing sound.

In Venergues, several grape pickers saw "a cigar of white and blue color", which emitted luminous rays.

In Le Puy, a bright object was observed for almost an hour, by the weather station of Puy Chadrac.

The craft appeared like a straight olive with a black antenna at the top. The station chief said he believed he was in the presence of the planet Jupiter, but the sudden disappearance of the object showed that he had made a mistake. The same phenomenon was seen by the meteorological center of Ruyeres (Cantal). Thousands of residents of Tulle saw a big shiny and transparent dot in the sky. Some believe it was a weather balloon.

Thousands of residents
of Tulle saw
the meteorologists saucer

Mysterious craft continue to haunt the sky of France, The testimonies accumulate, coming every day, bringing some new details, either on the saucers, or on the flying cigars.

In Le Puy, a bright object was observed between 5:50 p.m. and 6:35 p.m. by the Chadrac weather station. The craft appeared like a straight olive with a sort of black antenna at the top. The station chief said he thought he was in the presence of the planet Jupiter, but the sudden disappearance of the object showed that he had made a mistake. The same phenomenon was seen by the meteorological center of Rueyres (Cantal). We can compare these testimonies to that of thousands of residents of Tulle who at around 3:30 p.m., saw in the sky, in a South-South-East direction, a big bright and motionless dot. It appeared transparent and had the shape of a cylinder whose two ends were conical.

A witness claims to have
almost hit "the craft"

Above Cannes, several people observed a luminous apparatus of yellow color with a green tail. But the most interesting testimony was brought by an employee of the municipal recipe of Antibes, Mr. Casella, living in Bio [sic] who, returning home in the evening, found himself "nose to nose with a huge mechanical machine measuring 7 to 8 meters in diameters [sic] posed in the middle of the road". The witness who was on a bicycle approached the craft until almost touching it, but then it rose vertically and disappeared in the sky with a slight hissing sound.

In the Provence sky, in Venergues, several grape pickers have seen a craft elongated like a cigar, said one of them, and white and blue, said a second. A third picker said the rocket appeared to be emitting luminous rays.

A saucer lands in Italy

Many mysterious craft were also seen in the sky of Italy. One of these machines landed near Rovigo, in the Po Di Gnocca area, where several people observed it. The craft of circular shape after having slowly hovered, landed on the ground without noise, after a few minutes of immobility, it resumed vertically its silent flight, but at the place where it took off, there is now a fairly deep crater six meters in diameter. Six poplars that stood nearby were also charred. Authorities will travel to the place to verify the authenticity of the witnesses' accounts.

In the Modane region, a trader saw an incandescent "flying cigar" flying over the countryside at an altitude of around two hundred meters. After a short stop, the craft reportedly headed to the northwest. This observation was confirmed by other witnesses.

The Mont Ventoux observatory
spots a saucer

The Mont Ventoux observatory reports that since yesterday morning 7:30 a.m., East-North-East, in the direction of Orange, an unknown object hovers in the sky.

This object of ovoid shape has two superimposed cones connected by a kind of antenna.

The size of an egg

A resident of Pont-à-Marcq, who wishes to remain anonymous, told our reporter:

"Thursday evening at 10.45 p.m., I saw, in a westerly direction, going horizontally towards a very bright star, a luminous object the size of an egg moving quickly and fading at the very moment when I recorded, in the vertical direction, a trail drawing on pink by describing several curves; I do not believe in flying saucers coming from another planet, but from what I saw at such a high height, I am convinced that somewhere on our globe, tests of launching of long-range rockets are under way."

A red-orange disc
in Wignehies

Friday evening around 9 p.m. Mr. Paul Caulier, living in Hirson, was coming to visit his parents on rue F. Boussus in Wignehies, when, arriving near Quatre Bras, road from La Capelle to Hirson, a crowd made him decide to get out of the car. Several people were watching the move of a flying saucer which was visible at a distance estimated at approximately 800 m. of height. This saucer appeared in the usual red-orange disc shape. Mr. Paul Caulier then headed for Wignehies where on the road from Fourmies to Wignehies, at the place called Le Pont Pagnier, he was still able to see this saucer in the sky.

Flying saucers...
... in the sky of France

Paris, 18. -- Mysterious craft continue to regularly frequent the skies of France. The testimonies accumulate, coming every day to bring some new details, either on the saucers, or on the flying cigars.

While on Saturday evening, several reliable people, including Mr. Béranger, mayor of Saint St-Laurent-du-Var, advisor general, had seen above Nice, an orange disc, last night, this time above Cannes, several people observed a luminous craft of yellow color with a green tail, but the more interesting testimony was to be brought by an employee of the municipal recipe of Antibes.

