September 30, 1954, Rixheim, Haut-Rhin:
Reference for this case: 30-Sep-54-Rixheim.
The regional newspaper L'Alsace, in the French-speaking issue of Mulhouse for October 1st, 1954, reported that "in the night from Wednesday to Thursday" therefore the September 30, 1954 since the observation began after midnight, mysterious "foreign bodies" were seen in the sky of Rixheim, quite far to the east, on the Black Forest side:
The witness's wife telephoned them during the sighting, giving her name and address, and the newspaper went to their home on September 30, 1954. The man told them:
"The house in which I live is located a short distance from the large crossroads from where the national road branches off on one side to Basel and the other to Colmar. From my window I have a view on the Black Forest, and on a clear day I can see the Feldberg. When around 1:30 a.m. my wife got up to close the window, because the coolness was making itself felt, she gave a cry of fear and called me. I rushed to the window."
When the newspaper asks what he saw, he said:
"Above the Feldberg stood a luminous body about forty centimeters in diameter. All around this body a dozen bright stars. The smallest of them greatly exceeding in size the largest of the visible stars, I took a pair of binoculars and followed the show under better viewing conditions."
The newspaper asks him if he saw more details then, and the witness replies:
"Certainly. The luminous body gave the appearance of a cigar shining in all the colors of the rainbow. It was about three times as long as it was wide. By its middle it was surrounded by a a sort of crown. Seen through my binoculars, the stars that kept him company turned out to be cigars too."
The newspaper asks, "did this squadron stand still?", the witness replies:
"The cigar in the middle, the larger one, was the easiest to observe. It changed position just like the others, in sudden movements up, down or to the side. At a certain moment, I thought I noticed a lateral movement specific to the craft. It was either the crown which rotated around the body or the latter which was rotating inside the crown... I saw no showers of flames or sparks, but at one time the whole set emitted an intense radiation from all sides."
The witness indicates that the sighting lasted about half an hour, and that his wife then went to telephone the newspaper from the public booth in Rixheim.
When she returned, they had continued to watch the "cigars" until about 2:30 in the morning. The newspaper explains that this therefore lasted almost an hour, and that the whole group then disappeared in the direction of Switzerland.
Finally, the newspaper reports that these flying cigars were also allegedly observed by a railway official on night duty, but unfortunately it was not possible for them to reach him the day before.
The Parisian weekly France-Dimanche published on October 10 and 24, 1954, a sketch of their own, with many details not mentioned by the witness - named Muller in this newspaper - and placing the observation in Colmar, 35 km further north...
The sighting was summarized very briefly in many newspapers, then it entered, still as briefly described, in the UFO literature with the erroneous date of September 27, 1954.
In this file I show that this was likely an astronomical misinterpretation.
[Ref. lae1:] NEWSPAPER "L'ALSACE":
A squadron of flying cigars in the sky of Rixheim
Will we soon have the word of the enigma? The flying saucers, in recent days, are more and more talked about. We see them everywhere, and not only saucers, but also oblong-shaped aerial craft, which were immediately named flying cigars. So numerous are the observations made by people whose judgment cannot be doubted, that the most skeptical begin to doubt. Where do these saucers, these cigars, come from? From America according to some. From Russia according to others. From Mars others still say...
While waiting to get the last word of appearances which it would be surprising that they do not also concern the governmental spheres, although so far in no capital of the world one has formulated an official opinion on the problem, in the meantime, we said, we look up more and more often to the firmament.
And in the night from Wednesday to Thursday, mysterious "foreign bodies" were seen in the sky over Rixheim, quite far to the east, near the Black Forest. A phone call informed us of the time. It was given to us by one of our readers, who had just seen a true squadron of flying cigars pass by.
We had no reason to doubt his good faith, especially since he was giving us his name and address. So yesterday we went to visit him in Rixheim. He was kind enough to give us a detailed account of what he saw.
"The house in which I live is located a short distance from the large crossroads from where the national road branches off on one side on Basel and the other on Colmar. From my window I have a view to the Black Forest, and on a clear day I can see the Feldberg. When around 1:30 a.m. my wife got up to close the window, because the coolness was making itself felt, she gave a cry of fear and called me. I rushed to the window."
"And what exactly did you see?"
"And the image was therefore more detailed?"
"Certainly. The luminous body gave the appearance of a cigar shining in all the colors of the rainbow. It was about three times as long as it was wide. By its middle it was surrounded by a kind of crown. Seen through my binoculars, the stars that kept him company turned out to be cigars too."
"And did this squadron stand still?"
"The cigar in the middle, the larger one, was the easiest to observe. It changed position just like the others, in sudden movements up, down or to the side. At a certain time, I thought I noticed a lateral movement specific to the craft. It was either the crown which turned around the body or the latter which was rotating inside the crown... I saw no showers of flames, no sparks, but at one time the whole set emitted an intense radiation from all sides."
"And how long were you able to watch the show?"
"About half an hour. Then my wife went to call you from the public booth in Rixheim. After her return we continued to observe cigars until around 2:30 in the morning."
Practically, the presence in the firmament of the region of the mysterious apparatuses thus extended over an hour. The whole group then disappeared in the direction of Switzerland.
These flying cigars were also reportedly seen by a railway official on night duty. It was unfortunately not possible for us to reach him yesterday.
[Ref. lon1:] NEWSPAPER "L'OISE-MATIN":
One is reported in the
sky of La Chapelle-en-Serval
Flying saucers continue to be talked about more than ever. And their detractors, like those who think they exist, are likewise spoiled.
The first ones in particular, by a precision relating to the "saucer" described last week in Grenoble by Dr Martinet.
The observations of a pilot from Challes-les-Eaux, who attended the same show, established that it was in fact a... flight of starlings.
The latter will be able to report new manifestations of the saucers.
In the Oise in particular, Mr. and Mrs. Joseph van Wymersch, of La Chapelle-en-Serval, who declared to have seen in this locality, Wednesday evening, around 9 p.m., for about 15 minutes, "a luminous craft which rose and fell in the sky to then disappear in the direction of the West."
Elsewhere in France, it is at Mas de Bruzy, near Perpignan, in Rixheïm, in Pau and in Nevers, that witnesses said they saw saucers.
