The index page for the 1954 French flap section of this website is here.
Reference for this case: 3-Oct-54-La Chappelle-Hugon.
Please cite this reference in any correspondence with me regarding this case.
The ufologist Aimé Michel reported in 1958 in his book on the wave of 1954 in France, that on October 3, 1954, at about 9 p.m., the cyclist champion Robert Verdenal was driving a car in which were several other people, on the national road 720, between La Chapelle-Hugon and Grossouvre.
Michel said that at the place where the car was at the time of the observation, the road follows the Berry canal and the small Aubois river and is oriented practically North-South.
Robert Verdenal and his passengers suddenly saw a red circular body coming from the South, facing them. The object approached fairly quickly, then came to a sudden stop for a few seconds, after which it started moving again at a brisk pace in the east, making a right angle with its first trajectory.
Michel gave no source, but I found the case in the newspaper Le Berry Républicain for October 5, 1954, reporting this:
On Sunday evening, popular cycling champion Robert Verdenal was returning around 9 p.m. from La Chapelle-Hugon and heading to Grossouvre when, suddenly, a circular shape brightly lit with fiery red glows appeared in the sky ahead of him. The object seemed to hover for a few seconds before suddenly disappearing toward the East. It should be noted that Robert Verdenal was not alone and asserts that he was not experiencing a hallucination.
In 1979, the "skeptical" ufologists Gérard Barthel and Jacques Brucker first give the same version, saying that it comes from the archives of the Lumières Dana La Nuit magazine managed by Mrs. Gueudelot.
Then they say that a "Lumières Dans La Nuit" investigator, Mr. Desbois, had investigated this case and explained that "Roger Verdanal" [sic] was not in a car with friends, but alone on a bicycle without lighting, returning from a bicycle race, and that it was impossible that he drove a car since his driving license was dated 1956. The observation had lasted only 4 or 5 seconds, the thing was high in the sky, there was no stop and no change of direction.
"Roger Verdanal" had also spoken to Mr. Desbois about the journalist of Le Berry Republican: "I remember the guy who wrote the article, he was quite a fantasist."
[Ref. brn1:] NEWSPAPER "LE BERRY REPUBLICAIN":
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On Friday, around 7:30 p.m., Mrs. Rousselet, residing at the "Moulin de l'Oie" farm in La Guerche, was closing the shutters of her house when she saw a large luminous ball in the sky, reddish in color, which at times took the shape of a cigar. In the middle of the ball, she noticed what appeared to be small filaments. This event was also witnessed by Mrs. Villepreux, the lock keeper at the "L'Oie" lock.
On Sunday, around 2 a.m., young Marcel Debrade, returning from Bourges by train and heading to his parents' home at the "Geal" estate, also observed a flying saucer on the "Claurie" hill. This time, however, the object resembled a coffee cup and was greenish in color.
The young man specified that the road and fields were illuminated, and as soon as the object appeared, everything suddenly plunged into darkness.
On Sunday evening, popular cycling champion Robert Verdenal was returning around 9 p.m. from La Chapelle-Hugon and heading to Grossouvre when, suddenly, a circular shape brightly lit with fiery red glows appeared in the sky ahead of him. The object seemed to hover for a few seconds before suddenly disappearing toward the East. It should be noted that Robert Verdenal was not alone and asserts that he was not experiencing a hallucination.
Two young students from the class of Mr. Chataignier, director of the Vierzon-Bourgneuf school, claim to have seen flying saucers and provided a detailed description to their director. First, young Alain Baumgarten, living in La Petite Loeuf, along with some friends, was stunned when he spotted an object moving through the sky on Thursday morning around 10:30 a.m.
Then, on Friday evening around 7 p.m., young Jean Rousseau saw a luminous object in his parents' garden, which spun around itself before rapidly ascending into the sky.
Should we place much importance on what imaginative children say at their age? They saw something, and to them, that’s all that matters!
On Saturday around 8 p.m., Mrs. Estève Michel, Mr. Jean Bureau, Mr. Gustave Gadoin, and several other residents of Rians observed for about 15 minutes a luminous ball in the direction of Sainte-Solange, which slowly descended vertically. Then, near the horizon, it moved to the right before disappearing. The observers cannot confirm that it was a flying saucer, but given how frequently these luminous objects are reported, it would be easy to label it as such. Will we soon get the explanation everyone is waiting for?