Mr. Casella, living in Bio [sic], returning home in the evening, found himself "face to face with a huge mechanical machine measuring 7 to 8 meters in diameter placed in the middle of the road." The witness who was on a bicycle approached the craft until almost touching it, but then it rose vertically and, with a slight hiss, disappeared into the sky.

In the Provence sky, in Venergues, several grape pickers saw, Friday afternoon, a craft of elongated shape like a cigar, one said, white and blue, said a second. A third picker said the rocket appeared to be emitting luminous rays.

In Le Puy, a luminous object was observed between 5:50 p.m. and 6:36 p.m., by the Puy Chadrac weather station. The craft appeared like a straight olive with a sort of black antenna at the top. The station chief said he believed he was in the presence of the planet Jupiter. Mr. Casella, a resident of Bio who piter, but the sudden disappearance of the object demonstrated that he had been mistaken.

The same phenomenon was seen by the meteorological center of Ruyères (Cantal). One can compare these testimonies to that of thousands of inhabitants of Tulle who, around 3:35 p.m., saw in the sky, in a south-southeast direction, a big bright and motionless point. It appeared transparent and showed the shape of a cylinder whose two ends were conical.

In Murat (Cantal), an object also shiny and ovoid in shape, was to be observed for an hour. In this case, it seems to be a strongly lit balloon.

In two villages in the Haute-Marne, Vignory and Brottes, orange-colored objects were seen on Thursday evening. These objects rose vertiginously but without noise.

Finally, in the Finistère, Mr. René le Viol, transporter at Fouesnant, saw Thursday evening, behind a curtain of trees, a flat-shaped craft with the appearance of an overturned plate and surrounded by a reddish glow, this first disc was then followed by a second and both disappeared towards the sea.

THE "SAUCERS" EXPLORE ITALY

Rome, 15. -- Many mysterious craft were seen yesterday in the sky of Italy. One of these machines landed near Rovigo in the area known as Po Di Gnocca, where several people observed it. The circular craft, after having slowly hovered, landed on the ground without noise. After a few minutes of immobility, it resumed its silent vertical flight, but at the place where it took off, there is now a fairly deep crater six meters in diameter. Six poplars that stood nearby were also charred. Authorities will travel to the scene to verify the authenticity of the witnesses' accounts.

In the Modena region, a trader saw an incandescent "flying cigar" flying over the countryside at an altitude of around two hundred meters. After a brief stop, the craft reportedly headed to the northwest. This observation was confirmed by other witnesses.

Finally a flying saucer with silver reflections is reported to have flown over the Loino area at 5.000 meters. Witnesses to this observation stated that the saucer did not emit any noise and did not release any smoke. It disappeared in the direction of Switzerland.

Martians in single line

Amiens, 16. -- Mr. and Mrs. Dumeige, cattle dealers in Domart-en-Ponthieu, and Mr. Lourdel, cattle broker in Condé-Folie, who, on Thursday, around 9:00 p.m., were traveling by automobile truck on the road to Domart in Condé-Folie, said they saw a very bright glow not far from La Folie farms, which seemed to land in a meadow not far from the road.

Mr. Dumeige, who was driving, stopped his vehicle and got out with his wife and Mr. Lourdel. It was then that they saw clearly, near the light, six or seven small beings advancing in line. They were so frightened that they immediately set off again, leaving the craft and its occupants there.

THE CHADRAC WEATHER STATION AND ANOTHER ONE FROM CANTAL OBSERVE A "MYSTERIOUS APPARATUS"

The weather station Albert Baldit in Chadrac (Haute-Loire) could observe yesterday evening from 05:50 p.m. to 06:35 p.m., with glasses, a luminous machine that appeared to have the shape of an olive supporting a black antenna at its top. Moreover, observers noted that the object that threw very shining reflections of aluminium had a black trace at its third and two thirds. The station believed to have identified at the beginning of its observations the planet Jupiter, the largest of our solar system. But this machine which compared to north was 100° west changed color, with the setting sun, to become red and disappear in two minutes. Several people made the same observations from the place of Breuil while looking towards the Durande. It does indeed seem that is was the same mysterious apparatus which was observed at the same hour by the observatory of Rueyres (Cantal), by an employee of EDF in Brives-la-Gaillarde and by the inhabitants of Brioude (Haute-Loire).

SAME PHENOMENON AT 03:30 P.M.

At 03:30 P.M., a lady of which we will conceal the name but of which we warrant that she is serious, informed her husband that she noted the same phenomenon in the sky above the virgin. The observant was at this moment near la place du Greffe.