At Mas de Bruzy, several grape pickers claimed to have seen a shiny circular object in the sky which, after moving vertically leaving a white trail, disappeared in the clouds.
In Rheim [sic], near Mulhouse two people said they had observed a luminous craft with binoculars. They found, they say, that the object was shaped like a long cigar and was surrounded by a dozen small satellite cigars. A railway worker on night duty said he had observed the same phenomenon.
Finally in Pau, Wednesday morning, around 11:45 a.m., numerous people, says an A.F.P. dispatch, saw a cigar moving at very high altitude and, near Nevers, a farm worker who was riding a bicycle on the road to Saint-Pierre-le-Moutier, saw, he claims, a semi-spherical object that moved silently with great rapidity in a northeast direction.
The "saucer" that Mr. Ates, engineer-architect from Marseille, specifies having photographed from his home on May 26, at 6:30 p.m. - our photo - was, on the contrary according to him, extremely noisy since, he said, it made the tiles of his room vibrate while remaining motionless in the sky and that, when it rose to disappear, its acceleration was accompanied by an astonishing explosion.
[Photo caption:] This photograph, where the only terrestrial element seems to be the clothesline that can be seen below, was taken by an architect from Marseille, and was communicated to us by the great weekly "Semaine du Monde". It was taken on May 26, 1954, at 6:30 in the evening, in a foggy weather. The second photo was taken at night. It would translate an impression of "flying cigar" rather than that of a "saucer".
[Ref. nll1:] NEWSPAPER "NORD LITTORAL":
The chronicle of the flying
Perpignan, October 1. -- At the Mas de Bruzy, near Perpignan, several grape pickers said they had seen in the sky a shiny object in the shape of a saucer. After having moved vertically leaving a white trail, the craft disappeared in the clouds.
Mulhouse, October 1. -- Two people declared to have seen a luminous craft in the sky, in Rixheim, using binoculars, they noticed that it was shaped like a long cigar, a dozen little satellite cigars surrounded it, a night shift worker said he observed the same phenomenon.
Bessèges, 1 Oct. -- Two inhabitants of the commune of Foussignargues, near Bessèges, said they saw in a meadow, near their house, in the night from Sunday to Monday, a mysterious craft in the shape of a long and shiny balloon. The craft came from the south and is heading towards the northwest.
Nevers, 1 Oct. -- Mr. Raymond Deloire, 20 years old, agricultural worker, in Langeron (Nièvre) who was riding a bicycle, on the road to Saint-Pierre-le-Moutiers, saw in the sky a mysterious object of hemispherical shape emitting a bright orange glow at the front. Flames shot out from the back. The craft moved without noise with great speed towards the northeast.
[Ref. cpd1:] NEWSPAPER "LE COURRIER PICARD":
In France the saucers continue... to fly
In the Haut-Rhin, two witnesses
claim to have seen a "cigar"
surrounded by a dozen smaller ones
who were escorting it
PERPIGNAN, October 1st. -- At the Mas de Bruzy [sic], near Perpignan, several grape harvesters said they had seen in the sky, a shiny object in the shape of a saucer. After having moved vertically leaving a white trail, the craft disappeared in the clouds.
MULHOUSE. -- Two people said they saw a luminous object in the sky, in Rixheim. Using binoculars, they found that it had the shape of a long cigar, a dozen little satellite cigars surrounded it, a railroader of night service declared to have observed the same phenomenon.
BESSEGES. -- Two residents of the commune of Foussignargues, near Bessèges, said they had seen in a meadow near their house in the night from Sunday to Monday, a bright red luminous craft surrounded by vertical rods.
PAU. -- Yesterday morning, around 11:45 a.m., many people have seen in the sky, at very high altitude, a mysterious craft in the shape of a long and shiny balloon. The object came from the south and was heading towards the northwest.
NEVERS. -- Mr. Raymond Deloire, 20 years old, farm worker, in Langeron (Nièvre) who was riding a bicycle, on the road to Saint-Pierre-le-Moutiers, saw in the sky, a mysterious object of hemispherical shape, emitting at the front a bright orange glow. Flames gushed from behind. The craft moved without noise with great speed towards the northeast.
[Ref. nnm1:] NEWSPAPER "LE NOUVEAU NORD MARITIME":
they are seen everywhere...
cigars and... "cigarillos"
Perpignan, 1st. -- At the Mas de Brury, near Perpignan, several grape pickers said they had seen in the sky a luminous object in the shape of a saucer. After having moved vertically leaving a white trail, the craft disappeared in the clouds.
Mulhouse, 1st. -- Two people declared to have seen a luminous craft in the sky in Rixheim, using binoculars, they noted that it had the shape of a long cigar, a dozen satellite "little cigars" surrounded it. A railroader on night duty said he observed the same phenomenon.
Besseges, 1st. -- Two inhabitants of the commune of Foussignargues, near Bessèges, declared to have seen in a meadow, near their house, in the night from Sunday to Monday, a bright red luminous machine surrounded by vertical rods.
Pau, 1st. -- Yesterday morning around 11:45 a.m., many people have seen in the sky, at very high altitude, a mysterious machine in the shape of a long and shiny balloon. The object came from the South and was heading towards the Northwest.
Nevers, 1st. -- Mr. Raymond Deloire, 20, agricultural worker in Langeron (Nièvre), who was riding a bicycle on the road to Saint-Pierre-le-Moutiers, saw in the sky a mysterious semi-spherical object, emitting a bright orange glow at the front. Flames shot out from the back. The machine moved without noise at great speed towards the North-East.
Dijon, 1st. -- Two children from Prémanon, the young Raymond Roland, 12, and his sister Janine, 9, told their schoolmaster this amazing story:
It was pouring rain yesterday before when around 8:30 p.m., Raymond heard his dog barking furiously. He went out and saw in the courtyard of his parents' farm a metallic craft, 2 meters high, which shone in the light. Frightened, the kid returned inside, but driven by curiosity, he went out again with his sister. The strange craft had approached. The boy threw some stones in the direction of the machine which started off. The two children were blown away and dared not tell their parents about their mishap.
When questioned by the police, Raymond said that "the thing (sic) was on three feet".
Indeed, the gendarmes found traces in the courtyard. But the rain had partially erased them.
The list is growing
Flying saucers have also been spotted at Rebais (S.-et-.M.), at Brest, in La Rochelle, in Lins (Austria), in Nîmes, in Montpellier, in Casablanca, in La Norville (S.-et-.O).
