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October 9, 1954, Briatexte, Tarn:

Reference for this case: 9-oct-54-Briatexte.
Please cite this reference in any correspondence with me regarding this case.

Reports:

[Ref. dmi1:] NEWSPAPER "LA DEPECHE DU MIDI":

A resident of Briatexte encounters a flying saucer and its two occupants whom he nearly crushed with his car.

Briatexte. -- Saturday evening, October 9, at 08:30 p.m., while returning from Toulouse, Mr. Jean-Pierre Mitto, technician at the Analgic company - currently exposing at the Domestic Arts in Toulouse - and his two cousins, saw in the locality "La Caïffe", on main road RN 631, at one hour from briatexte (the Tarn) a flying saucer and its passengers.

Here is the exact account of the interview which Mr. Mitto granted us:

"As I do every evening after the closing of my stand, I returned to my parents' in Briatexte, and that day, by mere chance, I took along my two cousins. I drove at a quite good pace when, after the contour of "La Caïffe", my cousins and I distinguished two small characters - the size of children from 11 to 12 years old - crossing the road within four or five meters in front of the car and which jumped in the meadow. Instinctively, I slowed down and stopped twenty meters further. Just in the time to get out, we saw a large half-spherical disc rounded at the base, of a diameter of six meters approximately, flying away vertically. The machine of red-orange color, seemed to be sucked up, puffed up, and disappeared in the sky like a Bengal fierwork. We had just the time to follow it with the eyes."

At our last question, Mr. Mitto told us: "Believe that it is not an hallucination: we really lived it, and in all objectivity, you can publish what I have just told you."

[Ref. fso1:] NEWSPAPER "FRANCE-SOIR":

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SAUCERS

(CONTINUATION)

4 characters tall "like 11-year-old children"

walk on the R.N. 631 (Tarn) before reentering their machine

TOULOUSE, October 12 ("France-Soir" newsbrief).

Mr. JEAN-PIERRE MITTO, technician, affirmed yesterday to have seen, Saturday evening, around 8:30 p.m., at the location called La Caiffe, on the road RN 631, a flying saucer and its passengers.

Mr. Mitto made the following statement:

- Coming from Toulouse, I returned at my parents', in Briatexte (Tarn), in company of my two cousins. I drove quite fast. After the contour of La Caiffe, we distinguished two small characters - the size of a child from 11 to 12 years old - crossing the road, at four or five meters before the car, and which jumped in the meadow.

"I slowed down and stopped twenty meters further. The time to go down and we saw flying away at the vertical a large convex disc, of a diameter of six meters approximately. The machine, of red orange color, seemed to be sucked up and disappeared in the sky like a fireworks."

False Martians at the Porte des Lilas...

A strange apparatus, equipped with a powerful headlight, has just landed Porte des Lilas," several readers of "France-Soir" phoned us simultaneously yesterday, at 08:30 p.m..

Information taken on the spot, it was actually a police car equipped with a projector which swept the vacant sites of the "Collines Rouges", where vagabonds had been reported.

[Ref. nll1:] NEWSPAPER "NORD LITTORAL":

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Now
we have...
Martians girls

La Rochelle, October 12.

A colonial teacher currently on leave on the island of Oléron, Mr. Martin, claims to have met two pretty Martian girls on the island measuring approximately 1 m. 70, in boots, gloves and leather helmets. The two Martians grabbed Mr. Martin's pen and traced incomprehensible signs on his notebook while trying to make themselves understood. Mr. Martin is said to have preciously preserved this manuscript.

A MOTORIST FROM
THE TARN
REPORTEDLY SAW
TWO PASSENGERS
OF A SAUCER

Albi, October 12.

A motorist from Briatexte (Tarn), Mr. Jean-Pierre Mitto, technical agent in a company currently exhibiting at the "Household Arts" of Toulouse, declared to have met, at nightfall, on the national road nr 631, the passengers of a flying saucer.

"Coming back from Toulouse, in the company of two parents, he said, I suddenly distinguished in the beam of my headlights two little characters who crossed the road barely a few meters from my car. I stopped and, to our great astonishment, we then saw flying from a neighboring meadow a large red disc with a diameter of about six meters, rising vertically. The craft disappeared in the sky in a few seconds."

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

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Pygmy and fearful Martians

in the Tarn and in Westphalia

THE Martians are familiar, talkative and daring when they are alone. If they are in a troop they become fearful. It's strange, but that's how it is.

Mr. Jean-Pierre Mitto, engineer in Briatexte (the Tarn) was driving home the other night by car with two of his cousins when he saw two small figures running away before him on the road. He braked backwards and saw in a meadow a "saucer" in the shape of a hemisphere towards which the two figures were running at full speed. The craft was, he says, about 6 meters in diameter; it flew away as soon as the "Martians" - who, he estimated, were the size of a child aged 10 to 12 - had resumed their place on board.

The four mysterious characters that Mr. Hoge, a film operator, saw in Westphalia the same evening were about this size: 1 m. 20 or so. On returning home, Mr. Hoge had seen a blue light in a field, 60 meters from the road. He thought it was a crashed plane. Then he noticed that the light came from an object having the shape of a cigar. Four men, in rubber coveralls, were working under the machine.

After ten minutes, they climbed back into their cigar which, taking off, took the shape of a saucer which "projected a dazzling light".

The cinema operator did not have his camera with him, but he has very good eyes since at 60 meters and at night he could distinguish that "his" Martians had "very developed torsos, a big head and small and lean lower limbs."

He admitted he was scared. More courageous, a colonial teacher, Mr. Martin, lent his pen to two Martian women whom he met, he said, on the island of Oléron. It is true that they were "lovely". And they measured 1 m. 70. Perhaps they came from Venus? They traced "incomprehensible" hieroglyphs on his notebook. But it's already a lot that they know how to use a pen...

Iridescent cigars and fireballs have been reported in the Pyrénées-Orientales, Aveyron and Puy-de-Dôme.

In Meaux, Fontainebleau and Nandy, discs of illuminated soccer balls shape were seen flying across the sky. A roadmender even saw - he was coming out of a cafe - a flying liter!

No Martien at the Dubois hospital

The rumor spread in Paris last night that a "Martian", escaped from a flying saucer, and wounded, had was admitted to the Dubois hospital, rue du faubourg Saint-Denis. The hospital management, assailed by phone calls, asks us to indicate that this is a stupid rumor and naturally without any foundation.

[Ref. nmn1:] NEWSPAPER "NORD-MATIN":

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A motorist from the Tarn
reportedly saw two passengers
of a flying saucer

ALBI. -- A motorist from Briatexte (Tarn), Mr. Jean-Pierre Mitto, technical agent in a company currently exhibiting at "Household Arts" in Toulouse, declared having encountered at nightfall, on national road number 631, the passengers of a flying saucer.

"Coming back from Toulouse in the company of two parents, he said, I suddenly distinguished in the beam of my headlights two little characters who crossed the road barely a few meters from my car. I stopped immediately and, to our great astonishment, we then saw flying from a neighboring meadow a large red disc with a diameter of about six meters, rising vertically. The craft disappeared in the sky in a few seconds."

Other saucers were also seen, in Meaux, in Riom in Meurthe-et-Moselle, near Mulhouse, in the Seine, in the Finistère and the Pyrénées Orientales.

The Association
for research
on the flying saucers
gets new followers
in New Zealand

In New Zealand, the Civil Association for Research on the Flying Saucers recorded 70 new registrations since the beginning of the year.

Mr. H. Fulton, President of the Association, said during his congress that the number of "unidentified flying objects" spotted in the skies of New Zealand this year is higher than in previous years.

"In the scientific world, he said, there is a definite tendency to admit that the saucers are craft probably coming from other planets."

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

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A motorist reportedly saw two passengers of a "saucer" in the Tarn

ALBI, October 12. -- A Briatexte motorist, Mr. Jean-Pierre Mitto, technical agent, stated that he had encountered passengers of a flying saucer at nightfall on the national road 631.

"Coming back from Toulouse, in the company of two parents, he said, I suddenly distinguished in the beam of my headlights two little characters who crossed the road, barely a few meters from my car. I stopped immediately and, to our great astonishment, we then saw flying away, from a neighboring meadow, a large red disc with a diameter of about six meters, rising vertically. The craft disappeared in the sky in seconds."

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

And here are the "Martian girls"!

Lacking conversation skills they give autographs

Paris. -- The saucers are inhabited: dozens of French people say so, and the descriptions roughly match: small hairy men, not mean, but using an incomprehensible language and gifted with an uncommon talent for escaping.

Here is now the visit that everybody hoped for: that of the Martian girls. Mr. Martin had the pleasure to be the first to welcome them.

Mr. Martin is currently on vacation on the Oléron island. He is resting, contemplating the waves and the pine tree forest, from the heavy climate of Africa under which he teaches the little black kids to read and write. Hiking is his favorite pass-time. The walk he made on Monday will surely stay in his memory. At the turn of the path that smelled a good autumn air, he saw two pretty girls he identified as Martian. They were about 1m70, were wearing boots, glove and had leather helmets. Mr. Martin, barely recovering from his surpize, wanted to start a conservation, but failed to be understood.

Then the two Martians grabbed his pen and his notebook to trace signs that were incomprehensible all the same.

The interview was over.

Mr. Martin reportedly faithfully kept this manuscript. Probably to show it to his young pupils...

The noisy ballet of the Aveyron cigar

Apart from that, the descriptions of the last twenty-four hours are really lacking originality. Let's note all the same the testimony of Mr. Jean-Pierre Mitto, technical agent. "Coming back from Toulouse with two relatives, he said, I suddenly distinguished in the beam of my headlights two small beings who crossed the road only a few meters above my car, I immediately stopped and, to our great amazement, we saw a big red disc take off from a nearby meadow, of a six meters diameter approximately, rising vertically. The craft disappeared in the sky in a few seconds."

The cigar of Bompas (Pyrénées Orientales) spread a commotion in the village, because it landed in the middle of the street, at midnight, however. It is the country's baker, Me. Sebelli, who saws this. In the Aveyron, three hunters followed, above Gaillac, the moves of a two meters long cigar; which followed in the sky a series of big "S". Each move was made with a noise comparable to a stream of vapor under pressure.

