The index page for the 1954 French flap section of this website is here.
Reference for this case: 14-oct-54-Gueugnon.
Please cite this reference in any correspondence with me regarding this case.
In his 1958 book on the French wave of 1954, ufologist Aimé Michel indicated without giving his source that on October 14, 1954, a few minutes after the case of Saint-Romain-Sous-Gourdon the same day (thus around 06:20 p.m.), Mr. André Cognard, of Ciry-le-Noble, drove his car on the departmental road 60 between Gueugnon and Ciry-le-Noble.
Aimé Michel indicated that this road winds, goes up and down between hills.
He says that Mr. Cognard reported:
"Suddenly, at the top of a hill, I was, so to speak, face-to-face with a kind of disk, so luminous in brightness that I was like blinded by a headlight. The craft overflew me slightly to the right at low altitude and continued west, where it remained visible for several minutes before disappearing into the distance."
Aimé Michel would insist on an "alignment" of cases of October 14, 1954, including this case.
In 1979, the "skeptical" ufologists Gérard Barthel and Jacques Brucker betrayed their lack of seriousness by claiming that they investigated, that there were two observations - which is not quite justified - that it was at 07:30 p.m., which is erroneous, and that it was a "hoax."
In 1986, Michel Figuet, future "skeptic", gave the correct explanation: a meteor; whereas in 1997, Jean Sider distorted the report given by Aimé Michel by saying that it was "a headlight or a projector placed on a disk-shaped aerial vehicle."
[Ref. aml1:] AIME MICHEL:
Aimé Michel indicates that on October 14, 1954, a few minutes after the case of Saint-Romain-Sous-Gourdon the same day, Mr. André Cognard of Ciry-le-Noble was driging his car on the secondary road 60 between Gueugnon and Ciry-le-Noble, a road with curves, and going down and up the hills.
Mr. Cognard reported:
"Suddenly, at the top of a hill, I found myself so to speak face to face with a kind of disc of a luminosity so violent that I was dazzled as by headlights [or a lighthouse]. I had to stop. The machine flew over me slightly on the right at low altitude and continued its road towards the west, where it remained visible several minutes, before disappearing in the distance."
[Ref. aml5:] AIME MICHEL:
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An odd straight line.
At the time I undertook (after many other attempts) to study the arrangement of observations on a map region by region, when something curious caught my attention to the Center-East of France. From South of Poligny to a spot located near Gueugnon, in the Saône-et-Loire, five observations made a rigorously rectilinear arrangement over a distance of 150 kilometers.
Along this line, from East to West, were the observations of the Wood of Poligny, of Saint-Germain du Bois, of Saint-Romain sous Gourdon, of the Departmental 60 near Ciry le Noble, and Departmental 25 near Chazey Wood. While checking their date I discovered with astonishment that all these cases were all of October 14, then that on the 5 observations, one (Saint-Germain) was a luminous object on the ground, the next one (Saint-Romain) an immobile luminous object, placed on the ground, blocking an engine and extinguishing a headlight, the third a luminous object flying over the country-side (Departmental 60), the fourth a similar object blocking an engine and extinguishing headlights. Only the observation of Poligny could at best be taken for a meteor. All the others had the most incredible characters attributed to the saucers.
This first straight line gave me another idea: since 5 cases of October 14 were aligned, why not examine whether the other cases of the same day did not also present some interesting positions? I discovered then, this same day, a new alignment of 4 observations: Poligny (already on the other line), Palleau (Saône-et-Loire), Meursanges (Côte d'Or), and finally, 460 kilometers away, Méral, in the Mayenne. And Méral was also a ground observation [but the 11th and not the 14th].
(to be continued)
[Ref. aml6:] AIME MICHEL:
For the localisations made by the witnesses on the ground in the directions of the lines, well-established examples are numerous too: see for example in Lemps, on September 27, or the series between Poligny and the Chazey wood on October 14.