In 1950, on the American Radio...
In a radio broadcast made in 1950, the American journalist and commentator Henri Taylor said:
"Without betraying any military secret, I can assure you that the flying saucers are part of a large experimental program that has been developing in the United States for almost three years. I know what the flying saucers are for: is a great military secret that I am not allowed to reveal. The day the American Air Force decides to break the silence, humanity will learn very good news..."
[Ref. int1:] NEWSPAPER "L'INDEPENDANT":
CIGARS IN A GROUP IN THE HAUT-RHIN...
AND BALLS OF FIRE IN THE ROUSSILLON
MULHOUSE. -- Two people stated to have seen a luminous machine in the sky, in Rixheim. Using binoculars, they noted that it had the shape of a long cigar. A dozen small satellite cigars surrounded it. A railway man on night duty stated to have observed the same phenomenon.
BESSEGES. -- Two residents of the commune of Foussignargues, close to Bessèges, stated to have seen in a meadow, near their house, in the night from Sunday to Monday, a sharp red luminous machine surrounded by vertical stems.
PAU. -- Thursday morning, around 11:45, many people saw in the sky, at a very high altitude, a mysterious machine having the shape of a long and shining balloon. The machine came from the South and moved towards the North-West.
NEVERS. -- Mr. Raymond Deloire, 20 years old, farm laborer in Langeron (the Nièvre), who circulated by bicycle on the road of St-Pierre-le-Moutiers, saw in the sky a mysterious object of half-spherical form emitting at the front a sharp orange gleam, flames spouted out from the back. The machine moved without noise at a great speed in direction of the North-East.
PERPIGNAN. -- Mr. Jean-Bertrand Petit, residing at the Conte Farmhouse, close to Perpignan, was sprinkling his salads, around 3:30 in the morning, when he saw a ball of fire in the sky. The display was short and did not leave traces.
In Thuir, Thursday, around 6:15 p.m., a machine having the shape of a haloed barrel of fire was seen by a person worthy of faith. The apparatus, which worked at a slow pace, disappeared in direction of the sea.
In addition, several residents of Perpignan claim to have seen yesterday, at approximately 2 p.m., above the city, a luminous sphere, sometimes red, sometimes white and which moved during several minutes before fainting in the sky.
A luminous sphere remains one hour above Fleury-d'Aude
FLEURY-D'AUDE (C.P.). -- Yesterday evening, from 9 to 10 p.m., the population of Fleury was able to see a luminous sphere, whose color changed from the red to the green, then to the white, moving slowly above the locality. The machine marked times of immobility and it was then possible to detect that it had a rotational movement.
The luminous sphere then moved in direction of Béziers and disappeared.
A brilliant ball above Puivert
PUIVERT. -- Mr. Saboureau, lemonade seller in Bélesta (the Ariège) made the Bélesta-Puivert way in a van, when he saw in the sky, yesterday towards 5 p.m., a very brilliant ball like a sun following the North-South direction, flying at an altitude which he estimates as 2.000 meters, and moving at a relatively reduced speed.
The ball moved without the least noise and was followed of a long tail of gray smoke. Mr. Saboureau having stopped his vehicle for better observing, could see, after a few minutes the machine disappear in the direction of Ax-les-Termes. His observation allows him to affirm absolutely that it was not a plane.
[Ref. vmr1:] NEWSPAPER "VAR-MATIN REPUBLIQUE":
Still the saucers and the cigars
Perpignan, October 1. -- At the mas of Bruzy, near Perpignan, several vintagers stated to have seen in the sky a brilliant object having the form of a saucer.
After having moved vertically while leaving a white trail, the craft disappeared in the clouds.
In Mulhouse, two people stated to have seen a luminous machine in the sky of Rixheim, using binoculars, they noted that it had the shape of a long cigar, a dozen small satellites surrounded it. A railwayman on night duty stated to have observed the same phenomenon.
In Bessegues, two residents of the commune of Foussignargues, close to Bessegues, stated to have seen in a meadow, near their house, in the night from Sunday to Monday, a sharp red luminous machine surrounded by vertical stems.
In Nevers, Mr. Raymond Deloire, 20-year-old, farm laborer in Langeron (the Nièvre) who drove on the road of St Pierre les Moutiers, saw in the sky, a mysterious object of half-spherical shape emitting at its front a sharp orange gleam, flames spouted out at the back. The craft moved without noise at a great speed in the direction of the North-East.
[Ref. ppe1:] NEWSPAPER "PARIS-PRESSE":
THE "MARTIANS" ON HOLIDAYS (CONTINUED)
A "SAUCER" WITH THREE FEET IN THE JURA, AND A "CIGAR"
with rear light in the Nivernais
IT is true, as the disciples of the "Christ of Montfavet" [*] assure, that the flying saucers are a divine manifestation, we saw enough, yesterday in the sky of France, to "halo" all the apostles of this Messiah postman. And enough cigars for Mr. Churchill's consumption in a fortnight.
The most sensational story is the one told by little Raymond Romand, a 12-year-old boy, whose parents are farmers in Prémanon, in the Jura. The other night he saw a flying saucer in the middle of the farmyard. It was eight o'clock in the evening; the child had gone out hearing the dog barking furiously. The saucer was there, two meters high. He threw stones at it, approached. At that moment, it started to move and the blow lifted him from the ground. Terrorized, he fled. Her sister, little Jeanine (9), claims to have also seen the saucer from the window.
"I saw ghosts," she said to her schoolmates the next day.
The two children swear they had never heard of flying saucers.
The "thing" was on three feet," said Raymond.
He wanted to show the gendarmes the traces that the three feet had left on the court ground. Unfortunately, the rain had wiped them out...
In Foussinargues, near Bessèges, in the Gard, two people claim that they saw in a meadow "a bright, sharp red luminous machine, surrounded of vertical rods". Near Mulhouse, a cigar wandered in the sky, followed by a "litter" of twelve cigarillos.
The son of the rural guard of Langeron, in the Nivernais, saw only one cigar. It had a "rear light". Which seems to indicate that the Martians have an air force.
Two thousand residents of Pau saw, yesterday afternoon, a cigar and two saucers, one white, the other green. They were a little disappointed when they learned in the evening that the cigar was a jet plane and the two saucers were children's balloons...