Three balls of fire and a red cigar disturbed the night patrol of two police officers of Riom, Roger Thévenin and Albert Daury, and a luminous disc moving at 800 meters of altitude approximately interrupted the travel of two butchers of Melun, who came out of the car to better see the phenomenon.

[Ref. lhe1:] NEWSPAPER "LE HAVRE":

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FLYING SAUCERS

A motorist said he saw two "little people" cross the road and then fly aboard their craft...

ALBI, October 12. -- A car driver from Briatexte (Tarn), M. Jean-Pierre Mitto, technical agent in a company currently exposing at the "Household Arts" of Toulouse, said he met in the dark, on the national road No. 631, the passengers of a flying saucer.

"Returning to Toulouse, with two parents, he said, I suddenly distinguished in the beam of my headlights, two little people who crossed the road, a few meters away from my car. I stopped immediately and, to our amazement, we then saw from a nearby meadow a large red disk with a diameter of 6 meters, fly away, rising vertically. The craft disappeared into the sky in a few seconds".

OTHER DISCS, BALLS AND CIGARS

MULHOUSE. -- Having seen this evening a light in a pasture, two young girls of Heimersdorf, Anny and Roselyne Pracht aged 22 and 18, came closer thinking it was a fire lit by a shepherd. Then they saw, they claim, a craft of a height of about 2 meters. At their approach, the barrel-shaped craft turned to a glowing red, rose into the air and disappeared over the horizon. The same phenomenon was observed by two other people.

MELUN. -- Mr. Jules Lefranc, bank employee, Paris resident, saw in the sky, near the François - de - Tessart stadium in Meaux, for about three minutes, an object brightly lit from the inside that, he said, was shaped like a small soccer ball. This craft disappeared while leaving behind, the witness said, a luminous trail of the size of a stovepipe.

Residents of Trilport reportedly saw an identical craft motionless.

MELUN. -- A resident of Fontainebleau stated he saw

(4) Continued on the last page

[Ref. lml1:] NEWSPAPER "LE MERIDIONAL":

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In the area of Toulouse

A car driver has "seen" the passengers of a "saucer"

ALBI. -- A motorist of Briatexte (Tarn), Mr. Jean-Pierre Mitto, technician in a company currently exposing at the "domestic Arts" of Toulouse, stated to have encountered, at nightfall, on national road N.631, the passengers of a flying saucer.

"Returning from Toulouse, in company of two parents", he said, "I suddenly distinguished in the beam from my headlights two small characters who crossed the road, within a few meters hardly of my car. I stopped at once and, to our great amazement, we then saw take off from a nearby meadow a large red disc of a diameter of about 6 meters, going up vertically. The machine disappeared in the sky in a few seconds."

Mysterious machines in the sky of Bombay

BOMBAY. -. Several people claim to have seen flying saucers above Bombay during the last days.

Mr. G Joshi, among others, businessman, stated to have seen, last Thursday at midnight, a luminous disc flying at a terrifying speed, from the South in North. He specified that the machine was roughly a foot in diameter and that its center was dark, but that its periphery was luminous. The "flying saucer" crossed the sky without noise and without emitting of smoke.

Mr. Michael Jacob, studying with the college of Bombay, also claimed to have seen a flying saucer. The description that he gave of the machine is very similar to that provided by Mr. Joshi.

[Ref. lpl1:] NEWSPAPER "LE PROVENCAL":

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I SAW TWO PASSENGERS
of a saucer cross the road
at a few meters of my car

ALBI (A.F.P.).

A motorist of Briatexte (the Tarn), Mr. Jean-Pierre Mitto, technician in a company currently exposing at the "domestic Arts" of Toulouse, stated to have encountered, at nightfall, on national road N.631, the passengers of a flying saucer.

"Returning from Toulouse, in company of two parents", he said, "I suddenly distinguished in the beam from my headlights two small characters who crossed the road, within a few meters hardly of my car. I stopped at once and, to our great amazement, we then saw take off from a nearby meadow a large red disc of a diameter of about 6 meters, going up vertically. The machine disappeared in the sky in a few seconds."

MORE SAUCERS IN NEW-ZEALAND

Auckland (A.C.P.).

The Civilian Association for research on the flying saucers recorded 70 new memberships since the beginning of the year.

Mr. H.H. Fulton, president of the Association, declared during his Congress that the number of the "unidentified flying objects" located in the sky of New Zealand this year, is higher than that of the previous years.

In the scientific world, he stated, an unquestionable tendency takes shape that admits that the saucers are craft probably coming from other planets.

[Ref. nnm1:] NEWSPAPER "LE NOUVEAU NORD MARITIME":

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DISCS, BALLS AND FLYING CIGARS

... and even Martians and Martians girls

Three red fireballs

Riom, 12. -- During the night from Sunday to Monday, the peacekeepers Roger Thévenin and Albert Daury, of Riom's urban corps, who were doing a round, saw in the sky a cigar-shaped craft which went from South to North. Three balls of red light detached from it and illuminated for a few moments part of the sky. The cigar was metallic in appearance, similar to duralumin.

A brightly lit balloon

Melun, 12. -- Mr. Jules Lefranc, a bank employee living in Paris, saw in the sky, near the François de Tessart stadium in Meaux, for about three minutes, an object brightly lit from the inside which, he stated, had the shape of a small soccer ball. The object disappeared, leaving behind, said the witness, a luminous trail the size of a stove pipe.

Residents of Trilport reportedly saw an identical stationary apparatus.

A landing

Limoges, 12. -- In Saillat-sur-Vienne, Sunday evening at dusk, Mr. Roger Gayout, transporter at Limoges, his wife and relatives saw in the sky a very brilliant mysterious machine which, after having moved for a few minutes, seemed to land a few kilometers further.

A blinding glow

Nancy, 12. -- In the night from Sunday to Monday, inhabitants of a farm located a few hundred meters from the village de Moncours (Meurthe-et-Moselle), were stirred by an abnormal whistling sound, through the shutters they distinguished a blinding glow which seemed fixed on the side of a hill and which disappeared shortly after while rising vertically. In the afternoon, research undertaken towards the place indicated by the witnesses revealed traces of intense calcination on a dirt road. Stone and earth samples were taken to be submitted to experts.

A luminous disc

Melun, 12. -- Mr. Demarcy, a butcher at Seine-Port, and one of his friends, who were traveling by car in Nandy, said they saw a luminous disc moving at an altitude of around 800 meters. The two butchers got out of their car and followed the move of the craft for about a minute.

A flaming craft

Mulhouse, 12. -- Having seen a light in a pasture on Sunday evening, two young girls from Heimersdorf, Anny and Roselyne Pracht, 22 and 18 years old, approached thinking it was a fire lit by a shepherd. They then saw, they claim, a machine about 2 meters high. At their approach, the barrel-shaped object, turned to glowing red, rose in the air and disappeared on the horizon. The same phenomenon was seen by two other people.

At an altitude of 200 meters

Quimper, 12. -- Mr. Corentin Couarch, 38 years old, living in the village of Elliant (Finistère), agricultural worker, saw in the sky, at 200 meters above sea level, a luminous craft whose shape and size he could not specify. He said that in fright he had turned off the lantern of his bicycle so as not to attract attention and moved away quickly. At 1 km, he said, he looked back and saw the light stopped at ground level.

"Cigars" in the Midi

Toulouse, 12. -- In the night from Saturday to Sunday, a baker from Bompas (Pyrénées-Orientales), Mr. Sebelli, saw, posed in a street in this village, a cigar-shaped object about two meters in length, surrounded by iridescent lights.

Mr. Sebelli woke up neighbors who witnessed the rapid departure of the apparatus.

Also, three young hunters saw moving yesterday above Gaillac (Aveyron), at a high altitude, an object in the shape of a cigar which described in the sky a series of large "S". Each maneuver was accompanied by a noise comparable to a jet of pressurized steam. The craft suddenly disappeared towards the North.

Finally, in Pont de Salars (Aveyron), a person saw last night u the sky, towards the sunset location, a disc surrounded of a large luminous circle with an unbearable brightness. Descended slowly toward the horizon, the disc disappeared at breakneck speed.

An orange glow

Melun, 12. -- A resident of Fontainebleau said he saw above Machault, a circular craft emitting a fairly bright glow, orange in color. The disc, which was about the diameter of a full moon, was moving at a fairly slow pace, crossing the sky horizontally.

Two pretty Martians!

La Rochelle, 12. -- A colonial teacher, currently on leave on the island of Oléron, Mr. Martin, claims to have met on the island of Oléron two pretty Martian women measuring approximately 1 m. 70, in boots, gloves and leather helmets. The two Martians took hold of Mr. Martin's pen and traced incomprehensible signs on his notebook, while trying to make themselves understood. Mr. Martin is said to have taken great care of this manuscript.

A saucer makes a forced landing in Westphalia

The "Martians" (broad shouldered) repair on the spot and take back the air

Munster, 12. -- Mr. Hoge, a film operator, was near Münster (Westphalia) when he saw in a field four "men" in rubber suits who were busy under an object in the shape of cigar. Mr. Hoge watched them work for ten minutes, without approaching, and, finally, the four men entered by a sort of ladder into the cigar which, after taking off, took the form of a saucer projecting a dazzling light.

The four "men" whose height was about 1.20 m. had, according to Mr. Hoge, a rather large torso, a head proportionally too large for their body and slender legs.

A "Martian" in a cassock calls out to 3 children

Three children from Pournoy-la-Chétive, near Verny (Moselle) claim that they saw a saucer and its passenger. They told their story to their parents, repeated it to the teacher, and confirmed it to the Mayor. All three were roller-skating on Friday afternoon near the cemetery. There was Gilbert Calba, 12 years old; Daniel Hirsch, 9, and his brother Jean-Pierre, 5.

"At around [?]:30, said Gilbert, we saw a luminous and round machine landing, about 2.30 meters in diameter. The craft landed very close to us. It had yellow and white stripes and landed on three feet.

