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October 14, 1954, Saint-Romain-sous-Gourdon, Saône-et-Loire:

Reference for this case: 14-Oct-54-Saint-Romain-sous-Gourdon.
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 reported that on October 14, 1954, "Mr. B.", residing at Quai Jules-Chagot in Montceau-les-Mines, was riding on a moped on the road that joins Saint-Romain-sous-Gourdon and Les Brosses-Tillots in the Saone-et-Loire department.

The engine of his moped suddenly stopped for no apparent reason.

Aimé Michel noted that the restart of the engine is done simply by magnetic wheel that is operated by pedaling, but although he did that, Mr. B. could not restart the engine.

He dismounted, and a bright light sprang up in front of him some fifty meters away, revealing a circular craft which he said would look like a plate turned upside down.

Mr. B. watched this show with astonishment first, then he was worried and decided to go back by pushing his moped. When he managed to turn back to where the engine had stalled, the engine restarted spontaneously, to his astonishment.

In 1979, the newly "skeptical" ufologists Gérard Barthel and Jacques Brucker betrayed themselves by revealing involuntarily that their "investigations" on this case were imaginary; indeed, they believed that there were two different cases, one at "Saint-Romain-sous-Gourdon - 71 - 19 h 25" which be a "hoax after investigation", and the other from "Les Brosses-Tillots" - 71 - 07:25 p.m." which also would be a "hoax after investigation." They did note that it would be only one phenomenon but which would have had two witnesses, the one in Saint-Romain-sous-Gourdon and the other at Les Brosses Tillots...

In 1997, Jean Sider was the first to indicate a contemporary source, the newspaper Le Petit Maçonnais for October 18, 1954. He denounced the cheating by Barthel and Brucker, he specified that it took place at dusk (so around 06:15 p.m. and not 07:30 p.m. as Barthel and Brucker and then others wrote).

Sider quoted the newspaper article:

"A Mr. B.., residing quai Jules Chagot, in Montceau-les-Mines, riding a moped on the road from St. Romain sous Gourdon to Les Brosses-Tillots, was surprised to find that his engine stalled, for no apparent reason. It stopped, preventing him from continuing on his way. Looking in the direction of a small wood, he was stunned to see a very bright glow which spread out some fifty meters from him and which was emitted by a craft resembling a plate turned upside down, The "saucer", he told us, could be six to eight meters in diameter, and he turned his back on his moped as soon as he had left what he called the magnetic field of the craft. Mr. B. has not yet recovered, he regrets that no one was with him to see with their own eyes that he had been in the presence of one of these craft that created so much talks about them."

However, what no one noted - excepted Figuet and Ruchon in 1986 - is that there was a meteor crossing the sky on that date and that hour, widely seen in the region and beyond.

Reports:

[Ref. aml1:] AIME MICHEL:

Aimé Michel indicates that on October 14, 1954, Mr. B., resident of Jules-Chagot quay at Montceau-the-Mines, was driving his motorcycle on the road which joins Saint-Romain-Sous-Gourdon and Les Brosses-Tillots in the Saone-and-Loire.

The engine of its motorcycle suddenly stopped without apparent reason.

Aimé Michel notes that the restarting of such engine is simply made by magnetic wheel that one actuates by pedaling, but when he did that, Mr. B could nevertheless not restart the engine.

He put foot on the ground, and a sharp light spouted out in front of him at about fifty meter, revealing a circular machine of which he said that it resembled plate turned upside down.

Mr. B looked at this spectacle with astonishment initially, then he became anxious and decided to go away by pushing his motorcycle. When he arrived at the place where the engine had stopped, the engine started again spontaneously, at his great astonishment.

[Ref. aml3:] AIME MICHEL:

[Ref. aml5:] AIME MICHEL:

[Ref. gqy1:] GUY QUINCY:

[Ref. gqy2:] GUY QUINCY:

[Ref. mcs1:] "MICHEL CARROUGES":

The author indicates that on October 14, 1954 in the Saone et Loire, Mr. B of Montceau-les-Mines, by motorcycle, saw a light spouting out of a circular object similar to two reversed plates posed at about fifty meters on the road in front of him, and his engine stalled.

The source is noted "M. II, p.268."

[Ref. jve2:] JACQUES VALLEE:

The author indicates that Aimé Michel's second book at page 115 says that M.B., living in Montceau-les-Mines, was riding a motorcycle on the road from St.Romain-sous-Gourdon to Brosse-Tillots in the Saone-et-Loire, when suddenly without apparent reason his motor stopped and could not be started again. He got off and a bright light burst out about 50 yards in front of him, revealing an object that looked, he said, "like a plate turned upside down." He looked in amazement, then, frightened, he decided to turn back, walking and pushing his motorcycle, but when he reached the point where his motor had stopped it started up again.

[Ref. aml4:] AIME MICHEL:

[Ref. lcp2:] LEONARD G. CRAMP:

("Fig 48. Table of some typical UFO effects on cars and people at varying distances.")

[Ref. jve5:] JACQUES VALLEE:

[Ref. jve1:] JACQUES VALLEE:

[Ref. jve3:] JACQUES VALLEE:

[Ref. aml6:] AIME MICHEL:

[Ref. ask1:] A. SCHOPICK:

[Ref. gal1:] CHARLES GARREAU AND RAYMOND LAVIER:

The two ufologists report that on October 13, 1954, at about 8 P.M., between Saint-Romain sous Gourdon in the Saône-et-Loire and Les Brosses-Thillot, an anonymous motorcycle rider, Mr. B., who resides Jules Chagot street in Montceau-les-Mines is surprised to note that the engine of his motorcycle misfires and stops without apparent reason. At the same time, looking in the direction of a small bridge, he sees a very brilliant gleam, which spreads out at some 50 meters, and which is emitted by an object resembling a plate turned over of approximately 6 to 8 meters in diameter.