Last Sunday, Mr. Jules Prunget, secretary of the town hall in Pommiers (Indre), was in his garden when his attention was drawn to a very bright yellow-orange object moving from north to south at high speed about 600 meters above the ground. Mrs. Nicaud, who was standing at her door, also saw this strange sight. She described the object as cigar-shaped, about three meters long, with the front larger than the back. No noise or smoke came from it. It was visible for only a few seconds.
The sky over Château-Chinon, according to testimony from five people whose sincerity is beyond doubt, was crossed by one of these mysterious luminous objects now widely known as flying saucers.
The strange sighting occurred around 9 p.m.. This time, the object appeared as an oval-shaped luminous patch seemingly moving at a very high altitude in the sky. At one point, the patch seemed to split into two parts, and each part began spinning rapidly, changing colors several times. Then, it faded, and after a few minutes, the luminous patch reappeared, split again, and started spinning. This phenomenon repeated itself five times before the eyes of the five witnesses.
[Ref. aml1:] AIME MICHEL:
French ufologist Aimé Michel reports that on October 3, 1954, at about 9 in the evening, the cyclist sportsman Robert Verdenal drove a car in which several other people were passengers. It was on the national road RN 720, between the La Chapelle-Hugon and Grossouvre.
Michel specifies that at the site where the car was at the time of the observation, the road follows the channel of Berry and the small river of Aubois and is directed practically North-South; if it were prolonged in straight line on a chart, it would go through Clermont-Ferrand.
Robert Verdenal and his passengers saw a circular body of red color, coming from the South, in front of them. The object approached them rather quickly, then suddenly stopped, during a few seconds, after that it set out again at a high pace in the direction of the East, at a right angle relative its first trajectory.
[Ref. gqy1:] GUY QUINCY:
October 3 [, 1954]
[... other cases...]
09:00 p.m.: La Chapelle-Hugon/Grossouvre (Cher): lum.sph.+chg. of direct.
[... other cases...]
[Ref. jve5:] JACQUES VALLEE:
| 214 | -00294606 | 46.89000 | 03 | 10 | 1954 | 21 | 00 | 101 | LA CHAPELLE HUGON | F | 301 | C** | 214 |
[Ref. bbr1:] GERARD BARTHEL AND JACQUES BRUCKER:
The two authors indicate that they found in the file of Mrs. Gueudelot, of the ufology magazine "Lumières dans la Nuit", a case which they entitle "La Chappelle-Hugon, p p.m." and which account is:
"A car, driven by the cyclist racer Robert Verdenal, and in which were several people, runs on N. 7 between La Chapelle-Hugon and Grossouvre. Suddenly Robert Verdenal and his companions see coming opposite them, i.e. from the south, a luminous body of circular shape and red color. The object approaches rather quickly, then becomes suddenly stationary. This immobility lasts a few seconds, after that the object starts again at a sharp pace in the direction of the east, forming with its first trajectory a right angle."
Mr. Desbois, a UFO investigator of the magazine "Lumières Dans La Nuit" has investigated and explained that Roger Verdanal [sic] was not in a car with friends but alone on a bicycle without lighting, and was returning from a bicycle race. It was impossible that he drove a car as his licence is dated 1956. The sighting lasted only 4 or 5 seconds, it was high in the sky, there was no top and no change of direction. Roger Verdanal also told about the journalist: "I remember the chap who wrote tha article well. He was quite a funny guy."
[Ref. fru1:] MICHEL FIGUET AND JEAN-LOUIS RUCHON:
The two authors note that on October 3, 1954 at 09:00 p.m., there was an observation of an object at La Chapelle-Hugon in the department of the Cher.
[Ref. gep1:] UFOLOGY GROUP "GEPO":
| 10/03/54 | (21) | La Chapelle Hugnon [sic] Cher (18) | NE | 107X2C |
[Ref. jsr1:] JEAN SIDER:
This author mentions that the La Chapelle-Hugon case of October 3, 1954, was the subject of an investigation which explained itas being a misinterpretation, by Mr. Desbois, investigator of Lumières Dans La Nuit.