[*] Georges Roux, the so-called "Christ of Montfavet" (1903-1981), left his job at the post office in Avignon, tried the careers of poet, novelist, musician, then in the 1950s proclaimed himself "healer", then "reincarnation of Christ" and even "God". He founded a sect, wrote "spirituality" books, predicted the "end of times" for January 1, 1980, and obtained a small success, much starred in the press.
[Ref. ner1:] NEWSPAPER "NORD-ECLAIR":
MORE AND MORE MYSTERIOUS
"Luminous objects" explore the South and the East
The round of flying saucers, luminous cigars and other mysterious craft continues across France, the country of tourism for Martians on vacation. Yesterday there was a luminous ballet in the sky of the Ardèche, a landing in a farmyard in the Jura and apparitions in all skies, night or day.
under the title: SAUCERS
The most amazing story is that told by a 12-year-old boy, Romain Romand, whose parents are farmers in Prémanon, in the Jura. Thursday evening, he saw a flying saucer, two meters high, which had landed in the middle of the farmyard. He threw stones at it and approached. The saucer began to move and the movement of air lifted him from the ground.
Terrorized, he fled. Her 9-year-old sister claims to have also seen the saucer from the window. The two children claim that they had never heard about "flying saucers."
In the Ardèche, in Lemps, not far from Tournon, a farmer, Mr. Joseph Habrat, observed a bright object, brighter than a star and heading for Valence.
With astonishment, he saw it move at a very high speed and suddenly stop. Mr. Habrat called his daughter, very skeptical about the reality of flying saucers, and the two then witnessed a real luminous ballet, led by the first beam. Suddenly all disappeared towards the East. Three craft reappeared for a moment and disappeared in their turn.
At Mas de Bruzy, near Perpignan, several grape pickers said they had seen in the sky a bright object in the shape of a saucer. After moving vertically, leaving a white trail, the craft disappeared in the clouds.
In Rixheim, near Mulhouse, two people said they saw a luminous object in the sky. Using binoculars, they found that it had the shape of a long cigar, a dozen cigarillos accompanied it. A railroader on night duty claims to have observed the same phenomenon.
Two residents of the commune of Foussignargues, near Besseges, in the Gard region, declared that they had seen in a meadow, close to their house, in the night from Sunday to Monday, a bright red luminous craft surrounded by vertical rods.
Thursday morning, many residents of Pau also saw in the sky, at very high altitude, a mysterious craft in the shape of an elongated, shiny balloon coming from the South and heading to the North-West.
In Nevers, Mr. Raymond Deloire, agricultural worker in Langeron (Nièvre), who was riding a bicycle on the road to Saint-Pierre-le-Moutiers, saw in the sky a mysterious object of semi-spherical shapes and putting out a bright orange glow, while flames gushed from behind. It was moving noiselessly at high speed towards the northeast.
[Ref. non1:] NEWSPAPER "NORD-MATIN":
Ballet of "saucers"
in the sky of the Ardèche
M. Joseph Habrat, a farmer in the Perrets district, in Lamps [sic], not far from Tournon (Ardèche), observed, in the sky, last night, a veritable ballet of "flying saucers".
He had first noticed a green light moving slowly, towards Valence. Then the luminous craft began to move at full speed in various directions and finally came to a stop.
The farmer then called his daughter Yvette who until now "had refused to believe in flying saucers".
Like her father, Yvette was able to observe the luminous craft, which advanced, it seemed, up to about 500 meters from them. A little later, a dozen craft came to join the first and sketched with it quite a ballet, before disappearing in the direction of the East.
Shortly after, three craft appeared again, then disappeared in the same direction as the previous ones.
12 little satellite cigars
Also, two people declared to have seen a luminous craft, in the sky, in Rixheim. Using binoculars, they found that it had the shape of a long cigar, a dozen small satellites surrounded it. A night shift railway worker said he observed the same phenomenon.
A saucer in Caudry
Friday morning, around 6:45 a.m., three workers, including two masons and a carpenter, were on their way to Caudry, on their way to their work place, when they saw a original machine, oval in shape, pale pink in color, very bright, leaving behind an absolutely dazzling trail.
This "flying saucer" seemed to fly over national road 29 and was heading towards Le Cateau.
One of these workers, Mr. Victor Lebon, 43, mason, living in Quiévy, is affirmative in his statements. The other two, one of whom is domiciled in Saint-Hilaire-lez-Cambrai, preferred to remain anonymous, but concurred.
Surrounded by vertical rods
It should also be noted that two residents of the commune of Foussignargues, near Bessègues, declared that they had seen, in a meadow, near their house, in the night from Sunday to Monday, a bright red luminous craft, surrounded by vertical rods.
Many people also saw, in Pau, in the sky at very high altitude, a mysterious craft in the shape of a long and shiny balloon. The object came from the South and was heading towards the North West.
Finally, Mr. Raymond Deloire, 20, agricultural worker in Langeron (Nièvre), who was riding a bicycle, on the road to Saint-Pierre-le-Moutiers, saw in the sky a mysterious object of semi-spherical shape emitting, at the front, a bright orange glow, flames gushed from the rear. The craft moved without noise, with great speed, in direction of the North-East.
[Ref. ads1:] NEWSPAPER "L'ARDENNAIS":
THE "FLYING SAUCERS" CHRONICLE
PERPIGNAN. -- At the Mas de Bruzy, near Perpignan, several grape pickers reported seeing in the sky a shiny object in the shape of a saucer. After moving vertically leaving a white trail, the craft disappeared in the clouds.
MULHOUSE. -- Two people said they saw a luminous craft in the sky at Rixheim. Using binoculars, they found that it was shaped like a long cigar. A dozen small satellite cigars surrounded it. A night service worker said he observed the same phenomenon.
BESSEGES. -- Two residents of the town of Foussignargues, near Bessèges, said they saw in a meadow, near their house, in the night from Sunday to Monday, a bright red luminous craft surrounded by vertical lines.
PAU. -- Many people saw in the sky, at a very high altitude, a mysterious craft shaped like a long, brilliant balloon. The craft was coming from the south and heading northwest.
