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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 Dannemarie, on October 8, 1985:

Case number:

ALSACAT-1985-10-08-DANNEMARIE-1

Summary:

A report from the local National Gendarmerie indicates that on October 15, 1985 at 5:55 p.m., a Gendarmerie officer at his home heard the report of a man, worker, married, with 3 children - name and address are naturally censored - who told him that on October 8, 1985, around 7 p.m., he was in one of his meadows, in a censored place, busy installing an electric fence, at night and under slightly overcast weather.

Around 7:10 p.m. his attention was caught by a flash of lightning; he thought there was going to be a storm and, simultaneously, he saw other flashes, there were three at very quick and regular intervals. He noted the direction from which these flashes came, direction which was censored.

About 10 minutes later, it started again, but much closer to him. He had time to see like two very big projectors diffusing a very powerful white light. They were light rays directed in his direction, placed just above the trees of a forest whose name is censored, the witness estimating that he was about 1 km away. There was no noise.

The phenomenon happened 4 times in a row, always in his direction. The light was so strong that he was dazzled and couldn't make out any shapes.

He assures that he noticed that the light rays came from two spherical projectors slightly spaced along a horizontal line.

At the time, he was a bit scared, but he nevertheless stayed to finish putting up his fence. It did not happen again afterwards. He had not felt anything in particular either physically or mentally.

The gendarmes having undertaken an investigation, learned that many people in the village had seen like lightning in the sky that day around 7 p.m., 7:15 p.m. this despite the lack of rolling thunder.

A lady on her balcony on the second floor of her villa noticed that the sky was red above the forest in a censored direction. In addition, her dog had started whining abnormally.

This behavior of the animals had also been noticed by other inhabitants, in particular a lady who heard the neighbors' dog.

The gendarmes learned that a couple had seen something on the evening of October 8, 1985, and they heard the husband who told them that on October 8 around 7:15 p.m., at his home, his wife warned that she saw lights in the sky. The husband, from the window of his dining room noticed, coming from this direction three flashes of different colors, namely red, blue and white. The observation was very quick, at regular intervals. The light was very powerful.

The Gendarmes also learned that the phenomenon might have been seen by a woman in the Territoire de Belfort, but they were unable to verify it.

The Gendarmes contacted the Air Transport Gendarmerie at Basel-Mulhouse airport to check the air traffic with the control tower: no movement was recorded in the relevant sector between 7:00 p.m. and 7:30 p.m..

On January 30, 2014, the "Groupe d'Etude et d'Informations sur les Phénomènes Aérospatiaux Non Identifiés" (GEIPAN), a public service within the "Centre National des Etudes Spatiales" (CNES), in charge of "Unidentified Aerospace Phenomena", anonymized and published the above report, locating the event in Dannemarie in the Haut-Rhin; very brief summaries subsequently appeared on three UFO websites.

Data:

Temporal data:

Date: October 8, 1985
Time: 07:10 p.m.
Duration: 10 minutes or more.
First known report date: October 15, 1985
Reporting delay: 1 week.

Geographical data:

Department: Haut-Rhin
City: Dannemarie
Place: From a meadow, from houses in the village.
Latitude: 47.630
Longitude: 7.118
Uncertainty radius: 2 km.

Witnesses data:

Number of alleged witnesses: 5
Number of known witnesses: 5
Number of named witnesses: 5
Witness(es) ages: Adultes or aged.
Witness(es) types: Residents.

Ufology data:

Reporting channel: Reported to the local Gendarmerie.
Type of location: Meadow, and village houses.
Visibility conditions: Night.
UFO observed: Yes.
UFO arrival observed: Yes.
UFO departure observed: Yes.
Entities: No.
Photographs: No.
Sketch(s) by witness(es): No.
Sketch(es) approved by witness(es): No.
Witness(es) feelings: Worried.
Witnesses interpretation: ?

Classifications:

Hynek: NL
ALSACAT: Unidentified.

Sources:

[Ref. gen1:] GENDARMERIE NATIONALE:

Scan.

