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ALSACAT:

ALSACAT is my comprehensive catalog of UFO sighting reports in Alsace, the region is the North-East of France, whether they are "explained" or "unexplained".

The ALSACAT catalog is made of case files with a case number, summary, quantitative information (date, location, number of witnesses...), classifications, all sources mentioning the case with their references, a discussion of the case in order to evaluate its causes, and a history of the changes made to the file. A general index and thematic sub-catalogs give access to these Alsatian case files.

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Case of Flaxlanden, on August 5, 1980:

Case number:

ALSACAT-1980-08-05-FLAXLANDEN-1

Summary:

Headlining "A UFO in the sky of Flaxlanden?", the regional newspaper L'Alsace for August 7, 1980, reported:

At around 11 p.m. Tuesday a couple living in Flaxlanden and a friend of theirs observed a slightly flattened object of an incandescent white in the direction of Bruebach. It was first the husband who, getting out of his car, noticed a luminous object which seemed to land behind a maize field. The phenomenon lasted about one minute. Back home, he settled in with his wife and their guest at a window on the 1st floor. From there, the three people saw the object in question for about 2 minutes leave without any noise in the direction of Mulhouse.

A gendarmerie brigade in the Mulhouse area heard three people who reported seeing a "luminous and mysterious phenomenon" at their home in one of the communes near Mulhouse.

The main witness told them that at around 11:00 p.m. on August 5, 1980, as he closed the garage door in the basement of his house, that a phenomenon came from his left, "meaning east-west."

He told that the movement of this machine lasted about 20 to 30 seconds in the indicated direction, with very slight altitude drops. Then it turned on the spot, changed direction by going south now, in his direction, "increasing in volume." He then noticed that it had an elongated shape, with a central light producing a lighting of the shape of a banana.

He called his wife and a female friend who was on vacation at their home, who also saw it, and at that point it headed east and "disappeared."

It seemed to him that it was maneuvering "like a helicopter looking for balance", then it went back to the north-east, gaining altitude, and disappeared into the clouds.

Some ten minutes later, he was forced to go to the second floor, and, still intrigued, he opened the window, and looking through it he saw again the object seen previously, moving in the same manner and on the same east - west trajectory.

To anwer a question by the gendarmes, he said he had heard no sound reminiscent of a plane or helicopter or other known flying machine.

The man adds that the next evening around 11:45 p.m., he saw the same machine performing the same maneuvers.

The gendarmes questioned the two women, who corroborated his story for the parts of 5 August 1980 observation they also witnessed.

The gendarmes inquired about military air traffic at the Meyenheim Air Force Base, and about civilian air traffic at the Basel - Mulhouse airport. The army had aircraft in flight on the evening of August 5, 1980, none on August 6, 1980, and the airport reported heavy traffic, with two take-offs, one landing, and one overflight, at 10:53 p.m., 10:55 p.m., 11:05 p.m. and 11:12 p.m. on August 5, 1980.

In the years 2005, the GEIPAN, the official group in charge of such cases, published the documents of the Gendarmes, and noted that these witnesses had probably observed an aircraft.

Data:

Temporal data:

Date: August 5, 1980, August 6, 1980
Time: ~11:00 p.m., 11:45 p.m.
Duration: More than 30 seconds.
First known report date: August 7, 1980
Reporting delay: Hours, 1 day.

Geographical data:

Department: Haut-Rhin
City: ?
Place: Area of Mulhouse, from home, UFO in the sky.
Latitude: 47.738
Longitude: 7.350
Uncertainty radius: 10 km

Witnesses data:

Number of alleged witnesses: 3
Number of known witnesses: 3
Number of named witnesses: 3
Witness(es) ages: Adults.
Witness(es) types: A couple, a female friend on vacation.

Ufology data:

Reporting channel: Official preliminary investigation by Gendarmerie.
Type of location: From new home, UFO in the sky.
Visibility conditions: Night
UFO observed: Yes
UFO arrival observed: ?
UFO departure observed: Yes
Entities: No
Photographs: No.
Sketch(s) by witness(es): No.
Sketch(es) approved by witness(es): No.
Witness(es) feelings: Puzzled.
Witnesses interpretation: ?

Classifications:

Hynek: NL
ALSACAT: Probable plane or helicopter.