NEVERS. -- Mr. Raymond Deloire, agricultural worker in Langeron (Nièvre), who was riding a bicycle on the road to Saint-Pierre-le-Moutiers, saw in the sky a mysterious object of semi-spherical shape emitting at the front a bright orange glow. Flames burst from the back. The craft moved noiselessly at great speed towards the northeast.
[Ref. ler1:] NEWSPAPER "L'EST REPUBLICAIN":
The "meteor" of Sweden was not a robot-weapon... but a jet airplane
Stockholm. -- The "Bjuv meteor", photographed in the night of Monday to Tuesday by a resident of that city, was only a jet plane, the Swedish military headquarters estimated by examining the photograph of the craft. However, professor Bertil Lindblad, attached to the Lund observatory, after enlarging, had believed to detect a robot-weapon.
Based on the direction taken by the object, one had thought that it could come from Eastern Germany where, according to certain information, the Russians would currently carry out rockets experiments.
Still the saucers
In addition, the "flying saucers" continue to be reported in the four corners of the sky of France. There is not a single day without witnesses in good faith see "mysterious machines" with weird shapes, and slipping by at great pace in an impressive silence.
Near Perpignan, several vintagers stated to have seen in the sky a brilliant object having the shape of a saucer. After having moving at the vertical while leaving a white trail, the apparatus disappeared in the clouds.
Two people stated to have seen a luminous craft in the night of Thursday to Friday, in Rixheim (Haut-Rhin). Using binoculars, they noted that it had the shape of a long cigar. A dozen small cigars surrounded it. A railwayman on night duty night stated to have observed the same phenomenon.
Two residents of the commune of Foussignargues, close to Bessèges, saw in a meadow, near their house, in the night from Sunday to Monday, a sharp red luminous machine surrounded by vertical stems.
in Pau, Thursday, many people saw in the sky, at very high altitude, a mysterious machine having the shape of a long and shining balloon. The machine came from the south and moved towards the North-West.
Lastly, Mr. Raymond Deloire, aged 20, farm laborer in Langeron (the Nièvre), who circulated the other night with a bicycle on the road of Saint-Pierre-le-Moutier, saw in the sky a mysterious object of half-spherical shape emitting with a sharp orange gleam at its front. Flames spouted out of the back. The craft moved without noise at a great speed in the direction of the North-East.
[Ref. fde1:] JOURNAL "FRANCE-DIMANCHE":
C'est toute une escadrille de cigares brillants, ayant l'aspect ci-dessus, qu'ont pu observer M. Muller et sa femme, en Alsace, le 30 septembre à 1 h. 30, pendant une demi-heure, au-dessus de la Forêt-Noire.
[Ref. fde2:] NEWSPAPER "FRANCE-DIMANCHE":
The purest type of a cigar-saucer. One will notice the central ring which makes it possible to distinguish the craft from a simple airship. Observed for half an hour over the Black Forest by Mr. Muller.
[Ref. hws1:] HAROLD T. WILKINS:
The author indicates that in October 1954, two people near Mulhouse, in the Haut-Rhin, on the France-German border, saw a cigar-shaped luminous object surrounded by twelve smaller satellite fusiform objects.
French ufologist Aimé Michel reports that in the night of the 27 to the 28th of september 1954, a big vertical cigar accompanied by its small satellites was seen in Rixheim. Two people had seen a luminous spot in the sky, had sought binoculars, and using the binoculars had been able to distinguish the large cigar and its procession of smaller satellites.
Description by these two people was of:
"... a long machine in the shape of a cigar around which ten much smaller luminous points flew in all directions."
Michel notes that a railwayman who was in service of night has the station made the same observation independently.
The observation was told by the newspaper France-Soir of October 2, and the article dated the event as of October 1. Aimé Michel checked this date and found that the observation was really on September 27.
[Ref. cln1:] JIM LORENZEN:
On September 27th, 1954, sightings were made at Perpignan near Foussignorgues [sic], at Lemps, Premanon and Rixheim. Once again these sightings fall on a straight line, the Rixheim sighting was of a stationary cigar-shape, Rixheim lies at one end of the line. Two other sightings of September 27th line up with Rixheim one in Eastern Paris and one at Francles [sic] - though not in the same line as the others.
Jacques Vallée indicates that on September 27, 1954, there was an interesting testimony in Rixheim.
154 -007.40421 47.75000 27 09 1954 24 00 2 RIXHEIM HT-RHIN F 1293 C** 148
September 27, 1954]
11:30 p.m.? or later: Rixheim (Haut-Rhin): "cloud cigar" + ten luminous objects moving erratically aroud it
[Ref. rhl1:] RICHARD HALL - NICAP:
Rixheim, France
Three; two independent sightings
Parent Object (cigar) with 10 or more small luminous objects navigating in all directions
[Ref. fsc1:] FRANCIS SCHAEFFER:
We also enumerate the following observations which come to be placed faithfully on the orthotenic CORRIDOR:
St-Dié, Kembs, Basel and possibly Rome; we say "possibly" because the craft observed in the Italian capital on September 17, 1954 headed in the direction of France where it was reported in three cities which also constitute another orthothenic line... This line, coming from Rome cut "BAVIC" near the Vauriat which was the scene of a very strange affair, on August 29, 1962. In addition, "the Vauriat" is strictly located on "Bayonne-Vichy", a line we were talking about at the beginning of our analysis.
"BRUTUS", (permanent corridor?) completes its characteristics in a true geometric apotheosis...: BRUTUS IS RIGOROUSLY PERPENDICULAR TO THE EXTENSION OF BAVIC!... Immediately next to this orthotenic "crossroads", we notice a small detail on the work card; we read closer: RIXEIM [sic], sighting of a "flying cigar" on September 27, 1954!
[Ref. gep1:] UFOLOGY GROUP "GEPO":
09/27/54 (night) Alsace Haut-Rhin F x 300XV2
[Ref. via1:] UFOLOGY BULLETIN "VIMANA 21":
SATURDAY 2 AND SUNDAY, OCTOBER 3: THE CHAPTER OF FÖYING SAUCERS -
IN PERPIGNAN: At the Mas de Bruzy, several grape pickers said they saw in the sky, a shiny object in the shape of a saucer. After moving vertically leaving a white trail, the craft disappeared in the clouds.