NATIONAL GENDARMERIE

COMPANY OR SQUADRON [-]
BRIGADE UNIT OF [-]
MINUTES (YEAR N°) 645/1985

PART #2
SHEET No. 1 /

PROCEDURE

WITNESS HEARING MINUTES

This day October 15, 1985 at 5:55 p.m., being at the witness home [-]

We, the undersigned [-], Gendarme Judicial Police Officer

Having regard to Articles 16 to 19 and 75 of the Code of Criminal Procedure,
report the following operations which we carried out, acting in uniform and in accordance with the orders of our chiefs.

CONCERNED PERSON
NAMES, FIRST NAMES (FOR A WOMAN, ALWAYS WRITE THE GIRL'S NAME, FOLLOWED BY THE WIFE'S NAME, FOLLOWED)

[-], worker

SEX, DATE AND PLACE OF BIRTH (TOWN, DEPARTMENT OR COUNTRY CODE)

M: born on [-] in [-]

FILIATION (WHERE THIS INFORMATION MUST BE COLLECTED)

FAMILY STATUS

married 3 children

COMPLETE ADDRESS (BUILDING, STAIRCASE, STREET, TOWN, POSTAL CODE AND DISTRIBUTOR OFFICE, POSSIBLE TELEPHONE NUMBER+), OCCUPATION (EVT.)

residing at [-], who declares to us:

--- On October 8, 1985, around 7 p.m. I was in one of my meadows at [-] at a place called [-]. I was busy installing an electric fence.

--- It was dark and the weather was slightly overcast.

--- Around 7:10 p.m. my attention was caught by a flash of lightning. I said to myself that there was going to be a storm and, simultaneously, I saw other lightning again, there were three at very fast and regular intervals.

--- Immediately I realized that this phenomenon came from the direction of [-]. About 10 minutes later it started again, but much closer to me. I had time to see like two very big projectors diffusing a very powerful white light. They were rays of light directed in my direction. This light source was above the forest at [-] of the place called [-] where I was at a distance that I estimate at about one kilometer and just above the trees. There was no noise.

--- This lighting phenomenon happened 4 times in a row always in my direction. The light was so strong that I was dazzled and couldn't make out any shapes.

--- At the time, I was somewhat frightened by this abnormal phenomenon, but I stayed there to finish putting up my fence. It didn't happen again afterwards.

--- I didn't feel anything special either physically or mentally.

--- I noticed that the light rays came from two spherical projectors slightly spaced along a horizontal line.

October 15, 1985 at 6:40 p.m.

--- Reading made by me of the statement above, I persist in it and have nothing to change, add or subtract from it.

The person heard

(Signed in the declaration book)

Scan.

This day November 2, 1985 at 4 p.m. at the witness home [-]

We, the undersigned Gendarme Judicial police officer [-]

Having regard to Articles 16 to 19 and 75 of the Code of Criminal Procedure,
report the following operations which we carried out, acting in uniform and in accordance with the orders of our chiefs.

CONCERNED PERSON
NAMES, FIRST NAMES (FOR A WOMAN, ALWAYS WRITE THE GIRL'S NAME, FOLLOWED BY THE WIFE'S NAME, FOLLOWED)

[-], retired

SEX, DATE AND PLACE OF BIRTH (TOWN, DEPARTMENT OR COUNTRY CODE)

M / born on [-] at [-]

FILIATION (WHERE THIS INFORMATION MUST BE COLLECTED)

FAMILY STATUS

married with one child

COMPLETE ADDRESS (BUILDING, STAIRCASE, STREET, TOWN, POSTAL CODE AND DISTRIBUTOR OFFICE, POSSIBLE TELEPHONE NUMBER+), OCCUPATION (EVT.)

residing at [-], which declares to us:

--- On October 8, 1985 around 7:15 p.m. I was at my home with my wife.

--- My wife, from the dining room window, saw dazzling lights in the sky. She called me and I came to see. From the window which gives in the direction of [-] I saw three lights of different colors red, blue and white. At short and regular intervals this phenomenon repeated itself three times.

