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The 1954 French flap:

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September 19, 1954, Rongères, Allier:

Reference for this case: 19-sep-54-Rongères.
Please cite this reference in any correspondence with me regarding this case.

Summary:

French newspapers of September 22, 1954, reported that from Moulins on September 21, 1954, it was learned that a resident of this city, who had gone for a weekend in Rongères, a small town of Allier, had seen the Sunday, September 19, 1954, around 04:30 p.m., a cigar-shaped craft in the sky.

After a few seconds, he reportedly saw a second, globe-shaped, object, that flew in a circle in fifteen seconds and quickly headed south-east.

The press said that this witness whose identity had not been revealed, had sent his testimony to the prefect of Allier.

However, the ufological magazine Lumire Dans La Nuit #128 of October 1973, gives another version; which would come from the newspaper La Montagne for September 21, 1954:

This version also says that it was on September 19, 1954, at 04:30 p.m., in Rongères.

But it was a Mrs. D. and her little girl who saw in the sky a craft in the shape of a cigar. And a few seconds later, it was Mr. D. - her husband - and his family who, having looked up "again", saw another craft, globe-shaped and shiny; which, twice in the time of 15 seconds, flew in a circle, and then went away "vertiginously" to the Southeast.

Reports:

[Ref. cpd1:] NEWSPAPER "LE COURRIER PICARD":

Scan.

A FLYING CIGAR
IN THE SKY OF THE ALLIER?

MOULINS, September 21. - A resident of Moulin, went during the weekend to Rongères, a small town in Allier, when Sunday, in the afternoon, around 4:30 p.m., he saw in the sky a cigar-shaped object and, a few seconds later, a second object in the shape of a globe. This very shiny globe circled in 15 seconds and quickly headed southeast.

This testimony was not known until yesterday evening following a report that the Moulin resident, whose identity has not been revealed, sent to the prefect of the Allier.

[Ref. ppe1:] NEWSPAPER "PARIS-PRESSE":

Scan.

A FLYING CIGAR
in the Auvergne sky

CLERMONT-FERRAND, September 21 (part. envoy.) - Another flying cigar! Five people saw it while it was flying low over the region.

On an excursion near the Col du Béal on the road to the Brugeron, Miss Delaire and the sisters Marie-Christine and Madeleine Gauthier saw it, they say, move in the sky. It was gray in color. They first took it for a plane, but it made no noise.

Two motorcyclists also saw it swing for around thirty seconds and start slowly, then accelerate its pace and disappear in the sky towards Clermont-Ferrand. When it passed over them they noticed that it was round, flattened and about twenty meters in diameter.

A resident of Moulin also saw, in Rougires, a flying cigar and a few seconds later, a second object in the shape of a globe. This globe, very bright, flew in a circle in 15 seconds and quickly took the direction of the Southeast.

[Ref. ner1:] NEWSPAPER "NORD-ECLAIR":

Scan.

- In Rongères, a small town in the Allier, a resident saw in the sky a cigar-shaped object and, a few seconds later, a second object in the shape of a globe. This very shiny globe circled in 15 seconds and quickly headed southeast.

[Ref. non1:] NEWSPAPER "NORD-MATIN":

Scan.

ACCORDING TO SCIENTISTS FROM ROME,

the "cigar"
that flew over Rome is a
craft of unknown type

The "flying cigar" which was observed Friday afternoon in the sky of Rome, is the subject of confidential studies in the great astronomical observatory of Rome.

Thousands of people could see the craft which flew fro a long time above Rome, at an altitude of 10.000 meters first, then descended much lower. It left behind a slight trail of white smoke coming out of the narrow end of the cigar. Radar technicians at the Ciampino airport identified an antenna in the middle of the widest end of the craft. The latter has the shape of a cigar enlarged and swollen towards the middle.

Several scientists from Rome alerted in good time, were able to observe the craft, because it is indeed for them, now, a craft and not a celestial body: "Aerial craft of type unknown so far", they say.

At one time, the craft descended suddenly 400 meters, then it got into vertical position, took again height and, returning to its flight position, quickly disappeared on the horizon.

Two peculiar objects
in the sky of the Allier

A resident of Moulins went over the weekend to Rongères, a small commune in the Allier, when Sunday in the afternoon, around 4:30 p.m. he saw in the sky a cigar-shaped object and, a few seconds later, a second object in the shape of a globe. This very shiny globe circled in 15 seconds and quickly headed southeast.