Sources:

[Ref. lae1:] NEWSPAPER "L'ALSACE":

Scan.

A UFO in the sky of Flaxlanden?

At around 11 p.m. Tuesday a couple living in Flaxlanden and a friend of theirs observed a slightly flattened object of an incandescent white in the direction of Bruebach. It was first the husband who, getting out of his car, noticed a luminous object which seemed to land behind a maize field. The phenomenon lasted about one minute. Back home, he settled in with his wife and their guest at a window on the 1st floor. From there, the three people saw the object in question for about 2 minutes leave without any noise in the direction of Mulhouse.

[Ref. gei1:] GROUPE D'ETUDES ET D'INFORMATIONS SUR LES PHENOMENES AEROSPATIAUX NON IDENTIFIES (G.E.I.P.A.N.):

MULHOUSE (68) 1980

Observed on: 08/05/1980
Region: Alsace
Department: Rhin (Haut)
Class: B
Summary: Likely observation of planes.
Description: On August 5, 1980, at approximately 11 p.m. people observe in the sky the passage of a craft from East to West. Of elongated shape this craft emits a central light. It suddenly changes its direction to go straight South then straight East. In the same evening other passages of this kind would be noted by the witnesses. On August 6 at about 11: 45 p.m. the flight of a craft going to the Northeast is spotted. No other testimony was gathered. The Basel/Mulhouse airport informs on many planes flights that evening. The witnesses probably made an observation of an aircraft.
Report: None.

Details of the testimony

Witness
Date of the observation 08/05/1980
Document number
Age Adult (more than 18)
Profession Industry and Trade
Sex Male
Reaction Active curiosity
Credibility Normal Credibility
Conditions
Environment Home
Weather conditions Clear Sky
Hour of the observation Numbered: 10 p.m. 00 p.m.
Reference frame Sky or clouds
Distance between phenomenon and witness Not-Specified
Start of the observation Start of observation by witness
End of the observation End of observation by phenomenon
Localization
Angle of the site Not-Specified
Direction of observation East
Heading West
Trajectory With change of direction
Nature of the observation Object; Craft
Characteristic of the observation Multiples
Global shape Other shape (comparison)
Color Not-Specified
Apparent size Not-Specified
Apparent speed Fast, great, quick
Noise No noise
Effect on the environment Not-Specified
Number 2

Details of the testimony

Witness
Date of the observation 08/05/1980
Document number
Age Adult (more than 18)
Profession Employees, Workers
Sex Female
Reaction Active Curiosity
Credibility Normal Credibility
Conditions
Enviroement Home
Weather conditions Not-Specified
Hour of the observation Numbered: 10 p.m. - 00 p.m.
Reference frame Sky or clouds
Distance between phenomenon and witness Not-Specified
Start of the observation Start of observation by witness
End of observation End of observation by phenomenon
Localization
Angle of site Not-Specified
Direction of observation West
Heading East
Trajectory With change of direction
Nature of the observation Object
Characteristic of the observation Unique
Global shape Not-Specified
Color Not-Specified
Apparent size Numbered
Apparent speed Slow, constant
Noise No noise
Effect on the environnement Not-Specified
Number 1

Details of the testimony

Witness
Date of the observation 08/051980
Document number
Age Adult (more than 18)
Profession Employees, Workers
Sex Female
Reaction Passive Curiosity
Credibility Normal Credibility
Conditions
Environment Home
Weather conditions Not-Specified
Hour of the observation Not-Specified
Reference frame Sky of clouds
Distance between phenomenon and witness Not-Specified
Start of the observation Start of observation by witness
End of the observation End of observation by phenomenon
Localization
Angle of site Not-Specified
Direction of observation West
Heading East
Trajectory Not-Specified
Nature of the observation Object
Characteristic of the observation Unique
Global shape Not-Specified
Color Not-Specified
Apparent size Not-Specified
Apparent speed Not-Specified
Noise Not-Specified
Effect on the environment Not-Specified
Number 1

Scan.

NATIONAL GENDARMERIE
Group []
Company []
Unit Brigade []
Nr 2373/1980

SHIPPING SLIP

CONSTITUTING WITH THE PARTS THAT IT LISTS THE PROCEDURE RECORDED AT THE UNIT UNDER THE NUMBER INDICATED ON THE LEFT

U.F.O. Case

Preliminary investigation

- Unidentified flying objects.

