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October 12, 1954, Frasne, Doubs:

Reference for this case: 12-Oct-54-Frasne.
Please cite this reference in any correspondence with me regarding this case.

Summary:

In his 1958 book on the French wave of 1954, Aimé Michel evoked a case in Frasne in the Doubs; which he said came from the newspaper La Bourgogne Républicaine and the file of Charles Garreau, journalist and ufologist.

On October 12, 1954, around 10:45 p.m., Michel Vieille, an industrialist at Dompierre-les-Tilleuls, was driving with a friend on the national road 471 from Pontarlier to Frasne when their attentions were attracted by a "yellow ocher and violet" glow in the sky on their left; which moved with a moderate pace on a line going from East to West.

They reportedly noticed that it was a round craft, and stopped the car to observe it.

At that moment, the object that had been "at some height" descended at low altitude in a jerky flight. Mr. Vieille then turned off the headlights, the object then changed direction and took a Southwest course that was parallel to the road, being then in front of the car but at some distance.

Mr. Vieille restarted and followed the craft in the car, this being repeated several times until arriving near Dompierre where the two men stopped.

The object reportedly continued its flight towards Frasne where it was lost from sight while it was moving towards the South-West while taking speed and altitude.

Reports:

[Ref. aml1:] AIME MICHEL:

Aimé Michel explains that on October 12, 1954, at about 10:45 P.M., Michel Vieille, industrialist of Dompierre-les-Tilleuls, was driving with a friend on road Route Nationale 471 from Pontarlier towards Frasnes [sic] when their attentions were drawn by a "yellow amber and purple" gleam in the sky on their left, which moved at a moderate pace on a line going from East to West. They noted that it was a craft of round shape, and stopped the car to observe it.

At this time, the object which had moved at an altitude descended at a low altitude in a jerked flight. Mr. Vieille then extinguished the car's headlights, the object then changed direction and took a South-western course which paralleled the road. It was subsequently in front of the car but at some distance. Mr. Vieille started the car again and followed the craft, and this repeated several times until they arrived near to Dompierre where the two men stopped.

The object continued its flight in direction of Frasnes where it was lost from sight while it moved towards the South-west taking speed and altitude.

He indicates that the case comes from La Bourgogne Républicaine and the Charles Garreau file.

[Ref. jve5:] JACQUES VALLEE:

[Ref. jve1:] JACQUES VALLEE:

[Ref. aml5:] AIME MICHEL:

[Ref. jve2:] JACQUES VALLEE:

The author indicates that on October 12, 1954, close to Dompierre-les-Tilleuls, Mr. Vieille, a businessman, saw a circular flying machine which projected a yellowish and crimson light. It lost altitude, approached the ground, changed direction towards the south-west and rose in the sky again.

[Ref. gqy1:] GUY QUINCY:

[Ref. gqy2:] GUY QUINCY:

[Ref. jve3:] JACQUES VALLEE:

The author indicates that Aimé Michel in "Mystérieux Objets Célestes" reports that in Frasnes, a round object emitting ocher-yellow and violet light flew in straight line at moderate speed. When the witness, an industrialist, and his friend, had stopped their car, the object started to descend with a jerky movement", it then stopped and started off towards the Southwest.

[Ref. jve4:] JACQUES VALLEE:

[Ref. prn1:] PETER ROGERSON - "INTCAT":

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

The two authors indicate that in Dompierre-les-Tilleuls in the department of the Doubs, on October 12, 1954, Michel Vieille, industrialist, and a friend, drove on National Road N471, between Frasne and Pontarlier, had their attention drawn by a luminous and circular machine, on their left, which moved from the East to the West. The object released a yellow and violet gleam. They stopped their vehicle for better observing. At this time the object lost altitude and descended towards the ground in jerks. Arrived at low altitude, it changed direction and took that of the south-west, parallel to the road. It followed the witnesses up to Frasne where it disappeared by taking altitude.

The sources are given as case 246 of the Vallée catalogue; Quincy; and Aimé Michel in "A Propos des S.V." page 205.

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

[Ref. goe1:] GODELIEVE VAN OVERMEIRE:

The Belgian ufologist indicates that in 1954, on October 16, in France at 22:45 in Dompierre-les-Tilleuls, "Mr. Vieille, businessman, was on the N.471, between Frasnes [sic] and Pontarlier, when he saw a circular machine in flight which released a yellowish and violet light. Losing altitude it came close to the ground, obliqued in the south-west and rose again in the sky (Quincy)".

[Ref. amn1:] AUGUSTE MEESSEN:

Auguste Meessen indicates that on October 12, 1954, one observed a UFO which "went down in jerked flight". August Meessen comments on that a more detailed description would have been desirable, but that the witnesses or the investigators do not always realize its importance.

[Ref. djn1:] DONALD JOHNSON:

[Ref. jbu1:] JEROME BEAU:

The source is indicated as "Quincy".