"Soon a man came out, holding an electric lamp in his hand.

"He was very small (about 1.20 m), had large eyes, a hairy face and wore a sort of black cassock like the priest. The man came to speak to us in incomprehensible language and we fled, frightened.

"We looked back a little further. The very bright object rose very high and very quickly in the sky."

This story is partially confirmed by another resident of Pournoy-la-Chétive, Robert Maguin, 16, who said he also saw around the same time a mysterious machine, but he was not close enough to distinguish the details.

A motorist meets two "Martians"

Albi, 12. -- A motorist from Briatexte (Tarn), Mr. Jean-Pierre Mitto, technical agent in a company currently exhibiting at the "Household Arts" of Toulouse, claims to have met, at nightfall, on the National Road Nr 631, the passengers of a flying saucer.

"Coming back from Toulouse, in the company of two relatives, he said, I suddenly distinguished in the beam of my headlights two little characters who crossed the road, barely a few meters from my car. I stopped immediately and, to our great astonishment, we then saw flying away from a neighboring meadow a large red disc with a diameter of six meters. Climbing vertically, the craft disappeared in the sky in a few seconds."

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

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FOR THREE HOURS IN METZ
military specialists
observed
50 meters diameter globe

During the Metz fair-exhibition, the army stand installed a radar device and a powerful projector for visitors; which works non-stop after dark. Sunday, around 8:10 p.m., the projector spotted, in its beam, the presence of a motionless globe in the sky: "It looked like a Christmas tree ball," said the head of the radar station, Commander Cotel, who was soon surrounded by fifteen military specialists.

It was first believed that it was a sounding balloon, then all kinds of assumptions were made. The servants of the projector, at first incredulous, cleaned the windows then even changed the coals of the device. But immediately when turned on again, the projector found the luminous globe whose altitude was evaluated at more than 10,000 meters. This globe had a diameter of 50 meters and remained visible for three hours. It was impossible, on radar, to detect the mysterious craft, since it was not sensitive to metallic waves. Finally, at 11:00 p.m., the strange globe moved east and disappeared. The General Governor of Metz asked Commander Cottel for a full report.

SYMPATHETIC
"MARTIANS GIRLS"

Near Albi, a technical agent from a company exhibiting in the Household Arts of Toulouse, Mr. Jean-Pierre Mitto, returned to his home at the end of the working day. Suddenly, he saw in the beam of his headlights, and the two parents who accompanied him also affirm it, little figures crossing the road. He stopped immediately and saw a large red disc with a diameter of about six meters rising vertically from a neighboring meadow.

A colonial teacher on leave on the island of Oléron does not hesitate to associate his name with an incredible adventure. Mr. Martin was walking on the island when he encountered pretty "Martian" girls, measuring about 1.70 m., booted, gloved and with leather helmets. The two "Martians" grabbed Mr. Martin's pen and traced incomprehensible signs on his notebook, trying to make themselves understood.

The teacher keeps the manuscript preciously.

At Riom, peacekeepers who were doing a round saw in the sky a cigar going up to the north. Three fireballs detached themselves and lit up part of the sky for a few moments. Similar phenomena were seen in Bompas, in the Pyrénées-Orientales, in Quimper (Finistère), in Limoges, in Fontainebleau, in Melun and Mulhouse while in Moncourt (Meurthe-et-Moselle) the inhabitants of a farm were dazzled by a blinding light passing through their shutters. The light disappeared vertically.

[Ref. jpc1:] NEWSPAPER "LE JOURNAL DU PAS-DE-CALAIS ET DE LA SOMME":

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Something new on the 'saucer' side
The "Martian girls" are tall and pretty

La Rochelle, 12. -- A colonial teacher, currently on leave on the island of Oléron, Mr. Martin, claims to have encountered on the island two pretty Martian women measuring approximately 1.70 m., booted, gloved and with leather helmets.

The two Martians grabbed Mr. Martin's pen and traced incomprehensible signs on his notebook, while trying to make themselves understood. Mr. Martin is said to have treasured this manuscript.

Albi. -- A motorist from Briatexte (Tarn), Mr. Jean-Pierre Mitto, technical agent in a company currently exhibiting at the "Household Arts" in Toulouse, stated having met the passengers of a flying saucer at nightfall on national road 631.

"Coming back from Toulouse, in the company of two parents, he said, I suddenly distinguished in the beam of my headlights two little characters who crossed the road, barely a few meters from my car. I stopped immediately and, to our great astonishment, we then saw flying away from a neighboring meadow a large red disc with a diame-

CONTINUED ON PAGE 8

[Photo caption:] This photographer, installed on the roof of a Parisian building, armed with a telephoto lens, a pair of spotting scopes and a lot of patience, does he hope to photograph a flying saucer, a "cigar" or simply... the moon? Obviously the last objective is the easiest, but is it not currently the most ambitious dream of all image hunters. An authentic photo of the famous "saucer" or of a Martian, well, this is glory and fortune. (Keystone)

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ter of about 4 meters, rising vertically. The object disappeared in the sky in a few seconds."

Nancy. -- The inhabitants of a farm located a few hundred meters from the village of Moncourt (Meurthe-et-Moselle) were disturbed by an abnormal whistling sound. Through the shutters, they saw a blinding glow which seemed to be fixed on the hillside and which disappeared soon after, rising vertically.

This afternoon, research undertaken towards the place indicated by the witnesses, revealed, on a dirt road, traces of intense calcination. Stone and earth samples were taken to be submitted to experts.

Quimper. -- Mr. Corentin Couarch, 58, domiciled in the village of Elliant (Finistère), agricultural worker, saw in the sky, at 200 meters of height, a luminous craft whose shape and size he could not specify. Frightened, he put out his bicycle's light so as not to attract attention and moved away quickly. 1 kilometer away, he said, he looked back and saw the light stopped at ground level.

Toulouse. -- A baker from Bompas (Pyrénées-Orientales), Mr. Sebelli, saw an object in the shape of a cigar about two meters in length, surrounded by an iridescent glow.

Mr. Sebelli woke up neighbors who witnessed the rapid departure of the craft.

Also, three young hunters saw moving above Gaillac (Aveyron), at a high altitude an object shaped like a cigar which flew in the sky in a series of big "S".

Each evolution was accompanied by a noise comparable to a jet of pressurized steam. The craft suddenly disappeared towards the north.

Finally, in Pont de Salars (Aveyron), a person saw in the sky, towards sunset, a disc surrounded by a large luminous circle with unbearable shine. Descended slowly toward the horizon, the disc disappeared at breakneck speed.

Mulhouse. -- Having seen a light in a pasture, two young girls from Heimersdorf, Anny and Roselyne Pracht, aged 22 and 18, approach thinking it was a fire lit by a shepherd. They then saw, they claim, a craft about 2 meters high. As they approached, the barrel-shaped object turned glowing red, rose in the air and disappeared on the horizon. The same phenomenon was observed by two other people.

[Ref. lcx1:] NEWSPAPER "LA CROIX":

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Saucers, cigars, etc.

Finally a "Martian"
(in full jacket)
who speaks French

A 13-year-old boy, the little Gilbert Le Lay, claims to have seen, Tuesday evening, a mysterious craft in a meadow, some 600 meters from his parents' home, in the village of Sainte-Marie en Erbray, near Châteaubriand.

The child reportedly stayed for ten minutes to observe this craft which had the shape of a phosphorescent cigar. A passenger, but this time dressed in a suit and a gray hat, shod in boots, reportedly told him in French: "Look, but don't touch." This character put a hand on his shoulder, while, with the other, he held a ball throwing purple lights. On what could be the device's dashboard were several multicolored buttons.

Still according to the child, the craft slowly rose vertically, launching fires in all directions, made two turns in the air, and suddenly disappeared.

A motorist
reportedly saw "two Martians"
cross the road

A motorist from Briatexte (Tarn), Mr. Jean-Pierre Mitto, technical agent in a company currently exhibiting at the "Arts Ménagers" in Toulouse, declared to have met, at nightfall, on the national road nr 631, the passengers of a flying saucer.

"Returning from Toulouse with two parents, he said, I suddenly made out in the beam of my headlights, two small figures who crossed the road, just a few meters from my car. I stopped immediately and, to our great astonishment, we then saw a large red disc with a diameter of about six meters flying away from a neighboring meadow, rising vertically. The craft disappeared in the sky in a few seconds."

A giant rocket
in the sky of Toulouse!

Two residents of the Toulouse suburbs, Mssrs. Pierre Vidal and his nephew, Angel Hurle, were able to see, Tuesday morning, at dawn, barely a hundred meters from their house, a giant rocket which, starting from a field, quickly disappeared into the sky by creating a clarity of rare intensity.

The two men then went to the place where they located the starting point of the mysterious craft. There, they found that the grass had been packed onto a circular surface 5 meters in diameter. In the center of this area, they discovered four footprints in the ground that appeared to have been left by the feet of a heavy apparatuse.

The grass was covered with droplets from oily vapor condensation, which smelled like petroleum.

Police attended the scene.

A "bell"
on the Evreux-Louviers railway line

A craftsman and his apprentice claimed to have seen around 3 a.m., on the Evreux-Louviers railway line, while they were driving on a motorcycle, a 2.50 meters to 3 meters high bell-shaped, which was one meter above the ground. The lower part of the craft was shaped like a ring. The craft emitted sparks with greenish and reddish reflections. It first did a 10 to 12 meter jump, while an orange glow shot from its base.

A farm worker joined the two men to observe the phenomenon. All three state that the "bell" remained visible for nearly an hour. Then the orange glow became brighter, and the craft rose very quickly vertically, heading east.

[Ref. lqh1:] NEWSPAPER "LE QUOTIDIEN DE LA HAUTE-LOIRE":

[...]

A motorist of Briatexte (Tarn), Mr. Jean Pierre Mitto, technician in a company currently exposing at the Domestic Arts of Toulouse stated to have met at the fall of the night, on national road N.631, the passengers of a flying saucer. "Returning from Toulouse in company of two relatives," he said, "I suddenly distinguished in the beam of my headlights two small characters who crossed the road at hardly a few meters of my car. I stopped at once and, to our great astonishment, we then saw flying away of a nearby meadow a large red disc of a diameter of six meters approximately, going up vertically. The machine disappeared in the sky in a few seconds.