1 - Preliminary investigation report (Administrative information at.
2 - Minutes of hearing of S [], A [] (1§ witness).
3 - Minutes of hearing of H [], A [] wife S [] (2nd witness).
4 - Minutes of hearing of P [], M [], (3 ° witness).
5 - Photographic platephotographique

Number of copies: 2

recipients

1 Mr. THE Prefect of [] at [].
1 The Prosecutor of the Republic at [].
1 The General, Commander of the Air Military Region at [].
2 Minister of the Armed Forces, Directorate of the Gendarmerie and Military Justice, employment and intelligence office, operations section.

Scan.

NATIONAL GENDARMERIE

Company []
Unit Brigade []
Unit Code 07453
Minutes Nr
2372/1980

REPORT of ADMINISTRATIVE INFORMATION.

DOCUMENT Nr 1
SHEET Nr

WE THE UNDERSIGNED R[] A[], Major, Officer of Judicial Police, D[] A[], Constable, GIVEN THE ARTICLE(S) 16 to 20 and 75 of the Code of Criminal Procedure, REPORT THE FOLLOWING OPERATIONS WE HAVE CARRIED OUT, ACTING IN UNIFORM AND IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE ORDERS OF OUR CHIEFS

On this day, August 7th, one thousand nine hundred and eighty at nine hours, we learn that an inhabitant of the town of [] ([]) observed during the nights of August 5th and 6th, 1980, a mysterious phenomenon in the sky.

The same day at 9:30, we go to [] ([]). We are looking for this person. This is Mr. S[] A[], residing at No. [] Street [] at []. We proceed to his hearing (see Minutes of Hearing attached - Exhibit 2).

The mysterious object described by Mr. S[] A[] moved above the locality "[]", territory of the commune of [], towards the Municipality of [].

ACTIONS TAKEN / - We have notified our Company Commander of the facts reported by this witness, by message Nr 418 / 2H.

- On the same day, we successively made contact with the following organizations and services:

Scan.

- 2 -

.../...

INVESTIGATION / - at 8.30 p.m. on 8 August 1980, we proceed to the hearing of Mrs H [], [A], wife of [S]. (See Minutes of Hearing attached - Exhibit 3).

- On the eighth of August, nineteen hundred and eighty at sixteen o'clock, we proceed to the hearing of Miss P [] M [], friend of the S[] family who confirms the two previous statements. (See Minutes of Hearing attached - Exhibit 4).

- After these auditions, we took photos from the garage door and the window of the 2nd floor overlooking the locality "[]". (See attached photographic sheet - Exhibit Nr 5).

- We make contact with the Secretary of the Town Hall of []. No similar facts were reported by other witnesses.

Scan.

NATIONAL GENDARMERIE

Company []
Brigade Unit []
Unit Code 07453
Minutes Nr
2372/1980

HEARING REPORT

EXHIBIT Nr 2
SHEET Nr 1

HEARD PERSON S[] A[], [] street [] at []

THIS DAY, August, nineteen hundred and eighty, WE THE UNDERSIGNED D[], A[], GENDARMES, APJ, GIVEN THE ARTICLES 20 AND 75 OF THE CODE OF CRIMINAL PROCEEDINGS REPORT THE FOLLOWING OPERATIONS THAT WE HAVE CARRIED OUT, ACTING IN UNIFORM AND IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE ORDERS OF OUR CHIEFS, at [], on the seventh of August, nineteen hundred and eighty at ten thirty, we hear:

A[], S[], [] years old, Commercial Agent, residing street [] at [], ([]), born on [] at [], son of [] and [], [], married 1 child , of French nationality who declares to us:

"Around 11 pm, on Tuesday 08/5/1980, by closing the door of my garage located in the basement of my home, I noticed a phenomenon coming from my left, meaning east-west.

"The movement of this machine lasted about 20 to 30 seconds in the direction indicated, with very slight altitude drops. Then the machine veered on the spot, changed direction towards the SOUTH, in my direction, by increasing volume. At that moment, I noticed that it had an elongated shape, with a central light. The lighting was shaped like a banana.

"Then I called my wife and a friend who is on vacation at my house to see the phenomenon, that's when it went to the east and disappeared.