IN MULHOUSE: Two people said they saw a luminous machine in the sky in Rixheim. With the help of binoculars, they realized that it was shaped like a long cigar. A dozen small satellite cigars surrounded it. A railway worker said he observed the same phenomenon.
IN NIMES: Two inhabitants of Foussignargues, near Besseges in the Gard, said to have seen in a meadow near their house, on the night of Sunday to Monday, a bright red luminous craft surrounded by vertical rods.
IN PAU: Yesterday morning, around 11:45, many people saw in the sky at very high altitude, a mysterious machine shaped like a long, bright ball. The craft was coming from the south and heading northwest.
The source is said to be the newspaper Le Bien Public.
Another "Mother ship?"
Three people in Rixheim, France, reported an elongated UFO in the night sky on the 27th. One was a railroad worker who sighted the object and made a report separately from the other two witnesses. The best description was from two people whose names and occupation are not known. They used opera glasses and claimed they could see.-"...a long craft in the shape of a cigar around which ten or more much smaller luminous points navigated in every direction." 139.
139. Paris, France. France-Soir. 2 October 54.
[Ref. lgs2] LOREN GROSS:
A front page story.
October 3rd. London's Sunday Dispatch.
So much was happening in France the English press was forced to take note. Actually the story was too big. The London Sunday Dispatch could only print a summary on its front page. With the situation unclear, errors and the lack of detail was inevitable in the reporting. The Dispatch informed its readers:
"Near Grenoble farmer Joseph Habrat saw a luminous engine moving at great speed.
"His daughter, Yvette, said it came to within 600 yards with a gentle snoring sound.
"A little later two thousand people saw a dozen of them 'dancing a ballet' in the sky.
"Two people at Rixheim, near Mulhouse, watched a cigar-shaped luminous engine surrounded by twelve smaller satellite cigars.
"Three holiday-makers on Carry-le-Rouet beach saw a half-cigar over the port. Three women who saw it described it as leaving a trail of smoke.
"A flying mushroom was reported by a lorry-driver and his friend at Faremontiers. It was in a field and had three tripod-like legs.
"'I tried to approach it,' he said, 'but about four hundred feet away I was stopped by a ray. I felt little prickings. My head swam. I had a cold sweat. I could not move.'
"The mushroom then rose slowly and flew off.
"Dr. Martinet, skin disease specialist at Chambery, watched a flying saucer manoeuvring in the sky for four minutes.
"In the gulf of Gascony the mate and two seamen of a cargo boat saw a moving disc with a greenish glow.
"Actress Michele Morgan saw a luminous disc over the Invalides air terminal in Paris.
"There have been three reports of men from another planet landing in France.
"At Vienne a farmer said the visitor, who wore a kind of diving suit, caressed his arm.
"A woman at Drome saw a being about the size of a child and with a human face. He seemed to be wrapped in a transparent sack.'
"Both visitors to France returned to their saucers and took off vertically.
"A little helmeted and booted man with a revolver firing 'luminous and paralysing rays' was seen by the foreman of a quarry at Marcilly-sur-Vienne and six of his workmen.
"A whistling sound drew the attention of two men at Blanzy to a cigar-shaped machine in a freshly ploughed field.
"The men said the machine was about six feet in length. The pointed tip was yellow, the rest of the cigar brown.
"As they approached the machine it rose vertically.
"A policeman, a grocer, and eight other people saw an incandescent 'cigar' at Agen.
"A brilliant ball appeared to a stallkeeper at Belesta. He said it left a trail of grey smoke as it shot through the sky."
The author of the aforementioned account noted that at the same time that day (October 3, 1954) 40 miles away an amazing "sky display" was taking place above a wooded area near the village of Marcoign, France, before 20 witnesses. That so many people at the same moment at different locations should have a similar hallucination boggled the writer's mind, so much so he consulted a psychiatrist assigned to the Law Courts of the Seine, a Dr. Gouriou.
"Is mass "delusion upon this scale possible?"
The above question was put to the mental health expert who replied he had never known a flying saucer to play a role in any of his patient's hallucinations, and that hallucinations were usually sounds rather than visual images. Moreover, when on rare occasions visual disorders did occur, such problems were nearly always due to toxemia or cerebral lesions which would certainly help to rule out the possibility of a "mass visual delusion." 24.
Dr. Gouriou then wisely ended the interview with: "...I for one think that those who maintain that they have seen saucers do so in good faith, unless of course they are trying to hoax us. But we must never forget that whatever a normal human being sees, he, to a considerable extent interprets, and this fact alone renders all human evidence fallible." 25.
[Ref. htr1:] HERBERT S. TAYLOR:
Some of the other cloud-cigar reports from the 1954 French wave include:
September 27, early morning, Rixheim (Haut-Rhine Department, Alsace). Two witnesses, having noticed in the sky a peculiar elongated, motionless, luminous spot, studied it at leisure with binoculars. They made out "a long craft in the shape of a cigar, around which 10 or more much smaller luminous dots navigated in every direction." A third witness made an independent report with the same description.
3856: 1954/09/27 23:50 3 7:25:00 E 47:45:00 N 3333 WEU FRN HRH 7:8
RIXHEIM,FR:3 OBS:HUGE CGR:12 SMALLER UFOS ORBIT IN ALL DIRECTIONS:/IFS#27/r171
Ref#138 GROSS,L.:UFOs a HISTORY-1954/10 bks Book # 3 Page 69 : TOWN &CITY
Luc Chastan indicates in his database that in the Haut Rhin (68) in Rixheim on September 27, 1954 at an unknown hour, "In the night from the 27 to September 28, 1954, a large vertical cigar accompanied by its small satellites was observed. Two people had seen a luminous spot in the sky, had sought binoculars, and using the binoculars had been able to distinguish the large cigar and its procession of small satellites. Description by these two people was "a long machine in the shape of a cigar around of which sailed in all direction ten luminous points much smaller." A railwayman who was on night duty at the station made in an independent manner the same observation."
The sources are indicated as: "M.O.C. by Michel Aimé ** Arthaud 1958" and "Les OVNI vus de près by Gross Patrick ** http://ufologie.net".
The website indicates that on 27 September 1954 at 23:45 in Rixheim, France, "Huge cigar, 12 smaller UFOs orbit in all directions. Explanation: Planet."