[...]

Full article here.

[Ref. prs1:] UNKNOWN NEWSPAPER FOR OCTOBER 14:

Scan.

TWO "MARTIANS"

Cross a national road of the Tarn
Before flying away into their saucer!

After having brought us giant "Martian" women, now the flying saucers begin to transport Lilliputians who carry out reconnaissance patrols on the national roads.

This new variety of "interplanetary humans" is revealed to us by Mr. Jean-Pierre Mitto, technical agent, who claims to have seen, Saturday evening around 8:30 p.m., the passengers of a saucer cross National Road 631 at the place called "La Caiffe".

- Coming back from Toulouse by car, I was driving at a brisk pace. I suddenly distinguished, together with my two parents who accompanied me, two small figures, the size of a child between the ages of 11 and 12, crossing the road four or five meters from the car, who went up into the meadow. I stopped immediately. The time to go down and we saw a large red disk with a diameter of about six meters fly vertically. The machine disappeared in the sky, in a few seconds...

Stopped by a ray of light!

Mssrs Henri Gallois and Louis Vigneron, fair merchants, who were traveling in a van, were stopped by a ray of light. Here is the statement of Mr. Gallois:

- I was driving in the middle of the road, not far from Clamecy, when I felt the electric shock. The engine stopped and the headlights went out. Suddenly I saw in a meadow a machine of cylindrical shape of a rather large diameter. I saw clearly around this apparatus three little beings who moved rapidly.

The appearance lasted only a few seconds, but it was very clear and no doubt is possible.

Mr. Vigneron confirmed what Mr. Gallois said.

[Ref. idf1:] NEWSPAPER "L'INDICATEUR DES FLANDRES ET DE LA VALLEE DE LA LYS":

Scan.

SAUCERS and Co

Vanguard of the armada that haunts our skies, the first unidentified craft appeared on June 24, 1947, over Washington.

Six months later, the captain pilot Thomas Mantell, chasing a "circular object", fell struck down.

Today, the epidemic of flying saucers rages on all France, extends beyond borders and reaches even the Middle East, Africa, and... New Zealand.

These days above the Saône, a dark disc made a short appearance in Saint-Laurent-les-Mâcon (Saône-et-Loire) where several people crossed the bridge... and it disappeared.

- Two "Martians" cross a national road in the Tarn before flying away in their saucer!

[Ref. ltl1:] NEWSPAPER "LE TARN LIBRE":

AN INHABITED SAUCER NEAR BRIATEXTE

A newspaper of Toulouse specifies that Saturday evening, October 9, at 08:30 p.m., while returning from Toulouse, Mr. Jean-Pierre Mitto, technician at the Analgic company - exposing at the Domestic Arts in Toulouse - and his two cousins, saw at the locality "La Caïffe", on main road RN 631, at one hour of Briatexte, a flying saucer and its passengers.

Here is the account made by Mr. Mitto: "I was returned to my parents' in Briatexte and, that day, I took along my two cousins. I drove at a rather fast pace when, after the contour of "La Caïffe", we distinguished two small characters - the size of children from 11 to 12 years old - crossing the road within 4 or 5 meters in front of the car and who jumped in the meadow. Just in the time to get out, we saw a large half-spherical disc, rounded at the base, of a diameter of 6 m approximately flying away vertically. The machine, of red-orange color, seemed to be sucked, puffed up, and disappeared in the sky like a Bengal firework. We had just time to follow it with the eyes a few seconds."

Will we know what occurs or will it be necessary to give the instruction to capture a "small Martian" with the lasso?

[Ref. jgu1:] JIMMY GUIEU:

The author indicates that in the evening of October 9, 1954, Jean-Pierre Mitto, engineer from Briatexte, in the Tarn, returned home by car with two of his cousins, when he distinguished in front of him on the road two small silhouettes running away. He braked and saw in a meadow a discoidal craft, approximately 6 meters in diameter, with a hemispherical dome and the "creatures", which had the size of a child from ten to twelve, ran as fast as possible to the craft.

When the creatures were on board machine, it took off.

[Ref. jgu2:] JIMMY GUIEU:

The author indicates that in the evening of October 7, 1954, a motorist returning from Toulouse in company of two parents distinguished in the beam from his headlights two small beings which crossed the road. He stopped at once and to their great astonishment they saw flying away from a nearby meadow a large red disc approximately 6 meters in diameter which rose vertically and disappeared at once.

[Ref. aml1:] AIME MICHEL:

Aimé Michel reports that on October 9, 1954, at about 08:30 P.M., in Briatexte in the Tarn, Jean-Pierre Mitto, technician of an industrial company was drigin in his car at a high speed on the national road RN 631. Whereas he arrived at the location "La Caïffe",

"... I suddenly distinguished, as the two cousins who accompanied me also did, two small beings of the size of a child from eleven to twelve years old crossing the road in the gleam of my headlights. I stopped at once. In the time to go out, we saw a red luminous disc flying away vertically from the nearby meadow, which disappeared in the sky in a few seconds."

Aimé Michel reports that an investigation was carried out by lieutenant Fayer of the gendarmerie and adjudant Vergne, with a reconstitution on the spot. Mr. Mitto specified to them that the machine had left the ground at a high climbing speed by sucking the air under it.

At the place where Mr. Mitto indicated that the disc was posed, odd brownish stains of a viscous material were found.

The investigators also discovered that at the time of the sighting as indicated by Mr. Mitto, another witness, Mr. Barthe, whose smallholding is in the vicinity of the crossroads of Caïffe, had seen a luminous object in the precise direction where the landing had occurred, which rose at a sharp pace and quickly disappeared at high altitude.

[Ref. gqy1:] GUY QUINCY:

Scan.

October 9 [1954]

08:30 p.m.: Briatexte (Ikm S.of,Nale 631--Tarn):disc with dome diameter 6m+2 dwarves

[Ref. gqy2:] GUY QUINCY:

Scan.

[... other cases...]

9 octobre 1954: Briatexte (à 1 km S de,sur Rte.Nale. 631, soit à 6 km AVDO.de Graulhet--Tarn): M. Jean-Pierre Mitto, agent technique dans une entreprise industrielle et M. Barthe, agriculteur (2 nains forme humaine + disque à dôme diamètre 6m)

[... autres cas...]

[Ref. mcs1:] MICHEL CARROUGES:

Michel Carrouges lists as a case with small occupants but lacking details that with Mr. Mitto as witness, near Briatexte in the Tarn, on October 9, 1954.

He notes that Mr. Mitto has only seen two small being crossing the road, without being able to detail them, and that even the saucer was not seen well.

Further in his book, Carrouges tells of the mystifications of two journalists of the Samedi-Soir weekly newspaper, according to their articles in this newspaper from October 21 to 27, 1954: these journalists left Paris by car, and went in the South, the areas of Cahors, Montauban and Toulouse, equipped with accessories such as divin suits, fireworks and various products of pyrotechnics, to play Martians.

The journalists concluded that all testimonies of flying saucers are stupidities and especially the testimonies of October 13, 1954, one by "Mr. Ott in Toulouse", anoother by Mr. Carcenac in Graulhet, in the Tarn and also that of Mr. Mitto on October 9 in the Tarn, but without naming him.

Carrouges considers it regrettable that what could have been an interesting experiment on the psychology of perception turned into a joke, and that the roads that they followed was given only very partially, the journalists not having specified any date. He also specifies that they actually did not give any proof of their effective passage in the localities they claim to have been in and, ultimately, it is not so outrageous to even wonder whether their reports were not completely made up.

He notes all the same that there are some photographs of witnesses whose good faith was fooled by the journalists in the articles and that it seems difficult that they were invented; that it can thus be admitted these journalists actually operated a round of hoaxes, but that its importance, the precise places and the exact hours are so lacunar that nothing certain can be concluded form the whole.

Michel Carrouges reconstitutes that they have apparently followed the road of Brive, Cahors, Montauban, Toulouse, stopping their car and putting on their disguise and shooting earthly fireworks from time to time at the following places: Pouzergues (in the south of Cahors), Varreye (on the road of Montpezat de Quercy), Montalzet (on main road 20), Saint-Gomhiez (between Fronton and Bouloc, on secondary road 4), from there, or from near there, they made a turn towards Graulhet, then returned at the entry of Toulouse, near the Blagnac airfield, and that thus any testimony on this route, and at this time, is suspect to be illusory.

Among the cases ascribable to the journalists-pranksters, Carrouges indicates that in the case of Briatexte, it is not totally obvious that this explanation should be accepted for sure, for the observation of Mr. Mitto who stated to have seen at approximately 08:30 p.m., two small pilots cross the road in front of his car, and then a large red disc disappearing in the sky.

He alerts that, if this incident is really dated from October 9, as according to Aimé Michel, page 264, it seems then relatively too old, as it is not very likely that the pranksters made two trips to the Tarn and spent five days staying in the area.

[Ref. jve8:] JACQUES VALLEE:

Scan.

9 Oct., 1954 Briatexte France J. P. Mitto 2 beings of height of a 12-year-old child 2

[Ref. jve5:] JACQUES VALLEE:

281 -001.91421 43.74900 09 10 1954 20 30 1 BRIATEXTE-TARN F 0210 3C 264

[Ref. jve1:] JACQUES VALLEE:

Scan.

222) October 9, 1954, 08:30 p.m., Briatexte, Tarn (France):

On Route N631 at "La Caiffe," a technician, J. P. Mitto, was coming back from Toulouse with two other persons when they saw two small figures, the height of 11-year-old children, cross the road about 5 m in front of the car and jump into a pasture. Stopping immediately, the witnesses saw a large convex disk take off vertically. It was about 6 m in diameter, orange in color and was literally "sucked up" into the sky. Brown oily spots were found at the site. (Sud-Ouest, 9 oct. 1954, Paris-Presse, Le Figaro, 13 oct. 1954) (43, 50).