[Ref. lcn1:] LUC CHASTAN:

Luc Chastan indicates that in the Doubs in Dompierre les Tilleuls on October 12, 1954 at 22:45 hours "Two people circulate on N471, between Frasne and Pontarlier, when their attention is drawn by a luminous and circular machine, on their left, which moves from East to West. The object releases a yellow gleam and violet. They stop their vehicle for better observing. At this time the object loses altitude and goes down towards the ground in a jerked manner. Arrived at low altitude, it changes direction and takes that of the south-western, parallel with the road. It will follow the witnesses until Frasne where it disappears by taking altitude."

The source is indicated as "Ovni, Premier dossier complet... by Figuet M./ Ruchon J.L. ** Alain Lefeuvre pub. 1979".

[Ref. uda1:] "UFODNA" WEBSITE:

The website indicates that on 12 October 1954 at 22:45, "N471, near Frasne, France", "An object was sighted that had an appearance and performance beyond the capability of known earthly aircraft. One object was observed by two male witnesses on a highway (Vieille)."

The sources are indicated as "Michel, Aime, Flying Saucers and the Straight-Line Mystery, S. G. Phillips, New York, 1958; Bowen, Charles, The Humanoids: FSR Special Edition No. 1, FSR, London, 1966; Vallee, Jacques, Computerized Catalog (N = 3073); Vallee, Jacques, Challenge to Science: The UFO Enigma, Henry Regnery, Chicago, 1966; Vallee, Jacques, Preliminary Catalog (N = 500), (in JVallee01); Vallee, Jacques, A Century of Landings (N = 923), (in JVallee04), Chicago, 1969; Schoenherr, Luis, Computerized Catalog (N = 3173); Hatch, Larry, *U* computer database, Author, Redwood City, 2002."

[Ref. uda2:] "UFODNA" WEBSITE:

The website indicates that on 12 October 1954 at 22:45 in Dompierre-les-Tilleuls, France, "A circular flying craft, which gave off a yellowish and a purple light."

The website adds: "Mr. Vielle, a businessman, was on Route N471 between Frasnes [sic] and Pontarlier when he saw a circular flying craft that gave off a yellowish and a purple light. Losing altitude, the craft came very close to the ground, changed its course to southwest, and then rose again in the sky."

And: "A businessman, Mr. Vielle, was on Route N471 between Frasnes and Pontarlier when he saw a circular flying craft, which gave off a yellowish and a purple light. Losing altitude, the craft came very close to the ground, changed its course to southwest, and rose again in the sky."

The source is indicated as "Vallee Magonia Database".

[Ref. uda3:] "UFODNA" WEBSITE:

The website indicates that on 12 October 1954 at 22:45 in Dompierre-Tilleul, France, "One object was observed by two witnesses."

The source is indicated as Vallee, Jacques, Challenge to Science: The UFO Enigma, Henry Regnery, Chicago, 1966.

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

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

This database recorded this case 8 times:

[Ref. prn2:] PETER ROGERSON - "INTCAT":

Explanations:

So we are in principle on October 12, 1954, around 10:45 p.m., near Frasne thus at 46° 51' 24'' North, 6° 9' 39'' East.

The Moon, the usual candidate for explaining UFOs chasing cars, stopping when the car stops and restarting when the car restarts - an explanation that no one has bothered to evaluate so far in this case - was in the sky at 129° 19', to the southeast of the witnesses, and at an elevation of 48° 22'. And it was a full moon.

This coincides with an object that was "to their left", which "takes a Southwest course that was parallel to the road", which is "round in shape", which moves at "moderate pace".

To be, at the end of the observation, "in front of" the automobile, we can think that the witnesses, who were going to Dompierre, forked from the N 471 to take one or the other of the roads going to their left towards the Southeast (blue lines).

In conclusion, I think there is a good chance that "the craft" was a red moon, with an appearance probably altered by a presence of clouds, and a story perhaps misunderstood by the press or deformed by Garreau (saucer biff and journalist of La Bourgogne Républicaine) who would have told it a bit lively to Michel.

Note: Aimé Michel indicates La Bourgogne Républicaine, of which Charles Garreau was a journalist, as a source; but I did not find anything on this case in this diary for 1954 to 1956 at least.

Keywords:

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

Frasne, Frasnes, Doubs, Dompierre-les-Tilleuls, Pontarlier, Vieille, object, craft, manoeuvers, straight, jerky, yellow, amber, purple, multiple, car, road

Sources:

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

• [aml1] "Mystérieux Objets Célestes", book by Aimé Michel, Arthaud publishers, 1958.
• [aml1] "Flying Saucers and the Straight Lines Mystery", book by Aimé Michel, English version of "Mystérieux Objets Célestes", S.G. Phillips publisher, USA, 1958.
• [gqy1] "Observations 1954", monograph by Guy Quincy, France - Algeria, private publication, page 16, the 1950's.
• [gqy2] "Atterrissages au XXe siècle", monograph by Guy Quincy, France - Algeria, private publication, unnumbered pages, the 1950's.
• [jve3] "Anatomy of a Phenomenon: Unidentified Objects in Space - a Scientific Appraisal", book by Jacques Vallée, Henry Regnery publisher, USA, page 198, 1965.
• [jve5] "Catalogue préliminaire de 500 observations", listing in "Les Phénomènes Insolites de l'Espace", book by Jacques and Janine Vallée, Table Ronde publisher, France, 1966.
• [aml5] "Mystérieux Objets Célestes: Les Données du Problème", article by Aimé Michel, in the ufology magazine Lumières Dans La Nuit (LDLN), France, #84, page 9, September / October 1966.
• [jve3] "Anatomy of a Phenomenon: UFO's in Space", book by Jacques Vallée, Neville Spearman publishers, U-K., 1966.
• [aml1] "A Propos des Soucoupes Volantes", book by Aimé Michel, reprint of "Mystérieux Objets Célestes", Planète publishers, page 205, 1966.
• [jve1] "Un Siècle d'Atterrissages", catalogue by Jacques Vallée, in the ufology magazine Lumières Dans la Nuit (LDLN), France, #103, page 4, December 1969.
• [jve4] "Passport to Magonia - On Ufos, Folklore, and Parallel Worlds", book by Jacques Vallée, Contemporary Books publishers, USA, 1969.
• [jve2] Summary by Jacques Vallée in "The Humanoids: A Survey of World-Wide Reports of Landings of Unconventional Aerial Objects and their Alleged Occupants", book by Charles Bowen, Neville Spearman publishers, U-K., 1969.
• [jve4] "Chronique des Apparitions Extra-Terrestres", French translation of "Passport to Magonia", book by Jacques Vallée, Denoël publisher, France, page 301, 1972.
• [jve4] "Chronique des Apparitions Extra-Terrestres", French translation of "Passport to Magonia", book by Jacques Vallée, J'Ai Lu publisher, France, page 279, 1974.
• [jve3] "Anatomy of a Phenomenon: UFO's in Space", book by Jacques Vallée, Tandem Books publishers, U-K., page 158, 1974.
• [jve2] Summary by Jacques Vallée in "En Quête des Humanoïdes", book by Charles Bowen, French translation of "The Humanoids", J'ai Lu publisher, France, page 52, 1974.
• [aml1] "Mystérieux Objets Célestes", book by Aimé Michel, Seghers publishers, page 226, 1976.
• [prn1] "The Catalogue", catalogue compiled by Peter Rogerson, in the ufology bulletin MUFOB, U-K., New Series #3, page 9, Summer 1976.
• [jve5] "Catalogue préliminaire de 500 observations", listing in "Les Phénomènes Insolites de l'Espace", book by Jacques and Janine Vallée, Robert Laffont publisher, France, page 250, 1978.
• [fru1] "OVNI, Premier Dossier Complet des Rencontres Rapprochées en France", book by Michel Figuet and Jean Louis Ruchon, Alain Lefeuvre publisher, France, page 157, 1979.
• [jve1] "UFOs in Space - Anatomy of a Phenomenon", book by Jacques Vallée, Ballantine publishers, USA, 1987.
• [----] "Computerized Catalog", compiled by Luis Schoenherr.
• [lhh1] "*U* Computer Database", database by Larry Hatch, USA, circa 2002.
• [goe1] "Chronologie OVNI", web page by Godelieve van Overmeire, Belgium, 1999-2009, at users.skynet.be/sky84985/afin54.htm
• [amn1] "Les mouvements oscillatoires des ovnis et leur explication", paper by Auguste Meessen, Professor emeritus at the Faculté des Sciences de l'UCL, Belgium, in the ufology bulletin Inforespace, SOBEPS, Belgium, #102, page 4, 2001.
• [djn1] "Encounters With Aliens On This Day", written by Donald A. Johnson, Ph.D., compiled from the UFOCAT 2003 computer database, www.ufocat.com.
• [jbu1] "Mardi 12 octobre 1954", web page by Jérôme Beau, France, RR0 website, circa 2006, at www.rr0.org/data/1/9/5/4/10/12/index.html
• [lcn1] Base OVNI France, website by Luc Chastan, France, circa 2005, at baseovnifrance.free.fr/detobs.php?numobs=899
• [uda1] "12 Oct 1954 - Frasne, France", web page at the UFOdna website, circa 2007, at www.ufodna.com/uf02/uf2/022622.htm
• [uda2] "12 Oct 1954 - Dompierre-les-Tilleuls, France", web page at the UFOdna website, circa 2007, at www.ufodna.com/uf18/uf9/189120.htm
• [uda3] "12 Oct 1954 - Dompierre-Tilleul, France", web page at the UFOdna website, circa 2007, at www.ufodna.com/uf17/uf0/170237.htm
• [nip1] List on The NICAP Website, USA, found in 2014, at http://www.nicap.org/reports/1954_ufocat.htm
• [ubk1] Online database UFO-Datenbank, Germany, found in 2016, at ufodatenbank.de
• [prn2] "INTCAT 1954", catalogue compiled by Peter Rogerson, U-K., circa 2016, at https://intcat.blogspot.com/search?q=1954

Document history:

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This page was last updated on May 6, 2022.