And: "Cigar-shaped objects were observed. Multiple independent witnesses. More than 10 cigar-shaped objects were observed by three witnesses in a city for over three minutes."
The sources are indicated as "Michel, Aime, Flying Saucers and the Straight-Line Mystery, S. G. Phillips, New York, 1958; 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); Hall, Richard H., The UFO Evidence, NICAP, Washington, 1964; Hatch, Larry, *U* computer database, Author, Redwood City, 2002".
In Late 1954 :
Rixheim, Alsace, France
13 objects, larger than a star, were observed by two witnesses.
Hynek rating: DD
The sources are indicated as: "Newspaper Clippings."
[Ref. spa2:] "SPICA" UFOLOGY GROUP:
In September, several sightings, [... others...], an object like a neon tube above Rixheim, [... others...] etc.
[Ref. cvn2:] CHRISTIAN VALENTIN:
L'ancien journaliste Christian Valentin a publié en 2012 un très intéressant livre retraçant l'histoire des observations d'OVNIS et autres soucoupes volantes en Alsace, des origines jusqu'en 1980.
Dans ce livre, il relate une observation du jeudi 30 septembre 1954 à 1:30 à Rixheim dans le Haut-Rhin, en reprenant l'article paru dans le journal L'Alsace du vendredi 1eroctobre 1954 en page 5 de l'édition française:
Christian Valentin also sows the two sketches publiched in France-Dimanche ([fde1] and [fde2]), noting that it is really the Rixheim observation although the weekly titled it "Colmar".
[Ref. spa1:] SPICA UFOLOGY GROUP:
Date and hour of observation
General shape
General color
RIXHEIM Monday 27 September 1954 elongated (cigar)
Unidentified information not communicated
None Unsolved -lack of info
This database recorded this case four times instead of one:
19540927 27.09.1954 Rixheim France 24.00
19540927 27.09.1954 Rixheim France 24.00 NL
19540927 27.09.1954 Rixheim France Night NL
19540927 27.09.1954 Rixheim France
So, we are on September 30, 1954, from 1:30 a.m. to 2:30 a.m. at 47° 44' 37'' North, 7° 24' 46'' East.
The direction between the intersection where the witnesses were located and the Feldberg in the Black Forest in Germany is 78° (overall East). The Swiss border extends widely to the south of the witnesses, from 85 to 228°; we can only say that this implies that seen by the witnesses, the departure of the "squadron" is done in their left-right direction, this displacement could have a very weak angular amplitude as well as very wide one.
The exact location is not certain, but anyway (I know the whole area very well), we are in the plain, but with many houses and trees that do not give a completely free view of the horizon, unless being at the 2nd floor or more up, in which case the thing might have been perfectly visible even though it had been low or set over the Black Forest.
It turns out that we had at this time, at 1:30 in the morning, in the sky, at 71° 49'15.9'' and the elevation of 12° 0' 44.1'', Jupiter, very bright with 99.18% of its surface lit by the sun. And in the same place also stood Uranus, with 99.94% of its surface lit by the sun.
Around, several bright stars, such as Castor, Pollux, Procyon, Betelgeuse, and largely a dozen stars of medium brightness, in any case almost "grouped" in the portion of the sky around Jupiter.
"The squadron" is indeed above the Feldberg, it cannot go unnoticed, and over time, the whole does move "from left to right" of witnesses, towards Switzerland one can say, like "in the direction of Switzerland", although while "going upwards" at nearly 45°.
I think that the display of Jupiter and Uranus, on the one hand both at the maximum of their brilliance, on the other hand, in the same place of the sky, can explain the observation, explaining the strangeness of the spectacle for the witnesses.
This is not a complete certainty, however. If we hear the witness wizhout subtelty, we have his indication: "All around this body a dozen bright stars. The smallest of them greatly exceeding in size the largest of the visible stars." If "this body" meant Jupiter, the "smallest" among the "dozen bright stars" could not really exceed "greatly in size the largest of the visible stars." But this comes from words collected by one or more journalists, perhaps with some distortion.
Only a ufological investigation would have made it possible if applied to eliminate this astronomical explanation, which seems to me most probable.
Rixheim, Haut-Rhin, Muller, ring, movements, jerks, Jupiter, Uranus, couple, anonymous, luminous, night, cigar, squadron, formation, duration, slow, colors, rainbow, mothership, binocular
[lae1] Article in the regional newspaper L'Alsace, French-speaking issue of Mulhouse, France, page 5, October 1, 1954.
[lon1] Article in the regional newspaper L'Oise-Matin, Beauvais, France, page 1, October 2, 1954.
[nll1] Article in the regional newspaper Nord Littoral, Calais, France, page 8, October 2, 1954.
[cpd1] Article in the regional newspaper Le Courrier Picard, France, page 1, October 2, 1954.
[nnm1] Article in the regional newspaper Le Nouveau Nord Maritime, France, page 3, October 2, 1954.
[int1] Article in the regional newspaper L'Indépendant, Perpignan, France, October 2, 1954.
[vmr1] Article in the regional newspaper Var-Matin République, Toulon, France, October 2, 1954.
[ppe1] Article in the national newspaper Paris-Presse, Paris, France, page 5, October 2, 1954.
[ner1] Article in the regional newspaper Nord-Eclair, Roubaix, Nord, France, pages 1 and 11, October 2, 1954.
[----] Article in the national newspaper France-Soir, Paris, France, October 2, 1954.
[----] Article in the foreign newspaper The London Sunday Dispatch, London, U-K., page 1, October 4, 1954.
[fde1] Weekly national newspaper France-Dimanche, Paris, France, October 10, 1954.
[fde2] Weekly national newspaper France-Dimanche, Paris, France, page 12, October 24, 1954.
[non1] Article in the regional newspaper Nord-Matin, Nord - Pas-de-Calais, France, page 6, October 2, 1954.
[ads1] Article in the regional newspaper L'Ardennais, France, October 2-3, 1954.
[----] Article in the regional newspaper Le Bien Public, Dijon, France, October 2-3, 1954.
[ler1] Article in the regional newspaper L'Est Républicain, France, October 3, 1954.
[hws1] "Flying Saucers Uncensored", book by Harold T. Wilkins, Pyramid Books publishers, USA, page 56, 1954.
[aml1] "Mystérieux Objets Célestes", book by Aimé Michel, Arthaud publisher, France, 1958.