[Ref. gqy1:] GUY QUINCY:
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October 14 [, 1954]
[... other cases...]
07:35: Near Nle.494, 2 km SE.Gueugnon(Saône-et-Loire):lum.red sph. +engine stop + headlights go off
[... other cases...]
[Ref. gqy2:] GUY QUINCY:
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[... other cases...]
October 14, 1954: On Déptale rd.25(at 3 km ISL in the SSE Gueugnon--Saône-et-Loire): MMr.Jeannet and Garnier, of Gueugnon (UAP very low altitude + engine stall)
[... other cases...]
[Ref. jve5:] JACQUES VALLEE:
| 345 | -005.24331 | 46.75320 | 14 | 10 | 1954 | 20 | 00 | 2 | (S. GERMAIN DU BOIS) | F | 011133 | C** | 295 |
[Ref. jve2:] JACQUES VALLEE:
Jacques Vallée indicates that on October 14, 1954, a few minutes after the case of Saint-Romain-Sous-Gourdon the same day, Mr. André Cognard of Ciry-le-Noble was driging his car on the secondary road 60 between Gueugnon and Ciry-le-Noble, a road with curves, and going down and up the hills.
M. Cognard reported:
"Suddenly, at the top of a hill, I found myself so to speak face to face with a kind of disc of a luminosity so violent that I was dazzled as by headlights [or a lighthouse]. I had to stop. The machine flew over me slightly on the right at low altitude and continued its road towards the west, where it remained visible several minutes, before disappearing in the distance."
Jacques Vallée indicates that his source is the second book by Aimé Michel.
[Ref. jve1:] JACQUES VALLEE:
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258 October 14, 1954, nightfall, Chazey Wood (France):
Andre Cognard, coming from Gueugnon, was blinded by a light as a disk-shaped object flew low over his car. (Anatomy 130).
[Ref. aml4:] AIME MICHEL:
Then, one day, I thought I saw the beginning of the light. Studying the cases of October 14 on a map of Burgundy, I was struck by thr fact that five of them (Poligny, (Saint-Germain-du-Bois, (Les Brosses-Tillot, (Nationale 60 and (the Wood of Chazey) were on a straight line. I then looked for other straight lines, and found a lot of them. Many were dubious, but some of them seemed to defy chance.
[Ref. ara1:] ANTONIO RIBERA:
The author notes that according to Aimé Michel, on October 14, 1954 in the wood of Chazey in France there was an unexplained observation at 07:35 p.m..
[Ref. fru1:] MICHEL FIGUET AND JEAN-LOUIS RUCHON:
The two authors indicates that in Oudry in the Saone-et-Loire on October 14, 1954 in the twilight, Mr. André Cognard was driving his car on the secondary road D60. He told:
"All of a sudden, I saw opposite me a kind of disc, of a luminosity so violent that I was blinded by it as by a headlight or a projector, I pulled up. The apparatus flew over me at low altitude and continued its travel towards the west; it remained visible several minutes before disappearing."
The authors indicate that the sources are case 258 of the Vallée catalogue; Aimé Michel in "A Propos des S.V." page 215; and Anatomy 130.
[Ref. bbr1:] GERARD BARTHEL AND JACQUES BRUCKER:
The two authors note this case of October 14, 1954:
"Bois-de-Chazey - 71 - 07:30 p.m.: hoax after investigation (2 sightings)."
[Ref. 800:] FRANCAT - MICHEL FIGUET:
In an extract of his Francat catalogue, Michel Figuet recorded that the case of the CE0 type in the north-west of the wood of Chazey was in the twilight, a "confusion with the fall of a fireball."
[Ref. cn1:] "CNEGU" UFOLOGY GROUP:
| DATE | HOUR | DEPT | PLACE |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10/14/1954 | 07.30 p.m. | 71 | Wood of Chazey (Gueugnon) |
[Ref. jsr1:] JEAN SIDER:
Jean Sider refers to the book of Aimé Michel and indicates that on October 14, 1954, in the twilight, on the secondary road 60 from Gueugnon to Ciry-le-Noble in the Saône-et-Loire, Mr. André Cognard was driving his car, when he was suddenly dazzled by a headlight or a projector placed on an aerial vehicle in the shape of disc. The machine flew over the witness' car at low altitude and buzzed away in the direction of the West.