[Ref. lcp1:] LEONARD G. CRAMP:

Mr. Jean-Pierre Mitto of Toulouse, technical representative for an industrial firm, was driving at considerable speed along Route N-631 near Briatexte, when "I suddenly caught sight - as did my two cousins who were with me - of two small creatures, the size of children of eleven or twelve, who were crossing the road in front of my car. I stopped instantly. But before we had time to get out we saw a red glowing disc taking off straight from the meadow next to us, and saw it disappear in the sky a few seconds later."

In the course of the police enquiry conducted on this case, M Mitto emphasized that the machine had left the ground at a tremendous rate of ascent, sucking the air up from beneath it in the process. At the place in the meadow where he said the machine had rested, the police found brownish spots of some unfamiliar viscous matter.

[Ref. jve2:] JACQUES VALLEE:

The author indicates that on October 9, 1954, according to the witness...

"I was returning from Toulouse to my parents' house in Briatexte and I was with two cousins. After the turning of Caiffe, we saw two small forms of the size of a child age 11 or 12 crossing the road at some 5 meters in front of the car; they leaped in a pasture. I applied the brakes and stopped approximately 20 meters further. We had hardly left the car that we saw a large convex disc flying away vertically."

"It was approximately 6 meters in diameter, was of orange color, and it was literally "sucked" in the sky."

[Ref. tps1:] TED PHILLIPS:

#137. Briatexte, France, Oct. 9, 1954. A technician, J. P. Mitto along with two other persons, saw two small figures, the height of 11 year old children, cross the road about 25 feet in front of their car and jump into a pasture. The witnesses saw a large convex disc take off vertically. It was about 22 feet in diameter, orange in color. Brown oily spots were found at the site. (Vallee)

[Ref. tps1:] TED PHILIPPS:

Scan.

Oct 09, 1954
078 2030

FRANCE, Briatexte, on Route N63l at La Caiffe. A technician, J. P. Mitto, was coming back from Toulouse with two other persons when they saw two small figures, the height of 11-year-old children cross the road about 25 ft. in front of their car. Stopping immediately, the witnesses saw a large convex disc, take off vertically. It was about 22 fet, in diameter, orange in color. Brown oily spots were found at the site. (Vallee III)

[Ref. gal1:] CHARLES GARREAU AND RAYMOND LAVIER:

The two authors indicate that in Briatexte in the Tarn, on October 9, 1954, around 6 p.m., according to a dispatch of the A.F.P. and their personal files, a motorist of Briatexte, Jean-Pierre Mitto, technician in an industrial company, drove on the R.N. 631 road with two of his cousins on board the car.

When they arrived at the locality "La Caiffe", all the three distinguished in the beams of their headlights, two small characters who crossed the road at a few meters in front of the car. Jean-Pierre Mitto told:

"Surprised, I stopped at once. To our great amazement, we saw a large red disc flying away, of approximately 6 meters in diameter. The machine flw away vertically, and it disappeared in a few seconds."

The authors point out that in his book "Mysterieux Objets Célestes", Aimé Michel reports that at the time of the investigation carried out by Lieutenant Fayet of the gendarmerie and Adjudant Vergne, Mr. Mitto had specified that the craft machine had left the ground at a very high climbing speed "while sucking the air under it." At the place in the meadow indicated by Mr. Mitto as being that where the machine had been posed, the investigators found strange and slightly viscous brownish spots.

[Ref. agd1:] ALAIN GAMARD:

Scan.

Case # Date Time Locality Department Witness(es) name
042 09/l0/1954 20.30 Briatexte. 81 J.-P. Mitto.

[Ref. prn1:] PETER ROGERSON:

Scan.

396 9 October 1954 2030hrs

BRIATEXTE (FRANCE)

On Rt N631 at "La Caiffre", a technician, Jean-Pierre Mitte [sic] was returning from Toulouse with his two cousins when they saw two small figures the height of 11 year old children, cross the road about 5m in front of the car and jump into a pasture. Stopping at once, the witnesses saw a large convex disc take off vertically. It was about 6m in diameter, orange coloured and appeared to be "sucked up" into the sky. A local farmer, M Barthe, also saw the glowing object rising into the sky. Brown, oily spots vere found at the site. (M222; Paris-Presse, Figaro, 13 Oct 54; Sud-Ouest 9 Oct 54; Michel II, 154)

[Ref. bbr1:] GERARD BARTHEL AND JACQUES BRUCKER:

The authors indicate that on October 9, 1954 in Briatexte, Mr. Mitto, technician in the area, made an observation of which they say that he gave the following report:

"I returned from Toulouse when, at the crossroads of La Caiffe, towards 08:30 p.m., my road was cut by two figures of small size. I took them for children and braked to scold them for their imprudence. Two of my cousins were with me in the car. We hardly had the time to go down that already a large disc of a diameter of 6 meters approximately flew away in which, incontestably, the two unknowns had taken seat. The apparatus left the ground with a very high climbing speed sucking the air below. We managed to follow it with the eyes during ten seconds."

"- Such are the facts, without ornament, which decided the gendarmerie to investigate. In front of Misters Favet leutenant in Lavaur, and Vergne, adjudant in Graulhet, Mr. Mitto maintained his statements during what could be called a reconstitution."

"Mr. Mitto however thinks that the two characters that he almost ran over are not by no means "Martians" but indeed residents of the Earth. According to him the saucer must be propelled by a force of atomic origin."

"During the reconstitution Mr. Alousqué discovered in the meadow brownish spots (perhaps oil stains) at the place where Mr. Mitto roughly locates the take-off of the saucer."

"In addition Mr. Barthe, whose farm is close to the crossroads of la Caiffe is said to have seen, at the hour indicated by Mr. Mitto, an unknown apparatus which left the ground and flew away very high in the sky."

The authors regret that Jacques Vallée makes brief summaries, and indicates that the case formed part of a series of mystifications by two journalists of the weekly magazine "Samedi-Soir", Michel Agnellet and Pierre Laforêt.

The latter used "two complete diver's equipment and some petty hardware", a panoply which they described as follows:

"We also took along in our luggage complete equipment of bomb disposal expert: eighteen Bengal fireworks, reds, greens and white, forty Roman candles, true Martians guns launching green or red small balls of fire at fifteen meters around... and in silence. We had also taken some twenty flying rockets, able to spring up to a hundred or hundred fifty meters, to explode in gigantic umbrella of fire. Prosaically we bought this material at the market of Brives-la-Gaillarde, where the local fireworks expert, Mr Forêt, had guaranteed to us the exceptional quality of these devices..."

The authors specify that an article in Samedi-Soir for the week of October 21-27, 1954, with photographs, displayed the whole series of the journalists's hoaxes.

The authors add that they had a talk with Mr. Mitto who affirmed to them that he "had never granted great credit to this story and that he had believed it was a kids' prank."

[Ref. ezr1:] ERICH ZUERCHER:

"We, were the Martians." This headline has just concluded a serie of hoaxes perpetrated by two Parisian reporters, Mr. Michel Agnelet and Mr. Pierre Laforêt.

[Ref. tbw1:] TED BLOECHER AND DAVID WEBB:

Scan.

October 9, 1954 2030 Briatexte (Tarn), France

This is of Type B (not C.) M. Mitto saw the 2 UFOnauts running toward a discoidal engin with a hemispherical dome, about 20 ft in diameter. It took off as soon as they had boarded it.

Source: J. Guieu, Black Out, p. 180.

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

The two authors indicate that in Briatexte in the Tarn on October 9, 1954 at 08:30 p.m., Jean-Pierre Mitto, technician in an industrial company is with two of his cousins. He drives on National Road N631. While arriving at the locality "Caiffé", they distinguish, in the beams of the headlights, two small characters of the size of an eleven year old child who cross the road at a few five meters in front of the car, and which leap in a pasture.

The driver applies the brakes and stops twenty meters further. Hardly had they left the car, that three witnesses observe the departure of a large red-orange disc of approximately six meters in diameter, at high speed, like literally "sucked up" in the sky (according to Vallée and Bowen) or by sucking the air under it (according to Michel).

The authors indicate that the case was asserted "with weak conviction" by two journalists who had been organizing a series of hoaxes in the area but 4 days later, whereas the date of October 9 is certain.

They note that Lieutenant Fayet and Adjudant Vergne of the national gendarmerie investigated and discovered brownish stains of a viscous liquid at the place indicated by the witness.

The authors indicate that the sources are Aimé Michel in "A Propos des S.V." pages 193-194; C. Garreau and R. Lavier in "Face aux ET" page 162: Quincy; Jimmy Guieu in "Black Out sur les S.V." page 199; Dauphiné Libéré for October 12, 1954; Le Provençal for October 13, 1954; Le Figaro for October 13, 1954; Michel Carrouges in "Les Apparitions de Martiens" page 166; La Croix for October 14, 1954; Samedi-Soir for the week from October 21-27, 1954.

[Ref. gep1:] UFOLOGY GROUP "GEPO":

10/9/54 -8:1/2 p.m. Briatexte (Tarn) N631 106XC 5m

[Ref. mft1:] MICHEL FIGUET:

Nr of theJ. C. Fumoux list Nr of the Francat list Localization Date Class Crédibility Sources Number of W
057 160 Briatexte 09/10 CE3 E [=Explained] journalistic hoax 4-p. 93-96 1 W

[Ref. mft2:] FRANCAT - MICHEL FIGUET:

CASE Nr CLASSIFICATION PLACE CREDIBILITY SOURCES
10/09/1954 Briatexte witnesses victims of one of the pranks organized by the journalists of Samedi-soir. B.B. p.93 to 96

[Ref. jsr1:] JEAN SIDER:

The author indicates that on October 9, 1954, at 08:30 p.m., in Briatexte, in the Tarn, Jean-Pierre Mitto, his two anonymous cousins, saw in the headlights of the car where they were, at the locality La Caiffé, two small characters of the size of an eleven year old child which cross the road in front of their vehicle to slip by in a close pasture.

Mr. Mitto slowed down brutally, and the three witnesses descended to attend the departure of a large orange red disc.

Another witness, Mr. Barthe, who resided near the place, saw the luminous apparatus rising at sharp pace at high altitude according to a second source.