This testimony was not known until yesterday evening following a report that the Moulin residents, whose identity has not been revealed, sent to the Prefect of Allier.

A flying saucer
in the sky of Saint-Raphaël

Mr. Denis Giraud, baker, 27, saw a flying saucer last night.

Working for Mr. Justin Rabbia, baker, rue Marius Allongue, Mr. Giraud was at 4:30 a.m. yesterday morning at the window of his boss's bakery, from where he had a vie to the road and the Esterel.

Suddenly, he saw, crossing the sky and heading towards the Esterel, a machine about 3 meters in diameter, moving very quickly and leaving behind it a trail of white smoke and a red glow.

This machine made no noise and before Mr. Giraud had time to "realize", the saucer had disappeared beyond the mountains...

[Ref. nil1:] NEWSPAPER "NORD LITTORAL":

Scan.

A witness says
he saw
two singular objects
in the sky of the Allier

Moulins, September 21. -- A resident of Moulins had gone during the weekend to Rongères, a small town in the Allier, when Sunday, in the afternoon, around 4:30 p.m., he saw in the sky a cigar-shaped object and, a few seconds later, a second object in the shape of a globe. This very shiny globe circled in 15 seconds and quickly headed southeast.

This testimony was not known until yesterday evening following a report that the Moulinois, whose identity has not been revealed, sent to the Prefect of Allier.

[Ref. lon1:] NEWSPAPER "L'OISE-MATIN":

Scan

Another cigar flying in the Auvergne sky

MOULINS, September 21

A resident of Moulins went to Rongères, a small town in Allier, during the weekend, when Sunday afternoon, around 4:30 p.m., he saw a cigar-shaped craft in the sky and, seconds later, a second globe-shaped object.

This very bright globe flew in a circle in 15 seconds and quickly took a south-easterly direction.

This testimony was only known last night following a report that the Moulins resident, whose identity has not been disclosed, sent to the prefect of the Allier.

[Ref. vmr1:] NEWSPAPER "VAR-MATIN - REPUBLIQUE":

The series continues...

In the Allier, a witness claims to have seen two peculiar objects in the sky

Moulins, September 21. -- A resident of Moulins was going, during a weekend in Rougères [sic], small commune in the Allier, when Sunday, in the afternoon, around 04:30 p.m., he saw in the sky, a machine in the shape of a cigar and a few seconds later, a second object in the shape of a sphere flew in a circle in fifteen seconds and quickly took the direction of the Southeast.

This testimony was known only yesterday evening following a report that the resident of Moulins whose identity was not revealed addressed to the prefect Allier.

[Ref. ler1:] NEWSPAPER "L'EST REPUBLICAIN":

Scan.

After the "saucers" the "flying cigars"

Their "passage" reported in Rome, in the Allier and the Puy de Dôme

The "passage" of mysterious "flying cigars" is reported in Italy and France. Friday, in Rome, several thousands people observed the strange phenomenon. The "craft" moved above the city at an altitude evaluated as 10.000 meters, then descended much lower, leaving a trail of smoke behind.

In France, a resident of Moulins who was, Sunday, in Rongères, small commune in the Allier, saw a similar craft in the sky.

In addition, several residents of Clermont stated to have seen, above the Puy-de-Dôme, a luminous "machine" fly, of very lengthened oval form seeming to move rather slowly towards the North-East.

Four people in particular affirmed to have observed the "machine" during two minutes before it disappeared by taking altitude. All the witnesses are affirmative: no noise was heard. It could not be a plane.

Many explanations are advanced which, for the majority, do not deserve to get any attention. Let's report however that, according to Italian scientists, the "flying cigar" would not be a celestial body, but an aircraft of a type unknown so far.

Invasion of "balls of fire" in Holland

In Holland, it is an invasion of "balls of fire" which invades the journalistic chronicle.

Our fellows report that the 194 residents of the small village of Zuidlaardevereen, in Groninguen, have been hit by collective insomnia for a week, fearing to be the next victims of an invasion of balls of fire which, according to the assertions of one of the farmers of the village, M. Va[n] Der Veen, occurred in his own home.