[Ref. lgs1:] LOREN GROSS:
3 October. La Chapelle-Hugon, France. (9:00p.m.)
Bicycle champion sees saucer.
Michel wrote:
"Some minutes closer to 9 p.m., a car carrying several passengers and driven by the bicycle champion Robert Verdenal, was traveling along Route N-720 between La Chapelle-Hugon and Grossouvre, in Cher.
"At this spot N-720 follows the Berry Canal and the little Aubois River, and runs almost exactly north-south. Prolonged southward, it would touch Clermont-Ferrand.
"Without warning, Robert Verdenal and his companions saw coming from straight ahead of them (that is, from the south) a luminous, circular, red object. It approached fairly rapidly, then suddenly stopped. This immobility lasted several seconds, after which the object took off again speedily toward the east, making a right angle with its first trajectory." (xx.)
(xx.) Michel. Aime. Flying Saucers and the Straight-Line Mystery. pp. 125-126.
[Ref. lhh1:] LARRY HATCH - "*U* COMPUTER DATABASE":
3942: 1954/10/03 21:00 1 2:57:00 E 46:54:20 N 3333 WEU FRN CHR 6:9
N720 nr La CHAPELLE HUGON,FR:SVRL/CAR:SCR >N:HVRS SVRL MIN:>>E:/r138#9
Ref# 49 MICHEL,Aime: FS & STRAIGHT LINE TH: Page No. 125 : FARMLANDS
[Ref. lcn1:] LUC CHASTAN:
Luc Chastan indicates that in the Cher in La Chapelle Hugon on October 3, 1954 at 21:00 hours, a car in which is 4 people drives on the N720 between La Chapelle Hugon and Grossouvre when the witnesses observe opposite them towards the south a luminous object of circular form, of red color. The object approaches rather fast then is motionless during a few seconds then starts again at fast pace after a right angle in direction of the east.
Luc Chastan indicates that the source is "M.O.C. par Michel Aimé ** Arthaud 1958".
[Ref. uda1:] "UFODNA" WEBSITE:
The website indicates that on 3 October 1954 at 21:00 in La Chapelle-Hugon N720, France, a hovering object was observed. "One object was observed by several witnesses on a farm for over one minute (Verdenal)."
The sources are indicated as "Michel, Aime, Flying Saucers and the Straight-Line Mystery, S. G. Phillips, New York, 1958; Keyhoe, Donald E., Flying Saucer Conspiracy, Holt, New York, 1955; 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); Newspaper Clippings; 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 19541003 | 03.10.1954 | Grossouvre | France | 21.00 | NL | |||||
| 19541003 | 03.10.1954 | Grossouvre | France | 21.00 | NL |
[Ref. dcn1] DOMINIQUE CAUDRON:
Dominique Caudron indicates that the catalogue of 800 cases published in 1970 by Maurice Santos, is a good example of what one should not do; he indicates to extract from it the list of the cases of October 3, 1954; which he knows well as he had investigated into these cases of his area of Nord. For each case, below the text of the Santos catalogue, he states what should have been written, and the explanation after analysis, when there is one.
Santos wrote that for this case #545 of October 3, 1954, of "Various Forms" there had been in Grossouvre a luminous Unknown Flying Object maneuvering at 90 degrees.
Dominique Caudron indicates: "9 p.m.?, between the La Chapelle-Hugon and Grossouvre, 18, an object high in the sky seen 4 or 5 seconds (in fact: possible fireball) "
He notes that the numbering of the cases by Santos seemed a good idea, but that it prevents the evolution of the catalogue, whose numbering becomes incoherent at the first update: "For example, this catalogue contains only 10 cases for the area of the Nord, whereas we know 48 of them. How to place the 38 others?"
[Ref. jqy1:] JEAN DE QUERCY:
Around 9 p.m. a car driven by Robert Verdenal (racing cyclist) and in which there were several people, drove on the N.720 between La Chapelle-Hugon and Grossouvre.
At this point the N.720 follows the Berry canal and the Aubois river. Suddenly the witness and his friends see coming in front of them, from the south, a luminous body of circular shape and of red color. The object approaches rather quickly, then suddenly stops. This immobility lasts a few seconds, after which, the object starts again at high speed in the direction of the East, making with its first trajectory a right angle.