Jean Sider notes that Figuet evokes the hoaxes of two Parisian journalists who would have perpetrated mystifications in the area at the same time, but he estimates that they are "alleged" hoaxes, and notes that for this case Figuet did not print this explanation like he did for other CE3 cases.

When a few years later, Figuet "developed the syndrome of the 'socio-psychology'", he "hastened to give a contrary opinion."

Jean Sider gives as sources "Figuet, p. 139; Michel, p. 194."

Further on in his book, the author explains:

Let us now come to the alleged hoaxes of two Samedi-Soir journalists. Figuet mentions in his catalog the "provincial tour" of these two individuals, on an extraordinary special mission: to pose as Extraterrestrials to make fun of good people. Which leads him to eliminate the case of St. Alban (p. 667-668), that of Toulouse (p. 669), and finally a third, Briatexte (LDLN 249-250, p. 26 - when he was struck by the bpsychology virus), which he had first deemed credible in his book (p. 138-139). However, if we consult the book by Michel Carrouges, Les Apparitions de Martiens, p. 163-167, we see that these "hoaxes" are not necessarily hoaxes because:

- The alleged pranksters claim to have been only two to work. And in the St. Alban incident, there are three figures reported.

- In the three cases rejected by Figuet, all report small beings, and not human beings of normal size for adults as these two journalists should have been.

- In the same three cases, there is observation of a craft which landed, or which took off, or which landed then took off.

In the case of Toulouse, there are two effects on one of the witnesses: paralysis and projection on the ground (by a powerful blast?). See O.D. 72.

- Samedi-Soir for October 21 to 27, 1954, which reports the "provincial tour" of its two reporters, gives only a partial itinerary and above all no date. Carrouges even points out in his book that since no proof of the effective passage of the two journalists in the localities concerned is offered: "We would even be entitled to wonder wether the report was not fabricated from scratch!".

- Last but not least, Samedi-Soir specifies that the alleged pranks were staged in front of isolated farms. The case of Toulouse occurred in an urban setting; that of Briatexte on a busy road and a disc was seen performing a take-off; the St. Alban incident, perhaps the most dubious of the three, is about three little beings dressed in tight gray uniforms and wearing aviator helmets. However, the pranksters were only two, of normal size for adults, and each had put on a rubber diving suit, and wore an enormous copper helmet pierced with portholes (see a press clipping of the iconographic notebook which shows the text of Samedi-Soir - O.D. 73). [*]

All the elements gathered here indicate that the cases of Briatexte, Toulouse, and St. Alban are not (and far from it) hoaxes set up by these two gentlemen who thought they were very intelligent... And Figuet, once again, did not check the sources because he makes a totally inappropriate judgment.

[*] The mentioned Samedi-Soir document is actually not published in the iconographic notebook.

[Ref. dmi2:] "LA DEPECHE DU MIDI" NEWSPAPER:

The continuation is not long in coming. Two years later, in October 54, in Puybegon, a man claims to have seen two humanoids crossing the road and the departure of a red ball. The story is told among other things in Le Figaro and makes a big splash all over the national territory.

Note: there is no source indicated, but the article is essntially about ufologist Didier Gomez.

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

4034: 1954/10/09 20:30 1 1:54:40 E 43:45:00 N 3333 WEU FRN TRN 8:8

BRIATEXTE,FR:3/CAR:2 OIDS CROSS N631:6M SCR ^^:OILY SPOTS:/r217p191+/30p138

Ref#197 WEINSTEIN, D: French Newsclips 1954 Page No. 78 : ROAD+RAILS

[Ref. goe1:] GODELIEVE VAN OVERMEIRE:

The Belgian ufologist indicates in her catalogue that in 1954, on October 9, in France in Briatexte in the Tarn, "Towards 20:30, on main road 631, in Caiffe, J.P. Mitto returned from Toulouse with two other people when they saw two small beings, of the size of an eleven-year-old child, which crossed the road, at 5 m approximately in front of the car, then jumped in a meadow. Stopping, the witnesses immediately saw a large convex disc rise vertically. It was approximately 6 m in diameter, was of orange color and was literally sucked in the sky. There were brown and oily spots on its site."

The sources are indicated as "Sud-Ouest, 9 Oct 1954, Paris-Presse, Le Figaro, 13 Oct 1954" and "Jacques Vallée: 'Chronique des apparitions ET' - DENOEL 1972 - J'AI LU COLL. - p. 274".

She adds: "IN REALITY: 'We were the Martians' This headline had just concluded a series of hoaxes organized by two Parisian journalists, Misters Michel Agnelet and Pierre Laforêt. (...)"

The source for this is indicated as "Erich ZURCHER: 'Les apparitions d'Humanoïdes' - Alain Lefeuvre pub. 1979, p. 179 and 181".

[Ref. dgz3:] DIDIER GOMEZ:

Didier Gomez lists this case indicating that on October 6, 1954, at 08:30 p.m. in Puybegon in the Tarn, three witnesses see a red saucer and two beings during 30 seconds. There is burned grass.

[Ref. ars1:] ALBERT ROSALES:

144.

Location. Briatexte France

Date: October 9 1954

Time: 2030

Jean Pierre Mitto was driving near Briatexte with his 2 cousins when they perceived 2 small beings the size of 11 or 12-year-old children crossing the road in front of the car; he braked to a stop. Immediately they saw a red glowing disc rise straight up into the sky from an adjoining field. Traces were found.

Humcat 1954-84

Source: Aime Michel, quoting Local Police

Type: C

[Ref. tps1:] TED PHILLIPS:

10/09/54 2030 France, Briatexte: Jean Pierre Mitto was driving with two cousins when they saw two small beings the size of 11 or 12- year-old children crossing the road 25 ft ahead of the car. The witness stopped the car and they saw a red glowing disc ascend vertically from a field. The object was about 22 ft in diameter. A brown, oily residue was found at the site.

[Ref. dgz1:] DIDIER GOMEZ:

Didier Gomez indicates that on October 9, 1954, at 08:30 p.m., two humanoids flew away in a flying craft at the locality La Caïphe, in Puybegon close to Briatexte, and that the case was published in national newspapers with different and evocative headlines. Gomez indicates that the case is to his knowledge the only one in the department of Tarn in 1954 and without any doubt one of most extraordinary which is to be studied.

He notes these Press headlines:

"A saucer and two little men" in "La Liberté de l'Est"

"A car driver of the Tarn saw two 'Martians'" in "La Croix", "Paris Normandie"

He notes that other sources are "Black-out sur les soucoupes volantes" by Jimmy Guieu, Fleuve Noir publisher, 1956; "Ovni le premier dossier complet des rencontres rapprochées en France" by Figuet and Ruchon, Alain Lefeuvre, publishers, 1979, p. 138, and the "Sud-Ouest" newspaper for October 9, 1954 and "Paris Normandie", "Paris Presse", "Le Figaro", "Liberté de l'Est", "La Croix" for Wednesday, October 13, 1954.

He provides this article:

"Albi - a motorist of Briatexte (Tarn), Mr. Jean-Pierre Mitto, technician in a company currently on display at the "domestic arts" of Toulouse stated to have met, at nightfall, on the RN 631, the passengers of a flying saucer. "Returning from Toulouse, in company of two relatives", he says, "I suddenly distinguished in the beam of my headlights two small figures who crossed the road, at a few meters hardly from my car. I stopped at once and, to our great astonishment, we then saw flying away from a nearby meadow a large red disc of a diameter of 6 meters approximately. The craft disappeared in the sky in a few seconds".

He indicates that starting from these first data he did a search to find the three witnesses, and that "many things were said on this case, even the claim in several ufological works that all this business was only a hoax by two journalists at that time, thus throwing discredit upon the initial testimony, in spite of overwhelming proof."

He notes as "overwhelming proof" that the observation is done "under very good conditions" and that traces were found in the field from where the machine flew away, and that all this was confirmed in writing on the gendarmerie report.

He explains that name of the witness "Mitto" by "strange coincidence" undoubtedly encouraged "some with not very scrupulous behavior" to link the case with myth-many and to make fun of "the one who saw the Martians", because often when a case is extraordinary, and moreover with a humanoid encounter, it is easier to cast doubt than to try to understand why the witness had an urge to tell what he had seen.

Didier Gomez indicates that this bad publicity followed the witness throughout his life and that even today he does not wish any more to mention this story. He tried to contact him by several letters, but in vain, and learned by a person from his entourage who knows him personally that he did not wish any more to talk again of this adventure because of the concern that it caused throughout his life. Didier Gomez ensures that all the facts that were published at the time "are held for truths" and that the witness maintains word for word all that is described in the press and that he did not find any explanation.

He then notes that Aimé Michel discusses the case in "two of his books", A POropos des Soucoupes Volantes pp 193 and 194 and "Mystérieux Objets Célestes", page 264, using the Press articles and adding an important information:

"At the time of the investigation carried out by Lieutenant Fayet of the gendarmerie and Adjudant Alder, Mr. Mitto specified that the craft had left the ground at a high climbing speed by sucking air under it. A reconstitution was made on the spot. At the place of the meadow indicated by Mr. Mitto as being where the craft had been posed, odd brownish stains made of a viscous material were found, a detail already observed. Last precision by the investigators: at the hour indicated by Mr. Mitto, Mr. Barthe, whose small farm is close to the crossroads of La Caïffe, had seen a luminous object rising at sharp pace in the direction where the landing had precisely occurred, and disappearing quickly at high altitude."

Didier Gomez states then that Henri Manavit who occupied at that time a job at the Town hall of Graulhet told him that this case was undoubtedly only the deed of two Parisian journalists who had performed a prank at a time when the flying saucers filled the chronicles in all the area. This explanation had come from the press in the days which followed this autumn 1954, and this precision is also given by Michel Figuet and Jean-Louis Ruchon in their book on page 139 where they write:

"At that time, two journalists of "Samedi-soir", Michel Agnellet and Pierre Laforet, left Paris, went in the area of Cahors, Montauban and Toulouse. They had accessories such as various outfits, fireworks and various fireworks products to play "the extraterrestrials". But it does not seem that they pushed their course on N 631. On the other hand, their road, quoted in the book by Michel Carrouges "Les Apparitions de Martiens", p. 164, does go by by Briatexte."