"A few minutes later, about ten minutes, I was obliged to go to the 2nd floor. It is always intrigued by this vision, that I opened the window and looked through it. I then again found that the object seen previously was moving in the same conditions and on the same trajectory of EAST - WEST.

"It seemed to me that it was maneuvering roughly like a helicopter looking for his balance, then it headed back to the northeast, gaining altitude and disappearing in the clouds.

"On interrogation: The calm was complete, I did not perceive any noise making think neither of a plane, nor of a helicopter, ie to no flying machines with a known motor.

... / ...

Scan.

... / ...

- 2 -

"I specify that I waited ten to fifteen minutes, nothing more happened.

"Yesterday evening, the 08/6./1980 around 11 hours 45 p.m., I found the same phenomenon in the last phase, ie, the flight of this machine towards the NORTHEAST. The observation was very brief, about 15 seconds, I only saw the bright spot that was moving away at high speed with a feeling of acceleration. I waited a while, while I was on the second floor, I saw nothing anymore.

"Upon interrogation: I have been domiciled at No. [] Street [] at [] for three weeks, previously I lived at [] at [].

On 8/7/1980 at 10:50 a.m.

Having read the statement above, I persist in it, and I have nothing to change, add to, or delete from it.

(Signed to the statement log).

Scan.

NATIONAL GENDARMERIE

Company []
Brigade Unit []
Unit Code 07453
Minutes Nr
2372/1980

HEARING REPORT

EXHIBIT Nr 3
SHEET Nr 1

HEARD PERSON H[] A[], wife of S[] [] street [] at [] ([])

REFERENCES

THIS DAY NINETEENTH AUGUST NINETEEN HUNDRED AND EIGHT, WE THE UNDERSIGNED S[] D[], A[], GENDARMES, APJ, GIVEN THE ARTICLES 20 AND 75 OF THE CODE OF CRIMINAL PROCEEDING REPORT THE FOLLOWING OPERATIONS THAT WE HAVE CARRIED OUT, ACTING IN UNIFORM AND IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE ORDERS OF OUR CHIEFS, at [], on the eighth of August, one thousand nine hundred and eighty at three thirty, we hear:

H[], A[], wife S[], [] years old, seamstress, residing [] street [] at [] ([]), born on [] at [], daughter of K[] and T[], J[], married 1 child, of French nationality who declares to us:

"Shortly after 11 p.m. on August 5, 1980, my husband called me following the first observation of a flying, luminous and mysterious phenomenon.

"I joined him at the garage door. I saw the object, a very luminous point moving from WEST to EAST and seeming to descend. Its diameter was about five centimeters. Then it disappeared.

"My husband closed the garage door, we went back into the house, and then, after about ten minutes, my husband called me from the 2nd floor, the object had reappeared from the east, it was moving EAST WEST, its path was not straight, then it moved away gradually, the point diminished and it disappeared.

"At one point, when the light dot was moving from WEST to EAST, I could see on the left side of the object a flicker of the same color, i.e. white.

"Upon interrogation: We made the silence around us and I did not hear any noise from this object.

8/8/1980 at 03.45 p.m.

Having read the statement above, I persist in it, and I have nothing to change, add to, or delete from it.

(Signed to the statement log).

Scan.

NATIONAL GENDARMERIE

Company []
Brigade Unit []
Unit Code 07453
Minutes Nr
2372/1980

HEARING REPORT

EXHIBIT Nr 4
SHEET Nr 1

HEARD PERSON P[] M[], [] street [] at [] ()

REFERENCES

THIS DAY NINETEENTH AUGUST NINETEEN HUNDRED AND EIGHT, WE THE UNDERSIGNED S[] D[], A[], GENDARMES, APJ, GIVEN THE ARTICLES 20 AND 75 OF THE CODE OF CRIMINAL PROCEEDING REPORT THE FOLLOWING OPERATIONS THAT WE HAVE CARRIED OUT, ACTING IN UNIFORM AND IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE ORDERS OF OUR CHIEFS, at [], at mister S[], A[]'s, at four o'clock on the eighth of August, one thousand nine hundred and eighty, we hear:

P[], M[], [] years old, salesgirl, residing [] street [] to [], born on [] at [] (), daughter of A[] and R[], M[] of J[], single, of Portuguese nationality, who declares to us:

"I am currently on vacation at Sir S[], A[]'s at [] Street [] at [] ([]).

