The 1954 French flap:

The Rural Guard Is Certain:

A "Flying Saucer" Landed in Tromborn (Moselle)

BOUZONVILLE. (From our correspondent). -- Stories of "flying saucers" or "flying cigars" were, until now, considered in the Bouzonville region (Moselle) as mere hallucinations or inventions from imaginative "witnesses."

However, since yesterday morning, people are beginning to believe in the existence of these mysterious craft, as several individuals were left stunned after witnessing an extraordinary sight—one that most of them kept silent about, perhaps fearing they would not be believed.

One of them, however, Mr. Louis Moll, the rural guard of Oberdorff (Moselle), had the courage to provide a detailed statement about the phenomenon.

"On Sunday evening, around 9:15 p.m.," he declared, "a bright light coming from the East descended from the sky and landed on the horizon, east of Tromborn.

"The mysterious craft, which was fairly large in size, then changed the hue of its illumination, resembling the glow of a neon tube."

As for the dimensions of the craft, Mr. Moll is certain—it looked like... a bus!

"After remaining stationary for about 40 seconds," he further stated, "the light turned reddish, and I thought I could see black shapes moving around without any perceptible noise. After rotating, the craft ascended almost vertically, took on the appearance of an orange sphere, then red, and flattened out before disappearing at high speed toward the southeast."

The entire event lasted about a minute.

The Bouzonville gendarmerie, which recorded this testimony, has opened an investigation and is working to track down and interview other witnesses of this strange phenomenon.

... And Another in Otton (Ardennes)

CHARLEVILLE (From our correspondent). -- Meanwhile, a municipal councilor from Otton (Ardennes) claims to have seen a craft he believes to be a "flying saucer" that had landed not far from him.

As he approached it, he distinctly saw an aeronaut standing beside the machine. Thinking he might have the chance to speak with him, he hurried towards him. He was, he says, about 100 meters away when, upon noticing him, the pilot returned to the saucer.

The saucer immediately took off and quickly gained altitude.

Case #14

September 19 in Ottonville (57).

A city council man, who returned home, in a dark night, saw not far from him, in a field, an object which he estimated to be a flying saucer. An aeronaut stood near the machine. The witness approached the "man" in the intention to talk to him, but the aeronaut, as soon as he saw him arriving, went up in his machine: which took again altitude quickly. (Ref.: l'Alsace for 09/24/54, communication by Alain Gamard).

In September 1954:

Otton, France

267 reports of same UFO.

An object was sighted that had an appearance and performance beyond the capability of known earthly aircraft. One object was observed by one witness.

Hynek rating: CE1

Vallee rating: CE1

September 19 1954. Night.

OTTONVILLE (MOSELLE : FRANCE)

A municipal councillor returning home on this dark night saw a strange object in a field with a being stood next to it. The witness approached the being to speak to it, but when it saw him it entered the object, which took off

• Gross 1954. citing Robe, Gamard et al in Lumieres dans le [sic] Nuit September-October 1986 p12 citing L'Alsace 24 September 1954.