Dider Gomez indicates that it "is important even of primary importance when one quotes a source to specify everything so as not to induce the reader in error" and that Michel Carrouges is very precise in his book since he begins again in detail the account of the two journalists pranksters such as it was published in their newspaper Samedi-Soir, in the October 21-27, 1954, issue:

"Left by car Paris, went in the South, area of Cahors, Montauban and Toulouse (.) They formed as conclusion the general inanity of the testimonies on the flying saucers, dating from October 13, 1954 and relating to one Mr. Ott in Toulouse [not Toulouse, but near Mulhouse!], another Mr. Carcenac in Graulhet, in the Tarn. They conclude in the same direction about Mr. Mitto (incident of October 9), but without naming him. This prank could have brought a very rich whole of personality tests on human testimonies in connection with saucers. But the followed route is given only very partially and the reporters did not specify any date. Zero proof is brought besides, about the effective passing of these reporters in the localities in question and, in extreme cases, one would even be right to wonder whether the report were not entirely invented. It would be but one more mystification. There are admittedly photographs of witnesses whose good faith was surprised and it appears difficult that they were invented; one can thus admit that the aforementioned reporters actually operated a round of mystifications but how broad it was, at which precise location, at what exact time, there remains too much gaps so that one cannot know with certainty."

Didier Gomez says that he much agrees with Michel Carrouges' opinion, when he says that this report had as only as avowed purpose to mystify the entire testimonies collected that October 1954, and that its goal seems to be partially reached indeed, but that "Nevertheless, too much unsaid on behalf of these two journalists make it possible to express the greatest doubt on their possible hoaxes" and that starting from a case in Graulhet on October 13, 1954 "the generalization is easy."

Didier Gomez indicates that it is extremely likely that to shut down the popular rumur "about these damned saucers, this Parisian raid was used to elucidate various regional cases which caused many wondering" and that it is established that the two journalists passed by Briatexte but that they did perhaps not stop there, this on October 13 and not 9. He adds that the article published on October 22, 1954 in the newspaper "Le Soir", of Brussels, headlined "When two journalists play 'Martians' close to Toulouse" does not say anything either about the course carried out by the two Parisian, nor the dates of their misdeeds and that we only learn in there that they "were equipped with fireworks accessories", and that they had been "by night naturally in front of various isolated farms."

Didier Gomez indicates that "In front of so many uncertainties", he prefers to "stick to the initial testimony and information" that he managed to get in March 2003 from the mouth of second hand witnesses, whom he interviewed in the surroundings of Graulhet and Briatexte, who assure him that it was according to them a totally real case. He comments on that he thus has the feeling that "certain people" could be deceived by an explanation which "altogether, pleased the readers at the time well" and that it seems to him that "much too many elements give to this case a sufficient character of strangeness so that it cannot be explained by such a coarse explanation by a hoax" for there are "traces noted on the ground", charred grass, "which are not contestable even if they could have been easily reproducible by merry pranksters" and that "what about our two humanoids which fly away on board a large orange red disc of six meters in diameter!!!"

He then tells that to try to sort things out he contacted the main witness by telephone and discussed with his wife on March 28, 2003, who acknowledged to him that the health of her husband was diminishing day by day and that his memory started to be cruelly lacking, and she firmly asked him to not bother them with this story, and that he thus could not meet the witness. He adds that the couple resided at that time in Paris, and that it is while going to his parents in Briatexte that the witness had made this observation in company of two of his cousins, completely by chance. Perhaps the cousins still reside in the Paris area but Mrs. "Mitto" acknowledged on the phone on April 1, 2003 to have lost any trace of them since a long time, and it was thus difficult to further investigate without causing damage to the integrity of the witness.

Didier Gomez specifies that the place of observation is on the community of Puybegon at the doors of Briatexte but not at an hour of road like written in the article of Le Tarn Libre, that the locality La Caïphe is in fact 200 meters from the entry of the community of Briatexte when one arrives by the D 631 road coming from Toulouse, and that the place is thus close to Briatexte and not Briatexte itself as all the books referring to the case except very rare exception are claiming.

He specifies that the name "Mitto" is erroneous, but that he does not want to give the true name since he is still alive in March 2003, 85 years old, and that he does not want to talk any more about the case.

He concludes that to think that this case is a misinterpretation is "quite pretentious and very superficial" "whereas the investigators (of poor level in fact) did not even take the trouble to rectify these small errors of the time, which shows a definite lack of serious."

[Ref. djn1:] DONALD JOHNSON:

On this Day

October 9

[...]

1954 - Briatexte, France. At 8:30 p.m. on Route N631 at "La Caiffe," a technician named J. P. Mitto was returning from Toulouse with two other friends when they saw two small figures cross the road in front of their car and jump into a pasture. The beings were about the height of 11-year-old children and crossed only five meters in front of them. Stopping immediately, the witnesses saw a large convex disc take off vertically. It was about six meters in diameter, orange in color, and was literally "sucked up" into the sky. Brown oily spots were found at the landing site. (Source: Jacques Vallee, Passport to Magonia, p. 222).

[...]

[Ref. tps1:] TED PHILLIPS:

10/09/54 2030 France, Briatexte: Jean Pierre Mitto was driving with two cousins when they saw two small beings the size of 11 or 12- year-old children crossing the road 25 ft ahead of the car.

The witness stopped the car and they saw a red glowing disc ascend vertically from a field. The object was about 22 ft in diameter. A brown, oily residue was found at the site.

[Ref. jcbl1:] JEROME BEAU:

Saturday, October 9, 1954

[...]

20:30 In Briatexte (Tarn, France), on the N631, in Caiffe, a technician, J.-P. Mitto, returns from Toulouse with 2 other people when they see 2 small beings, of the size of a 11 year old child, who crosses the road, at 5 m approximately in front of the car, then jumps in a meadow. Stopping immediately, the witnesses see a large convex disc rising vertically. It is approximately 6 m in diameter, it is of orange color and was literally "sucked" in the sky. There are brown and oily spots on its site.

[...]

The sources are indicated as "Sud-Ouest, October 9, 1954" and "Paris-Presse, Le Figaro, October 13, 1954".

[Ref. cbl1:] CLAUDE BURKEL - "TOP SECRET" MAGAZINE:

In the department of Tarn, in Briatexte, on October 9, 1954 and in the middle of a UFO flap, another disc 6 meters in diameter let brown oily spots on the ground after his departure...

On 9 October 1954, at Briatexte in the Tarn, another 6m diameter disc let brown and oily stains.

[Ref. lcn1:] LUC CHASTAN:

Luc Chastan indicates in his database that in the Tarn in Briatexte on October 9, 1954 at 20:30 hours, "the main witness, technician in an industrial company is in company of two of his cousins. He drives on N631. While arriving at the locality 'Caiffé' they distinguish, in the beams of the headlights, two small characters of the size of an eleven years old child who cross the road at a few five meters in front of the car and who leap in a pasture."

"The driver applies the brakes and stops twenty meters further. Hardly out of the car, the three witnesses observe the departure of a large red-orange disc approximately six meters in diameter, at high speed, like literally 'sucked' in the sky (according to Vallée and Bowen) or by sucking the air below (Michel)."

"This case was asserted 'mildly' by two journalists who were performing a series of hoax in the area but 4 later, however the date of the 9th is certain."

The sources are indicated as "Ovni, Premier dossier complet... by Figuet M./ Ruchon J.L. ** Alain Lefeuvre pub. 1979" and "M.O.C. by Michel Aimé ** Arthaud 1958".

[Ref. uda1:] "UFODNA" WEBSITE:

The website indicates that on 9 October 1954, at 20:30, in Briatexte, France, "Large orange convex disk, six meters in diameter, and two small figures, the height of 11-year-old children."

The website adds: "Briatexte, France. At 8:30 p.m. on Route N631 at 'La Caiffe,' a technician named J. P. Mitto was returning from Toulouse with two other friends when they saw two small figures cross the road in front of their car and jump into a pasture. The beings were about the height of 11-year-old children and crossed only five meters in front of them. Stopping immediately, the witnesses saw a large convex disc take off vertically. It was about six meters in diameter, orange in color, and was literally 'sucked up' into the sky. Brown oily spots were found at the landing site."

And: "On Route N631 at "La Caiffe," a technician, J. P. Mitto, was coming back from Toulouse with two other persons when they saw two small figures, the height of 11-year-old children, cross the road about five meters in front of the car and jump into a pasture. Stopping immediately, the witnesses saw a large convex disk take off vertically. It was about six meters in diameter, orange in color and was literally "sucked up" into the sky. Brown oily spots were found at the site."

And: "An object was observed. Traces found. One orange-blue saucer, about 20 feet across, about twenty feet away, was observed by three male witnesses on a highway for two minutes. No sound was heard. Two 3.5-foot-tall dwarves were seen."

And: "Jean Pierre Mitto was driving near Briatexte with his 2 cousins when they perceived 2 small beings the size of 11 or 12-year-old children crossing the road in front of the car; he braked to a stop. Immediately they saw a red glowing disc rise straight up into the sky from an adjoining field. Traces were found."

The sources are indicated as "Webb, David, HUMCAT: Catalogue of Humanoid Reports; Guieu, Jimmy, Flying Saucers Come from Another World, Citadel, New York, 1956; Michel, Aime, Flying Saucers and the Straight-Line Mystery, S. G. Phillips, New York, 1958; Bowen, Charles, The Humanoids: FSR Special Edition No. 1, FSR, London, 1966; Pereira, Jader U., Les Extra-Terrestres, Phenomenes Spatiaux, Paris, 1974; 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); Vallee, Jacques, A Century of Landings (N = 923), (in JVallee04), Chicago, 1969; Cramp, Leonard G., Piece for a Jig-Saw, Somerton, Isle of Wight, 1966; Schoenherr, Luis, Computerized Catalog (N = 3173); Carrouges, Michel, Les Apparitions de Martiens, Fayard, Paris, 1963; Hall, Richard H., The UFO Evidence, NICAP, Washington, 1964; Olsen, Thomas M., The Reference for Outstanding UFO Sighting Reports, UFOIRC, Riderwood, 1966; Phillips, Ted R., Ted Phillips investigation files; Phillips, Ted R., Physical Traces Associated with UFO Sightings, CUFOS, Chicago, 1975; Delaire, J. Bernard, UFO Register Volume 7 (1976), Data Research, Oxford, 1976; Hatch, Larry, *U* computer database, Author, Redwood City, 2002; Rosales, Albert, Humanoid Sighting Reports Database".