--- It seems to me that these lights came from the direction of [-]

--- I didn't see any shapes, I only noticed these very powerful flashes of light. I can't tell you if there were noises or not. Indeed, I was at home with all windows closed with the television set in operation.

November 2, 1985 at 4:15 p.m.

--- Reading made by me of the statement above, I persist in it and have nothing to change, add or subtract from it.

The person heard

(Signed in the declaration book)

Scan.

NATIONAL GENDARMERIE

COMPANY OR SQUADRON [-]
BRIGADE UNIT OF [-]
MINUTES (YEAR N°) 645/1985

PART NUMBER
SHEET No. /

REPORT
OF
ADMINISTRATIVE INFORMATION

PRECISE NATURE OF THE FACTS - REFERENCE
OBSERVATION OF UNIDENTIFIED FLYING OBJECT at [-]

We, the undersigned [-], Warrant Officer, Judicial Police Officer
[-], Gendarme Judicial Police Officer

Having regard to Articles 16 to 19 and 75 of the Code of Criminal Procedure,
report the following operations which we carried out, acting in uniform and in accordance with the orders of our chiefs.

THAT DAY, October 9, nineteen eighty-five at eight-thirty, finding ourselves on a joint visit to the residence, we learn, incidentally, that an unidentified luminous phenomenon was reportedly observed the day before around 7 p.m. on the territory of the municipality.

This persistent rumor leads us to transport ourselves to the village [-] in order to investigate.

FINDINGS AND PROVISIONAL MEASURES

On the spot we collect the first elements on the phenomenon.

First of all we learn that Mr. [-], residing in [-], observed lights in the sky, while he was on the meadow he owns on the territory of the municipality.

In fact Mr. [-] was busy installing an electric fence on a plot located at [-] of the municipality [-], on the edge of [-], at a place called [-], and in the perimeter of the crossroads formed by the [-] and the local road linking this last road with the municipality [-].

During his hearing Mr. [-] told us that his attention had been attracted by three flashes following each other at regular and rapid intervals. These lights were noticed on October 8, 1985 around 7:10 p.m.

The witness continued his work then ten minutes later the phenomenon started again. This time Mr. [-] saw like two very large projectors placed on a horizontal line diffusing a white light, very powerful, directed towards him.

Still according to Mr [-] this light source was not constant, it flashed a first time at 7.10 p.m. (three flashes) then a second time around 7.20 p.m. (three flashes also). During the 10 minutes of interruption the light source had moved while approaching the witness always along an axis [-] - [-].

According to Mr. [-] this phenomenon must have been above the so-called [-] forest coming from the direction of [-]. Mr. [-] told us that there was no noise. He did not see a shape because he was dazzled by the diffused light.

CLOSING DATE
5.11.1985

Scan.

Exhibit No. 1 - Sheet 2

--- According to Mr [-] the phenomenon was visible simply from the place where it was, but not necessarily from the village which is located in a basin. Mr. [-] estimated that the light source was just above the trees of the [-] forest at a distance of about one kilometer. SEE HEARING Exhibit No. 2

--- Continuing our investigations, we learned that many people in the village saw like lightnings in the sky that day around 7 p.m., 7:15 p.m. this despite the lack of rolling thunder.

--- Mrs [-], residing at n° [-], being on her balcony on the first floor of her villa, noticed that the sky was red above the forest in the direction of [-]. Also her dog started whining abnormally.

--- This behavior of the animals was also noticed by other inhabitants, in particular Mrs [-], residing at [-] who heard the neighbors' dog.

--- During our investigation we learned that Mr. and Mrs. [-] residing in [-], would have seen something on the evening of October 8, 1985. To this effect we heard Mr. [-] who told us that on October 8 around 7:15 p.m., being at his home, his wife warned him that she saw lights in the sky. Mr. [-] from his dining room window noticed, coming from the direction of, three flashes of different colors, namely red, blue and white. This observation was very rapid, at regular intervals. The light was very powerful. SEE HEARING Exhibit No. 3

--- We also contacted the Air Transport Gendarmerie at [Bâle-Mulhouse] airport to check air traffic with the control tower.

