The article below was published in the daily newspaper Libération, Paris, France, page 6, on October 16, 1954.
See the case file.
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The Agence France-Presse published yesterday, at 1:35 p.m., the following dispatch, which was picked up in its first edition, on the front page, by the evening newspaper "Paris-Presse".
"At the beginning of the afternoon, at 1:30 p.m., the population of Fontaine-de-Vaucluse was in a state of excitement.
"Indeed, a white disc was slowly hovering above the small town, clearly visible through good binoculars.
"This white disc was topped with a spherical dome of the same color.
"The lower circular edge intermittently emitted two powerful lights, shifting in color from white to violet, passing through red."
"The Caritat Air Base (Vaucluse), alerted, immediately dispatched two jet aircraft which soon appeared and, after circling twice over Fontaine-de-Vaucluse, gained altitude and dove toward the 'disc.'"
"The radio equipment on board the aircraft, which was in communication with the base, reported that the object was in sight, that they were giving chase, but it was escaping at a speed greater than theirs."
From Vaucluse, one could clearly see the disc shooting away like an arrow, pursued by the two jet aircraft."
However, at 12:29 p.m., the same agency issued a categorical denial from the Secretary of State for the Air Force:
"Contrary to what certain daily newspapers announced this morning, the Secretary of State for the Armed Forces (Air) wishes to clarify that the two pilots from the Orange base who flew over Fontaine-de-Vaucluse at various altitudes on the afternoon of October 14 observed no unknown object during their search. The two pilots are experienced officers, and their report is unequivocal."
One simple question: why was the news rushed to publication without verifying the source and checking its authenticity?
J. D. [Jacques Derogy]