"The two statements made by mister and madam; which you have just read to me, are the exact facts, at least those which I have seen during the first night and at the same time as madam S[].

"I have nothing else to add."

The 8/8/1980 at 4 hours 10 p.m.

Having read the statement above, I persist in it, and I have nothing to change, add to, or delete from it.

(Signed to the statement log).

Scan.

PHOTOGRAPHIC SHEET

EXHIBIT Nr 5

Photograph to the location "[]" from the basement of mister S[], A[]'s house.

Photograph to the location "[]" from the 2nd floor of mister S[], A[]'s house.

[Ref. jbu1:] JEROME BEAU:

August 1980

05 at about 11:00 p.m. In Mulhouse, Haut Rhin, people observe in the sky the passage from east to west of a phenomenon of elongated shape and emitting a central light, which suddenly changes direction to go south, then full east. In the same evening, other passages of this type were recorded by the witnesses.

[...]

- Basel / Mulhouse airport reports numerous aircraft flights that night. According to the GEPAN the witnesses probably made an observation of an aircraft.

[Ref. spa1:] "SPICA" UFOLOGY ASSOCIATION:

City Date and hour of observation General shape
Identification
General color
Hypothesis
Conclusion
MULHOUSE Tuesday 5 August 1980 at 11:00 p.m. elongated (cigar)
Unidentified
information not communicated
None
Unsolved -lack of info

City Date and hour of observation General shape
Identification
General color
Hypothesis
Conclusion
MULHOUSE Wednesday 6 August 1980 at 11:45 p.m. information not communicated
Unidentified
information not communicated
Civilian aeronautic
Strong hypothesis

Discussion:

Map.

First, I want to note that if the case is usually titled "Mulhouse", by the GEIPAN, then others, and that I did it too, but Mulhouse is obviously NOT the place of the observation. The place was censored from the report. According to the photos, it could be many communes around Mulhouse, I think of Bruebach, Habsheim, Rixheim for example, communes overlooking wooded hills, and incidentally, places where the visible passages of planes approaching or departing from the Basel-Mulhouse airport occasionally generate such reports. Note also a possible passage of helicopters.

The fact that two nights in a row the same sighting occurs suggests something usual in these places. Like low-level airliners.

Note the absence of strangeness in the reports. Note the white color that is indeed that of landing lights.

Finally, a given detail has its importance: the couple of main witnesses, indicate the gendarmes who obtained it "upon interrogation", resided there since only three weeks. The third person is just on vacation at their home. So none of the witnesses are familiar with the very usual passages of planes approaching or leaving the nearby Basel Mulhouse airport. The fact of not hearing them, in this case, has no value. Living in Mulhouse, having lived in Brunstatt, Riedisheim, since my childhood, I can certify that most passing airliners are not audible. They can be highly "bright" when their landing lights are on, and even more in case of haze or fog. Thus, the explanation proposed by the GEIPAN is in my opinion the most probable.

Update on June 6, 2021:

With the Press source I just found [lae1], the location is better specified: Flaxlanden.

I now have directions:

The objet is seen from Flaxlanden "in the direction of Bruebach" then leaves "in the direction of Mulhouse".

Carte.

This gives me a direction towards 100° (East) going perhaps up to 0° (North).

I note that this may correspond to the trajectory of a plane coming from the Bâle-Mulhouse airport which is 16 km south-east of the witnesses.

So my previous evaluation holds.

Evaluation:

Probable plane or helicopter.

Sources references:

* = Source is available to me.
? = Source I am told about but could not get so far. Help needed.

File history:

Authoring:

Main author: Patrick Gross
Contributors: None
Reviewers: None
Editeur: Patrick Gross

Changes history:

Version: Create/changed by: Date: Description:
0.1 Patrick Gross July 25, 2018 Creation, [gei1], [jbu1], [spa1].
1.0 Patrick Gross July 25, 2018 First published.
1.1 Patrick Gross June 6, 2021 Addition [lae1]. In the Summary, addition of the information from [lae1]. In the discussion, addition of the "Update on June 6, 2021" part.

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This page was last updated on June 6, 2021.