--- No movement was recorded in the considered area between 7:00 p.m. and 7:30 p.m.

--- During our research we also learned that the phenomenon might have been seen by the wife of Mr.[-], residing in [-] (Territory of [-]). This information could not be verified.

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

DANNEMARIE (68) 1985
Observed on: 10/081985
Region: Alsace
Department: Rhin (Haut)
Class: C
Summary: Two large projectors diffusing a very powerful white light.
Description: On October 8, 1985, witnesses see particular luminous phenomena. Despite the stormy weather and the lightning present at the start of the evening, one of the witnesses saw two beams of blinding light four times in a row: the light source seemed to be located 1 km from his home, above a group of trees and placed on a straight plane. Two other witnesses will see red, blue and white lights appear three times in a row. No other information could be collected on this phenomenon.
Report: None.

Details of the testimony
Witness
Date of the observation 10/08/1985
Document number
Age Adult (more than 18)
Profession Employees, Workers
Sexe Male
Reaction
Credibility
Conditions
Environment Country
Weather conditions Few clouds
Hour of the observation Numbered: 6 p.m. - 8 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 witness
Localization
Angle of the site Middle of the sky
Direction d'observation Geographic landmarks (Name of city, village, numbered, etc.)
Heading Not-specified
Trajectory Not-specified
Nature of the observation Descriptive terms (lights, etc);Phenomenon
Characteristic of the observation Others
Global shapes Not-specified
Color Luminous (brilliant)
Apparent size Not-specified
Apparent speed Not-specified
Noise No noise
Effect on the environment Not-specified
Number

Details of the testimony
Witness
Date of the observation 10/08/1985
Document number
Age Adult (more than 18)
Profession Retired
Sex Male
Reaction
Credibility
Conditions
Environment Home
Weather conditions Not-specified
Hour of the observation Numbered: 6 p.m. - 8 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 witness
Localisation
Angle of site Not-specified
Direction of observation Geographic landmarks (Name of city, village, numbered, etc.)
Heading Not-specified
Trajectory Not-specified
Nature of the observation Descriptive terms (lights, etc);Phenomenon
Characteristic of the observation Others
Global shape Not-specified
Color Luminous (brillant);Red;Blue
Apparent size Not-specified
Apparent speed Not-specified
Noise Not-specified
Effect on the environment Not-specified
Number

Note: this case sheet was obviously accompanied by a link to the corresponding Gendarmerie report, see [gen1] above.

[Ref. uda1:] "UFODNA" WEBSITE:

8 October 1985 :

Dannemarie, Alsace, France

GEPAIN [sic, "GEIPAN"] DANNEMARIE (68) 1985

Hynek rating: DD

The sources are indicated by a link to the GEIPAN home page at http://www.cnes-geipan.fr/geipan/index.html

[Ref. cts1:] CLAUDE THINNES:

DANNEMARIE (68) - 1985

Two large projectors diffusing a very powerful white light.

On October 8, 1985, witnesses see particular luminous phenomena. Despite the stormy weather and the lightning present at the start of the evening, one of the witnesses saw two beams of blinding light four times in a row: the light source seemed to be located 1 km from his home, above a group of trees and placed on a straight plane. Two other witnesses will see red, blue and white lights appear three times in a row. No other information could be gathered on this phenomenon. No REPORT

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

City Date and hour of observation General shape
Identification
General color
Hypothesis
Conclusion
DANNEMARIE Tuesday 8 October 1985 Unusual luminosity
Unidentified
information not communicated
None
Unsolved -lack of info

Discussion:

Map.

I have no clue about what this phenomenon could have been; but to claim it was an extraterrestrial craft is a leap I would not take.

Dannemarie is a small village in the plain of Alsace, surrounded by several forests:

Dannemarie sky view.

Evaluation:

Unidentified.

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 August 7, 2022 Creation, [gen1], [gei1], [uda1], [cts1], [spa1].
1.0 Patrick Gross August 7, 2022 First published.

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This page was last updated on August 7, 2022.