Note: this case is known as Sancoins to ufologists.
(Sources: In "Mystérieux Objets célestes" A Michel p.173 Seghers Pub. - "LDLN" n° 319 p. 10 of July 1993)
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In 2009 Sportsman Robert Verdenal is still alive and organizing amateur bicycle races in la Guerche.
About the straight line indicated by Aimé Michel:
Aimé Michel estimated that the cases of La Chapelle Hugon, Château-Chinon, Montbéliard and Grandvillars were on the same straight line.
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It is true these four cities are on a straight line. But these are only 4 sightings on a straight line, whereas I counted no less than 94 sighting reports for October 3, 1954, not counting the 40 sighting reports dated "beginning of October" for lack of a more precise date, and of course not counting those that I do not know of yet.
Taking only those of October 3, 1954, at about 9 p.m., there are still 36 left.
Moreover, the date of the case in Grandvillars is not bulletproof.
This makes this straight line quite statististically insignificant, explainable by chance alone. The straight line would also be explainable if these sightings were sightings of a meteor, an idea rejected by Michel by explaining that the witnesses in Montbéliard had enough time to fetch binoculars and pass them from one to another during their observation.
About Robert Verdenal:
Robert Verdenal (Below) was born November 14, 1933, in Grossouvre, he died in 2017. He was thus 20 at the time of the sighting. In 2009, he was still passionate about cycling and he sometimes organized some local competition at La Guerche.
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About the place:
Aimé Michel told that Robert Verdenal was on the national road 720, between La Chapelle-Hugon and Grossouvre, this road following the Berry canal and the small river of l'Aubois oriented almost north-south.
But between La Chapelle-Hugon and Grossouvre, while the RN 720, now RD 920, is indeed oriented north-south (179° then slight right turn to 196°), it does not run neither along the small river l'Aubois nor the Berry Canal.
About the observation:
So there would have been, first facing the witness or witnesses, towards the South, an "object", then this object would have "left" towards the East.
It so happens that the slight turn of the road, which is otherwise straight, may give this illusion if there was something fixed in front of them in the first part of the road.
It turns out that in front of them, there was the Moon, at the azimuth 225° and the low elevation favorable to misinterpretation of 4°.
There was also Mars, quite visible, at the azimuth 202°, elevation 14°. Mars appears round, orange, and was clearly visible, since it was quite close to the Earth in the fall of 1954, and it is of course or orange color. The Moon normally appeared as a crescent then, and was therefore in principle easily identified as such - except clouds partially masking its shape, and / or a "red" moon.
So the version by Aimé Michel can easily be explained by Mars, or maybe by the Moon.
What about the Desbois version presented by Barthel and Brucker? It cannot be explained that simply: something round and orange, fixed high in the sky, for 4 or 5 seconds only... And what should we think of the fact that Mr. Desbois, or Barthel and Brucker, call the witness "Roger Verdanal" instead of Robert Verdenal?
(These keywords are only to help queries and are not implying anything.)
La Chappelle-Hugon, Cher, Robert Verdenal, multiple, car, road, object, red, fast, manoeuvre, bicyle, night
[----] indicates sources that are not yet available to me.
| Version: | Created/Changed by: | Date: | Change Description: |
|---|---|---|---|
| 0.1 | Patrick Gross | December 12, 2005 | First published. |
| 1.0 | Patrick Gross | January 9, 2009 | Conversion from HTML to XHTML Strict. First formal version. Additions [lcn1], [uda1]. |
| 1.1 | Patrick Gross | June 21, 2010 | Addition [jve5]. |
| 1.2 | Patrick Gross | October 3, 2014 | Addition [lgs1]. |
| 1.3 | Patrick Gross | October 14, 2016 | Addition [dcn1]. |
| 1.4 | Patrick Gross | June 8, 2019 | Additions [lhh1], [ubk1]. |
| 1.5 | Patrick Gross | March 29, 2022 | Additions [jqy1], [gep1]. |
| 1.6 | Patrick Gross | April 24, 2022 | Addition [gqy1]. |
| 1.7 | Patrick Gross | June 28, 2022 | Addition [jsr1]. |
| 1.8 | Patrick Gross | March 25, 2025 | Addition [brn1] In the Summary, addition of the information from [brn1]. |