Mr. Van Der Veen was chatting, the other evening, in the closed bed, in Brittany fashion, he shares with Mrs. Van der Veen, when he noticed that a small ball of the size of a marble, emitting a yellow gleam and surrounded by a black circle, floated above the bed.

As he tried to catch it, the ball started to grow bigger and disappeared.

A few moments later, under the horrified eyes at Mrs. Van Der Veen, about fifteen small balls were formed and started to roll under the covers. The couple jumped off the bed and, while Mr. Van Der Veen made an effort with a shaking hand, to light an oil lamp, the balls rose and merged in a long ribbon, which, while twisting itself, circle around the room room to disappear at the time even when the lamp ignited.

The adventure of Mr. Van Der Veen, supported by the credit of his solid personality, met few skeptics in his village.

[Ref. ads1:] NEWSPAPER "L'ARDENNAIS":

FLYING SAUCERS IN THE ALLIER

Moulins. -- An resident of Moulins had visited during the weekend in Rongères, small town of the Allier, when Sunday in the afternoon, around 04:30 p.m., he saw in the sky a cigar-shaped craft and a few seconds later, a second, globe-shaped object. This very bright globe flew in a circle in 15 seconds and headed south-east.

This testimony was only known Monday evening following a report that the Moulins resident, whose identity has not been revealed, sent to the prefect of the Allier.

[Ref. aml1:] AIME MICHEL:

French ufologist Aimé Michel indicates that on September 19, 1954 at 04:30 P.M. in Rongères, a small village near Vichy, the residents see a shiny object with an elliptical shape coming from the North, getting bigger, passing nearby but not overhead. The object leaves in the direction of the south where it is lost from sight.

As soon as the object is lost from sight, a second object, this time of circular shape, arrives coming from the same point, approaches, goes overhead above the village this time. Near the village, it stops, flies in a large circle during 15 seconds and takes the direction of the south-east where it quickly disappears from view.

Aimé Michel specifies that an inhabitant of Moulins who spent the weekend in Rongères wrote a full report and forwarded it to the prefect of Allier in Vichy.

[Ref. gqy1:] GUY QUINCY:

Scan.

September 19, [1954]

04:30 p.m.: Rongères (Allier)

[Ref. lex1:] UFOLOGY BULLETIN "LES EXTRATERRESTRES":

Scan.

Now let's see how these craft are moving. The testimonies are unanimous. What strikes the observers the most is precisely the aberration of the movements. The saucer arrives, stops, describes a vast circle and leaves in another direction (Rongères on September 19, 1954).

[Ref. ldl1:] UFOLOGY MAGAZINE "LUMIERES DANS LA NUIT":

Scan.

September 19 (La Montagne for 9/21) Rongères 04:30 p.m.

Madame D. and her little girl saw in the sky a craft, cigar-shaped. A few seconds later, Mr. D. and his family, looking up again, saw another craft, globe-shaped and brilliant, which twice, in the time of 15 seconds, made a circle and went vertiginously towards the SE. Report sent to the Prefecture.

[Ref. ioi1:] UFOLOGY MAGAZINE "INFO-OVNI":

022 09/19/54° 04:30 p.m. Rongères
Cigar then shining globe

[Ref. hdt1:] "HENRI DURRANT":

Speaking about the manners of moving of UFOs, the author mentions that in Rongères on September 19, 1954, a saucer arrives, stops, flies a large circle and goes away in another direction.

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

The two authors report that on September 19, 1954, at 04:30 p.m., in Rongères in the department of Allier, two objects were observed one after the other, the first was a cigar, the second a sphere, both took the direction to the south-east.

[Ref. lgs1:] LOREN GROSS:

Scan.

September 19th.

Just north of Vichy and approximately in the center of France is the village of Rongers [sic] where a bright elliptical UFO crossed the sky at 4:30 the afternoon of September 19th. A second UFO quickly followed the first, zipping by directly overhead, the object clearly revealed its circular outline. Instead of ignoring the village like the earlier UFO, this object braked to a stop, made a big orbit of the community, and then swiftly left on a southeastly course.

The source is indicated further on as: "Michel, Aime. Flying Saucers and the Straight-Line Mystery. p.62."