[Ref. goe1:] GODELIEVE VAN OVERMEIRE:
Godelieve van Overmeire indicates that in 1954, on October 14, in France, in Ciry le Noble, at twilight Mr. Cognard circulating in a car, on the top of the hill, was almost face to face with a kind of disc of a luminosity such as he was blinded. The craft flew over him at low altitude and continued its road towards the west.
The ufologist interogates herself "this Mr. Cognard, was it in Ciry le Noble or in the wood of Chazey ? – see next entry".
The source is noted "Aimé Michel: 'M.O.C.' Seghers pub., p. 234".
Godelieve van Overmeire indicates as next case that in 1954, on October 14, in France, in the Wood of Chazey, Mr. André Cognard, coming from Gueugnon, was blinded by a light at the time when his car was flown over, at low altitude, by an object in the shape of a disc".
The source is noted "Anatomy 130".
She adds that another version [actually a different case, at a different date, Oct. 10.] is: "At 19:30 in the south of Gueugnon, Misters Jeannet and Garnier saw a reddish ball of fire which flew at low altitude over their car whose engine stopped and the headlights died out."
The source is noted "Jacques Vallée: 'Chronique des apparitions ET' - DENoeL 1972 - J'AI LU COLL.- p. 281".
[Ref. jbu1:] JEROME BEAU:
Thursday, October 14, 1954
In the twilight - In Bois de Chazey (France), Mr. André Cognard, coming from Gueugnon, is blinded by a light at the time when his car is flown over, at low altitude, by an object in the shape of a disc.
Jérome Beau indicates as source "Vallée, J., Anatomy 130".
[Ref. lcn1:] LUC CHASTAN:
Luc Chastan indicates in his database that in the Saone et Loire in Oudry on October 14, 1954 at an unknown hour, "In the twilight, the witness circulates by car on the D60. "Suddenly, he tells, I see opposite me a kind of disc, of a luminosity so violent that I was dazzled by it as by a headlight or a projector, I stopped. The apparatus flew over me at low altitude and continued its road towards the west; it remained visible several minutes before disappearing."
The source is noted: "Ovni, Premier dossier complet... by Figuet M./ Ruchon J.L. ** Alain Lefeuvre pub. 1979".
[Ref. uda1:] "UFODNA" WEBSITE:
The website indicates that on 14 October 1954 at 18:00 in Chazey Wood, France, "A disk-shaped object flew low over a car." "Andre Cognard, coming from Gueugnon, was blinded by a light as a disk shaped object flew low over his car."
And: "An object was sighted that had an appearance and performance beyond the capability of known earthly aircraft. One saucer was observed by one witness on a highway for five minutes (Andre Cognard)."
The website indicates that the source is "Vallee Magonia Database".
[Ref. djn2:] DONALD JONHSON:
Donald Johnson indicates that on October 14, 1954, in the Saone-et-Loire department a short time later in Chazey Wood, Andre Cognard, who was coming from Gueugnon, was blinded by a light from a luminous disc-shaped object as it flew low over his car. The projected light beam was so bright and blinding that he was forced to stop his car.
The sources are indicated as Jacques Vallee, Anatomy of a Phenomenon, p. 130; Jacques Vallee, Passport to Magonia: A Century of Landings, case # 258; Michel Figuet and Jean-Louis Ruchon, OVNI: Le premier dossier complet des rencontres rapprochees en France, pp. 163-164.