[aml1] "Flying Saucers and the Straight-Line Mystery", book by Aimé Michel, English version of "Mystérieux Objets Célestes", S.G. Phillips publisher, USA, 1958.
[cln1] "Aimé Michel's Orthotenic Lines", article by L. J. Lorenzen, in the ufology bulletin APRO Bulletin, USA, page 6, July 1958.
[gqy1] "Observations 1954", monograph by Guy Quincy, France - Algeria, private publication, page 8, the 1950's.
[rhl1] "The UFO Evidence", book by Richard H. Hall, NICAP, USA, page 97, 1964.
[jve6] "Les Phénomènes Insolites de l'Espace", book by Jacques and Janine Vallée, La Table Ronde publishers, France, 1966.
[jve5] "Catalogue préliminaire de 500 observations", listing in "Les Phénomènes Insolites de l'Espace", book by Jacques and Jannine Vallée, Table Ronde publisher, France, 1966.
[aml1] "A Propos des Soucoupes Volantes", book by Aimé Michel, reprint of "Mystérieux Objets Célestes", Planète publishers, France, page 119, 1966.
[fsc1] "Etude orthoténique de BRUTUS", article by Francis Schaeffer, in the ufology bulletin Phénomènes Inconnus, ufology group Cercles Français de Recherches Scientifiques (CFRS), France, #7, page 138, April 1969.
[aml1] "Mystérieux Objets Célestes", book by Aimé Michel, Seghers publisher, France, pp 129-130, 1977.
[aml1] "Mystérieux Objets Célestes", book by Aimé Michel, Robert Laffont publisher, France, pp 129-130, 1978.
[jve6] "Les Phénomènes Insolites de l'Espace", book by Jacques and Janine Vallée, Robert Laffont publisher, France, page 94, 1978.
[jve5] "Catalogue préliminaire de 500 observations", listing in "Les Phénomènes Insolites de l'Espace", book by Jacques and Jannine Vallée, Robert Laffont publisher, France, page 249, 1978.
[gep1] "Catalogue mondial des observations - Fichier OVNI GEPO Pasqualini 1954, list, in the ufology bulletin GEPO Informations, ufology group GEPO, France, #16, 1st quarter, 1981.
[via1] "Catalogue, in the ufology bulletin Vimana 21, A.D.R.U.P. ufology group, France, #10-11, page 19, 3rd quarter 1982.
[lgs1] "The Fifth Horseman of the Apocalypse - UFOs: A History - 1954 October", monography by Loren E. Gross, USA, page 69, 1991.
[lgs2] "The Fifth Horseman of the Apocalypse - UFOs: A History - 1954 October", monography by Loren E. Gross, USA, 1991.
[htr1] "Satellites Objects and Cloud Cigars", article by Herbert S. Taylor, International UFO Reporter (IUR), Center for UFO Studies (CUFOS), USA, volume 29, #1, summer 2004.
[lhh1] "*U* Computer Database", database by Larry Hatch, USA, circa 2002.
[lcn1] Base OVNI France, website by Luc Chastan, France, circa 2010, at baseovnifrance.free.fr/listgen.php?typlist=9&page=0&numobs=435
[uda1] "27 Sep 1954 - Rixheim, France", web page by the UFOdna website, circa 2008, at www.ufodna.com/uf02/uf1/021296.htm
[uda2] "In Late 1954 - Rixheim, Alsace, France", web page by the UFOdna website, circa 2013, at http://thecid.com/ufo/uf09/uf5/095158.htm
[spa2] "Il y a cinquante ans, les OVNIS en Alsace", article by Jean-Jacques Goetschy, in the ufology bulletin SPICA News, SPICA ufology group, Alsace, France, page 14, January 2005.
[cvn2] "Mythes et Réalités des Phénomènes Aériens Non Identifiés - Histoire des soucoupes volantes en Alsace jusqu'en 1980", book by Christian Valentin, Grimoires d'Alsace publishers, France, pages 30-31, 2012.
[spa1] "DEPARTEMENT 68 - HAUT-RHIN", list by the ufology group SPICA, Alsace, France, not dated, found in May 2015, at http://www.spica.org/Page_Listing_68.htm
0.1 Patrick Gross November 8, 2006 First published.
1.0 Patrick Gross February 1, 2010 Conversion from HTML to XHTML Strict. First formal version. Additions [lcn1], [uda1].
1.1 Patrick Gross February 25, 2010 Addition [vmr1].
1.1 Patrick Gross May 25, 2010 Addition [ler1].
1.2 Patrick Gross June 18, 2010 Addition [jve5].
1.3 Patrick Gross July 2, 2010 Addition [jve6].
1.4 Patrick Gross October 24, 2011 Addition [int1].
1.5 Patrick Gross June 4, 2015 Addition [spa1].
1.5 Patrick Gross December 19, 2016 Additions [lgs1], [ubk1].
1.6 Patrick Gross March 23, 2017 Addition [cln1].
1.7 Patrick Gross April 2, 2017 Addition of the Summary, Explanation changed, were "Not looked for yet.".
1.8 Patrick Gross June 20, 2019 Additions [ads1], [via1], [lhh1].
1.9 Patrick Gross July 28, 2019 Explanations changed, were "Unidentified, insufficient information."
2.0 Patrick Gross January 5, 2020 Addition [ppe1].
2.1 Patrick Gross February 16, 2020 Addition [nnm1]. Ine the Explanations, addition of "In the Press for September 24, 1954..." and what follows.
2.2 Patrick Gross March 5, 2020 Addition [cpd1].
2.3 Patrick Gross March 30, 2020 Addition [non1].
2.4 Patrick Gross April 15, 2020 Addition [nll1].
2.5 Patrick Gross June 3, 2020 Addition [ner1].
2.6 Patrick Gross February 18, 2021 Additions [uda2], [cvn2]. Explanations changed, were "Not looked for yet.".
2.7 Patrick Gross March 16, 2021 Addition [lgs2].
2.8 Patrick Gross May 7, 2021 Addition [lon1].
2.9 Patrick Gross November 24, 2021 Addition [gqy1].
3.0 Patrick Gross April 7, 2022 Addition [gep1].
3.1 Patrick Gross May 26, 2022 Addition [fsc1].
This page was last updated on May 26, 2022.