[Ref. goe1:] GODELIEVE VAN OVERMEIRE:

The Belgian ufologist indicates that in 1954, on September 19, in France in Rongères "At 16:30 the elliptic saucer arrives from the north, stops and sets out again in another direction. (Henry DURRANT: "Premières enquêtes sur les Humanoïdes ET" - Laffont 1977 - p. 199) (Aimé Michel: "M.O.C." Seghers, pub. p. 84,: leaves to the south, therefore in the same direction, flew a broad circle and from went away to south-east.)"

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

3794: 1954/09/19 16:30 2 3:27:20 E 46:17:40 N 3333 WEU FRN ALR 6:B

RONGERES,FR:MANY OBS:CGR > S:BRILL.GLOBE CCLS TOWN+>>SE:/r30p80+/LDLN#128

Ref#197 WEINSTEIN, D: French Newsclips 1954 Page No. 19 : MOUNTAINS

[Ref. rlt1:] RENAUD LECLET:

L'Ardennais,Wednesday, September 22, 1954. (Page 1)

FLYING SAUCERS IN THE ALLIER

MOULINS - A resident of Moulins had visited during the weekend in Rongères, small town of the Allier, when Sunday in the afternoon, around 04:30 p.m., he saw in the sky a cigar-shaped craft and a few seconds later, a second, globe-shaped object. This very bright globe flew in a circle in 15 seconds and headed south-east.

This testimony was only known Monday evening following a report that the Moulins resident, whose identity has not been revealed, sent to the prefect of the Allier.

[Ref. lcn1:] LUC CHASTAN:

Luc Chastan indicates that in the Allier in Rongères on September 19, 1954 at 16:30 hours "a witness first observes a shining object of elliptic form which grows bigger, passes in the vicinity and moves away towards to the south. At once a second object arrives on a parallel trajectory. It is circular. It stops, starts again by flying in a broad circle in 15 seconds and leaves this time towards south-east where it quickly dissapears."

The source is indicated as "M.O.C. by Michel Aimé ** Arthaud 1958" and "Le Dauphiné Libéré".

[Ref. uda1:] "UFODNA" WEBSITE:

The website indicates that on 19 September 1954 at 16:30 in Rongeres, France "Landed remotely." And: "Objects were observed. They moved with a falling-leaf motion. More than one object was observed by more than two witnesses at a mountain for two minutes."

The sources are indicated as Michel, Aime, Flying Saucers and the Straight-Line Mystery, S. G. Phillips, New York, 1958; 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. ubk1:] "UFO-DATENBANK":

This database recorded this case twice:

Case Nr. New case Nr. Investigator Date of observation Zip Place of observation Country of observation Hour of observation Classification Comments Identification
19540919 19.09.1954 Rongeres France 16.30
19540919 19.09.1954 Rongeres France 16.30

Explanations:

Map.

The reports in the Press are obviously of too much indigence, and of unknown reliability; which does not allow me to understand exactly what had happened.

We are not told about possible trails, nothing of a silence or noise, no angular size, color, etc...

I have the feeling that this was probably a misinterpretation involving two objects, such as a plane and a balloon or a helicopter, but that is not obvious either.

Keywords:

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

Rongères, Allier, object, multiple, two, shiny, elliptical, circular, manoeuvre, cigar, sphere

Sources:

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

Document history:

Version: Created/Changed by: Date: Change Description:
0.1 Patrick Gross April 24, 2005 First published.
1.0 Patrick Gross January 5, 2010 Conversion from HTML to XHTML Strict. First formal version. Additions [goe1], [lcn1], [uda1].
1.1 Patrick Gross March 4, 2010 Addition [vmr1].
1.2 Patrick Gross May 29, 2010 Addition [ler1].
1.3 Patrick Gross January 29, 2017 Addition [ubk1].
1.4 Patrick Gross February 9, 2019 Additions [ads1], [ldl1], [lhh1], [rlt1], Summary. Explanations changed, were "Not looked for yet."
1.5 Patrick Gross June 25, 2019 Addition [ioi1].
1.6 Patrick Gross February 17, 2020 Addition [cpd1], [ppe1].
1.7 Patrick Gross March 22, 2020 Addition [ner1].
1.8 Patrick Gross March 29, 2020 Additions [non1], [nil1].
1.9 Patrick Gross March 11, 2021 Addition [gqy1].
2.0 Patrick Gross May 12, 2021 Addition [lon1].
2.1 Patrick Gross April 7, 2022 Addition [lgs1].
2.2 Patrick Gross June 5, 2022 Addition [lex1].

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