[Ref. nip1:] "THE NICAP WEBSITE":
*Oct. 14, 1954 - Again in Chazey Wood, Saone-et-Loire department, France a short time later, Andre Cognard, who was coming from Gueugnon, was blinded by a light from a luminous disc-shaped object as it flew low over his car. The projected light beam was so bright and blinding that he was forced to stop his car. (Sources: Jacques Vallee, Anatomy of a Phenomenon, p. 130; Jacques Vallee, Passport to Magonia: A Century of Landings, case # 258; Michel Figuet & Jean-Louis Ruchon, OVNI: Le premier dossier complet des rencontres rapprochees en France, pp. 163-164).
[Ref. prn2:] PETER ROGERSON - "INTCAT":
October 14 1954. 1930hrs.
CHAZEY (AINE : FRANCE)
South of Gueugnon, Messes Jeannet and Garnier, travelling on Rte D023 saw a reddish fireball fly low over their car as their engine and headlights failed. When the object had passed these resumed functioning. At about the same time Andre Cognard driving from Gueugnon was at the top of a slope when he was so dazzled by a brilliant light that he had to stop. The light came from a sort of disc that flew over his car in a westerly direction.
Michel 1958b p175,176
Vallee 1966a 9p 130/1
Evaluation - Obviously the same thing, a brilliant meteor
Note: the case of Messes Jeannet and Garnier is not at all on October 14, 1954, it was reported in the PRess on October 12, 1954...
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The 06:15 p.m. meteor of that day.
Barthel and Brucker certainly invented "investigations" of their own on several observations (at least 4) of October 14, 1954: on the one hand, they all correspond to the meteor of 06:10 p.m.; on the other hand, they sometimes made two different testimonies for a single testimony; and finally, it would be very surprising if at four different witnesses had committed the same "hoax" at the time of the passage of a meteor.
As for Jean Sider, he distorted - without realizing it perhaps - the "disc", dazzling by itself, into a "craft" carrying a blinding projector, as if the disc itself had not been indicated to have been dazzling by itself. It is obvious that the "disk" is the front part of the meteor and the "projector" is its trail.
The duration of "a few minutes" may seem too important for a meteor; but this one was seen from the Var department, to the Alsace, lost from sight over Germany. So it was a big meteor, probably quite slow; which may indeed have been visible to witnesses for a minute or two.
About the location, here is some information.
Aimé Michel told us André Cognard resided in Ciry-le-Noble, and that he was driving on route départementale 60 entre Gueugnon et Ciry-le-Noble:
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One often refers to the "bois de Chazey" about this observation. This wood is now (2019) named "bois de Chazé", it is in the Southeast of Gueugnon along the "Zone d'Activité de Chazey".
There are several "Route Départementale 25", none is at the right place. The Route Départementale 60 is probably the correct road, it does link Gueugnon to Ciry-le-Noble.
(These keywords are only to help queries and are not implying anything.)
Chazey, Cahzé, Saône-et-Loire, André Cognard, Gueugnon, light, car, object, disc, low, blinding, blinded, road, forest, wood
[----] indicates sources that are not yet available to me.
| Version: | Created/Changed by: | Date: | Change Description: |
|---|---|---|---|
| 0.1 | Patrick Gross | April 20, 2003 | First published. |
| 1.0 | Patrick Gross | April 8, 2009 | Conversion from HTML to XHTML Strict. First formal version. Additions [goe1], [jbu1], [lcn1], [uda1]. |
| 1.2 | Patrick Gross | February 10, 2010 | Addition [ara1]. |
| 1.3 | Patrick Gross | February 28, 2010 | Addition [djn2]. |
| 1.4 | Patrick Gross | June 29, 2010 | Addition [jve5]. |
| 1.5 | Patrick Gross | November 15, 2014 | Addition [nip1]. |
| 1.6 | Patrick Gross | July 15, 2019 | Additions [aml5], [aml6], [aml4], [cn1], [prn2], Summary. Explanations changed, were "The 06:15 p.m. meteor of that day." |
| 1.7 | Patrick Gross | May 11, 2022 | Additions [gqy1], [gqy2]. |