[Ref. prn2:] PETER ROGERSON:

October 9 1954, 2030hrs.

BRIATEXTE (TARN : FRANCE)

On Rt N 631 at "La Caiffre" technician Jean-Pierre Mitto was returning from Toulouse with his two cousins when they saw two small figures, the height of 11 year old children, cross the road about 5m in front of the car and jump into a pasture. Stopping the car at once, they saw a large convex disc take off vertically. It was orange, 6m in diameter and appeared to be sucked up into the sky. Brown oily spots were found at the site. There were suggestions that this was a hoax by “two disguised journalists”

Michel 1958, p.154.
Vallee Case 222, citing Paris-Presse + Figaro 13 October 1954 + Sud-Ouest 9 October 1954.
Jacques Bonabot.

[Ref. jgz1:] JULIEN GONZALEZ:

The author indicates that there was a close encounter of the 3rd kind in Briatexte, at the locality "La Caiffé", in the Tarn, on October 9, 1954, at 08:30 p.m..

Mr. Jean-Pierre Mitto, technician in an industrial company was in company of two of his cousins, who remained anonymous, driving on the N631 road. Arriving at the locality "La Caiffé", they distinguished in the beams of the headlights two small characters of the size of an eleven-year-old child who crossed the road at some five meters in front of the car and which leaped in a pasture.

Mr. Mitto applied the brakes and stopped twenty meters further. Hardly had they left left the car, that the three witnesses observed the departure of a large red-orange disc of approximately six meters diameter, at high speed, like literally "sucked" in the sky.

Julien Gonzalez points out that an investigation was carried out by lieutenant Fayet and adjudant Vergne of the national gendarmerie; which allowed to find at the place indicated by the witness brownish spots of a viscous matter.

The sources are given "Aimé Michel: 'À propos des Soucoupes Volantes', pages 193-194; C. Garreau et R. Lavier: 'Face aux Extra-Terrestres', page 162; Jimmy Guieu:' Black-Out sur les Soucoupes Volantes', page 199; Michel Carrouges: 'Les apparitions de Martiens', page 166; Michel Figuet et Jean-Louis Ruchon, 'OVNI, le premier dossier complet des rencontres rapprochées en France', page 139; Jean Sider, 'Le dossier 1954 et l'imposture rationaliste', page 191; Le Figaro du 13 octobre 1954."

[Ref. nip1:] "THE NICAP WEBSITE":

*Oct. 9, 1954 - Briatexte, France. At 8:30 p.m. on Route N631 at "La Caiffe," a technician named J. P. Mitto was returning from Toulouse with two other friends when they saw two small figures cross the road in front of their car and jump into a pasture. The beings were about the height of 11-year-old children and crossed only five meters in front of them. Stopping immediately, the witnesses saw a large convex disc take off vertically. It was about six meters in diameter, orange in color, and was literally "sucked up" into the sky. Brown oily spots were found at the landing site. (Source: Jacques Vallee, Passport to Magonia: A Century of Landings, p. 222, case # 222).

[Ref. tai1:] "THINK ABOUT IT" WEBSITE:

Location: Briatexte France

Date: October 9 1954

Time: 2030

Jean Pierre Mitto was driving near Briatexte with his 2 cousins when they perceived 2 small beings the size of 11 or 12-year-old children crossing the road in front of the car; he braked to a stop. Immediately they saw a red glowing disc rise straight up into the sky from an adjoining field. Traces were found.

Source: Aime Michel, quoting Local Police: Jacques Vallee, Passport to Magonia 222

[Ref. ubk1:] "UFO-DATENBANK":

This case was recorded 10 times instead of one in this database:

Case Nr. New case Nr. Investigator Date of observation Zip Place of observation Country of observation Hour of observation Classification Comments Identification
19541009 09.10.1954 Briatexte France 20.30 CE III
19541009 09.10.1954 Briatexte France Evening CE III
19541009 09.10.1954 Briatexte France 20.30 CE III
19541009 09.10.1954 Briatexte France 20.30 CE III
19541009 09.10.1954 Briatexte France CE III
19541009 09.10.1954 Briatexte France 20.30 CE III
19541009 09.10.1954 Briatexte France CE III
19541009 09.10.1954 Briatexte France 20.30 CE III
19541009 09.10.1954 Briatexte France
19541009 09.10.1954 La Caiphe France

[Ref. sme1:] "STOP MENSONGES" WEBSITE:

On October 9, 1954, in Briatexte, in the department of Tarn, another disc of 6 meters in diameter left brown and oily stains.

[Ref. prn3:] PETER ROGERSON - "INTCAT":

October 9 1954. 2030hrs.

BRIATEXTE (TARN : FRANCE)

On Rt N 631 at La Caiffre [sic] technician Jean-Pierre Mitto was returning from Toulouse with his two cousins when they saw two small figures, the height of 11 year old children, cross the road about 5m in front of the car and jump into a pasture. Stopping the car at once, they saw a large convex disc take off vertically. It was orange, 6m in diameter and appeared to be sucked up into the sky. Brown oily spots were found at the site"

Evaluation - Two journalists Michel Agnellet and Pierre La Foret claimed in Samedi Soir 21-7 October 1954, that this was one of number of hoaxes they had performed, travelling the country with fireworks and disguises

Note: "skeptical" British ufologist Peter Rogerson took his "evaluation" from my Web page here without giving any source reference about it.

Important note:

After the observation, two Parisian press journalists announced that they were the authors of a hoax, dressing up as Martians to denounce the gullibility of people reporting UFOs. The description of the saucer compared to fireworks is a good confirmation of this, since the two hoaxers used fireworks rockets to simulate the saucers.

It so happens that the assertions of the two pranksters - journalists of Samedi-Soir offer at least one proof that they invented at least one of their mystifications; this casting further doubt on the whole of their claims.

As a matter of fact, they claim that they were the pranksters that fooled Mr Ott, in Toulouse. However, if Toulouse was indeed on their claimed route, the observation of Mr. Ott by no means took place in Toulouse in the South but in Mulhouse, in the East, in Alsace, almost at the other end of France!

The mistrust of Michel Carrouges with regard to these claims of hoaxes by these journalists is thereby reinforced.

Explanations:

Map.

Probably, or at least possibly the famous hoax by Parisian journalists Michel Agnelet and Pierre Laforêt.

The credibility of the witnesses is not really the issue. The thesis of the journalists' prank is not a thesis that claims that "the witnesses are lying", it is thus not by stating that the witnesses are of good faith that it can be demonstrated that it was not a prank but a true flying saucer.

The sighting conditions cannot have been "very good": it was at nightfall, from inside a car, at a place the witnesses were likely not familiar with since they were from the Paris area. The figures were seen in the car's headlights, and likely only for a very short time since the figures crossed the road "5 meters" in front of the driving car!

The witnesses did not see "humanoids flying away in a flying saucer". They saw two figures cross the road, and some time later, they saw something luminous shoot up in the air. Nothing allows to consider certain that there were two humanoids in that something luminous.

The "size" of the so-called "flying saucer" does not rest on anything solid. At night, people tend to provide "sizes" that are just interpretation. The distance is not established, the angular size is not established. The size thus does not have more value than when witnesses say that a certain meteor was "10 meters wide". This size is nevertheless just as compatible with some "flying saucer diameter" than with the size of the fireworks that the pranksters-journalists could have used.

Brown oily stains at the location cannot qualify as "overwhelming proof" against the prank theory: the brown oily stains could just as well have been from the prankster's car, or anything else actually, nothing forces to consider they were oil that had dripped from a flying saucer.

Lastly, the Press sometimes gave the "small detail" which should have make some ufologists think; which Figuet, Sider, etc., overlooked or were unaware of: the thing is compared with fireworks... it is precisely what Michel Agnelet and Pierre Laforêt used to make believe at a start of a flying saucer.

Keywords:

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

Briatexte, Tarn, La Caiffe, J.P. Mitto, multiple, occupants, humanoids, disk, orange, traces, oil, fireworks

Sources:

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

Document history:

Version: Created/Changed by: Date: Change Description:
0.1 Patrick Gross March 26, 2003 First published.
1.0 Patrick Gross March 9, 2009 Conversion from HTML to XHTML Strict. First formal version. Additions [jgu1], [goe1], [djn1], [dgz1], [jcbl1], [tps1], [lcn1], [uda1].
1.1 Patrick Gross April 23, 2009 Addition [bbr1].
1.2 Patrick Gross March 7, 2010 Addition [lcp1].
1.3 Patrick Gross March 13, 2010 Addition [jgu2].
1.4 Patrick Gross June 28, 2010 Addition [jve5].
1.5 Patrick Gross August 14, 2013 Addition [prs1].
1.6 Patrick Gross September 21, 2014 Additions [lhe1], [nip1], [tai1].
1.7 Patrick Gross November 20, 2016 Additions [ler1], [ubk1].
1.8 Patrick Gross December 13, 2016 Additions [fso1], [jsr1], [jgz1]. In the explanations, addition of the paragraph "Lastly, the Press..."
1.9 Patrick Gross January 5, 2017 Addition [prs1].
2.0 Patrick Gross December 21, 2019 Additions [ppe1], [lhh1], [dgz3], [dmi2], [prn3].
2.1 Patrick Gross January 26, 2020 Additions [cpd1].
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2.9 Patrick Gross September 3, 2021 Additions [gqy1], [prn1], [tbw1].
3.0 Patrick Gross April 30, 2022 Additions [gqy2], [gal1], [gep1], [mft2].
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