THE SAUCERS CONTINUE...

THE MONT VENTOUX OBSERVATORY REPORTS AN OVOID-SHAPED MACHINE, WITH
TWO SUPERIMPOSED CONES CONNECTED BY AN ANTENNA.
THIS CRAFT IS SAILING IN THE DIRECTION OF ORANGE.

An orange disc has been seen in the Var sky by several reliable people. A resident of Antibes, returning home, found himself "face to face with a huge mechanical craft, measuring seven to eight meters in diameter, placed in the middle of the road. The witness who was on a bicycle approached the craft, almost touching it, but then it rose vertically and, with a slight hissing sound, disappeared into the sky.

In the Provence sky, several grape pickers saw an elongated craft "like a cigar, declares one of them, and white in color and blue," said the second one. A third picker reported that the rocket appeared to be emitting luminous rays.

A bright object was observed by the meteorological station of Puy-Chadrac (Puy de Dôme). The craft appeared as a straight olive, with, at the top, a kind of black antenna. The head of the station specifies that he believed to be in the presence of the planet Jupiter, but the sudden disappearance of the object demonstrates that he was mistaken. The same phenomenon was seen by the meteorological center of Rueyres (Cantal).

MIDI LIBRE for SUNDAY, OCTOBER 17, 1954 — # 3 413 -

MYSTERIOUS CRAFT
continue to attend with assiduity the French sky

Testimonys accumulate, coming each day to bring some new details either about the saucers, or about the flying cigars.

Whereas Saturday evening, several people worthy of faith, including Mr. Bérenger, mayor of Saint-Laurent-du-Var, general adviser, had seen above Nice, a disc of orange color, this time above Cannes, several people observed a luminous machine of yellow color with a green tail. But the most interesting witness was to be brought by an employee of the municipal receipt of Antibes, Mr. Casella, Bio resident, who, returning home in the evening, found himself face to face with an enormous mechanical machine measuring 7 to 8 meters in diameter posed in the middle of the road. The witness who was on a bicycle approached the machine until almost touching it but the latter then rose vertically and disappeared in the sky with a slight whistling sound.

In the sky of Provence, in Venergues, several vintagers saw a machine of lengthened form like a cigar, stated one of them and of white and blue color a second one specified. A third vintager indicated that the rocket appeared to emit luminous rays.

In Le Puy, a brilliant object was observed between 05:30 p.m. and 18:35 p.m. by the weather station of Puy-Chadrac. The machine looked like a straight olive with at the top, a kind of black antenna. The chief of the station specified that he believes to be in the presence of planet Jupiter, but the sudden disappearance of the object showed that he was wrong. The same phenomenon was seen by the center of meteorology of Ruyères (the Cantal). One can connect these testimonies to that of thousands of Tulle residents who around 03:30 p.m. saw in the sky, in the south-eastern southern direction, a large shining and motionless spot. It seemed transparent and had the shape of a cylinder whose two ends were conical.

Attack missed against a false Martian

Mr. Maurice Ruant, farmer in Sinceny, close to Chauny (the Aisne) was almost the victim of the panic which the appearance of the flying saucers or other flying objects causes to some people. He was busy repairing his car, in a meadow near his home, when two gun shots were fired to his direction. The bullets crushed on the body of the vehicle, not far from his head. Mr. Maurice Ruant pressed charges and the investigation at once open made it possible to quickly find the author of the two shots, who was a neighbor to Mr. Ruant, Mr. Faisan.

The latter told the police force:

"I believed, by seeing a silhouette moving in the light of two headlights, to be in the presence of a Martian repairing his flying saucer. I went to get my rifle and I shot".

In spite of his good faith, Mr. Faisan will be prosecuted.

Ten appearances of UFO in the French sky in 1954

[... Other cases ...]

5 - Chadrac (Haute-Loire)

The newspaper La Montagne published this strange account in October 1954: "The weather station Albert Baldit in Chadrac (Haute-Loire) managed to observe yesterday evening from 17:50 to 18:35, with a telescope, a luminous craft which appeared as a straight olive supporting a black antenna at its top. Moreover observers noted that the object which threw fires of a very brilliant aluminium carried at its third and two thirds a black trace. The station believed to have identified at the beginning of its observations, the planet Jupiter, the largest of our solar system. But this craft which compared to north was at 100° West, changed color, with the setting sun, to become red and disappear in two minutes..." A UFO flew over Chadrac.

[... Other cases ...]

More about this:
Le Dictionnaire de la France Insolite et Bizarre, Marc Lemonier, City Publishers, 2009