Frightened, the motorcycle rider turns back, pushing his motorcycle. He had a new surprise: while arriving at the place where his engine had stopped, the motorcycle started out again by itself.

[Ref. ufa1:] UFOLOGY BULLETIN "UFOLOGIA":

[Ref. gab1:] UFOLOGY GROUP "G.A.B.R.I.E.L.":

[Ref. bbr1:] GERARD BARTHEL AND JACQUES BRUCKER:

The two authors note this case of October 14, 1954:

"Saint-Romain-sous-Gourdon - 71 - 07:25p.m.: hoax after investigation.
Les Brosses-Tillots - 71 - 07:25p.m.: hoax after investigation."

As explanation as to why they made here two sightings of a same event, they indicated in a footnote that it is as if two people on each side of a wall see a pigeon on the wall, it makes one event and not two.

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

The two authors indicate that in Saint-Romain sous Gourdon, in the Saone-et-Loire, on October 14, 1954, at twilight, the witness, Mr. B., circulates on his motorcycle on the road which connects Saint-Romain sous Gourdon to Les Brosses-Tillots, when, without apparent reason, his engine stops. Mr. B. pedals to restart his motorcycle, but in vain. He then puts foot on the ground, it is at this time that he sees a sharp gleam spouting out within fifty meters of him. This gleam is emitted by a circular machine that the witness compares to an upside down saucer. The observer makes the decision to get back by pushing his motorcycle. While arriving, in opposite direction, at the point where the engine had stopped, he was very surprised to note the correct operation of the engine. The object takes off.

The authors indicate that the sources are the Vallée catalogue, case 259; Aimé Michel in "A Propos des S.V." page 213 and "Mystérieux Objets Célestes" pages 292-293; Quincy; and Anatomy 130.

[Ref. mrr1:] MARK RODEGHIER:

[Ref. mft2:] MICHEL FIGUET:

[Ref. mft3:] MICHEL FIGUET:

This ufologist noted:

[Ref. mft1:] FRANCAT - MICHEL FIGUET:

In an extract of his Francat catalogue, Michel Figuet recorded that the case of the CE0 type between St Romain and Les Brosses Tillots as well as the one in Montceau-les-Mines was in the twilight, a "confusion with the fall of a fireball."

[Ref. jsr1:] JEAN SIDER:

Jean Sider found in the newspaper "Le Petit Maçonnais" of October 18, 1954, that on October 14, at dusk, in St. Romain-sous-Gourdon / Les Brosses-Tillots, an anonymous witness experienced the following close encounter.

He was riding his motorcycle, when its engine suddenly stopped. He was not able to restart it. At this time, he saw a sharp gleam spouting out within 50 meters of him.

The gleam was emitted by a circular machine resembling a plate turned over. The witness backed off, and noted that the engine of its motorcycle started again at the time when he passed the place where it had ceased functioning.

Jean Sider indicates that the counter-investigation by Barthel and Brucker on the case is "imaginary."

He gives his demonstration for this by noting that the case "Saint-Romain-sous-Gourdon" and the case "Les Brosses-Tillots" are a single case, which occurred between these two localities, whereas Barthel and Brucker quote them as explained each one by an investigation as if they were two different cases - but, argues Sider, if they had really investigated they would not have failed to note that this is only one case.

Jean Sider indicates further in his book that the newspaper "Le Petit Mâconnais" for October 18, 1954 had reported the incident on page 5 like this:

"Mr. B..., remaining quay Jules Chagot, in Montceau-les-Mines, circulated my motor-cycle on the road which goes from St Romain sous Gourdon to the Brosses-Tillots, was surprised to note that its engine, without apparent reason, stopped, preventing him from continuing his road. While looking at in the direction of a small wood, he was amazed to see a very brilliant gleam which spread out at some fifty meters of him and which was emitted by an apparatus resembling a plate turned upside down. The "saucer", he told us, could have from six to eight meters in diameter. Mr. B... made a U-turn and his motor-cycle started as soon as he had left what he calls the magnetic field of the apparatus. Mr. B... is still amazed, he considers it regrettable that nobody was with him to note with their own eyes that he had indeed been in the presence of one of these machines that are so much discussed."

Jean Sider estimates that the hoaxes are generally more elaborate than this, with occupants and many details as in cases by anonymous letters addressed to the newspapers.

He notes that whereas the witness had asked for anonymity, his address was given and that if Barthel and Brucker had truly inquired they could have found him and given his name to prove it, but that they worked from a file stuffed with errors and "thus this is additional cheating no doubt about it."

[Ref. lgs1:] LOREN GROSS:

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

[Ref. goe1:] GODELIEVE VAN OVERMEIRE:

Godelieve van Overmeire indicates that in 1954, on October 14, in France, in Montceau les Mines, "M.B. residing quay Jules Chagot circulated in the twilight, between St Romain sous Gourdon and les Brosses-Tillots by motorcycle, when without apparent reason his engine stopped. He put foot at ground and at 50 m in front of him spouts out a circular object resembling a reversed plate."

The source is noted "Aimé Michel: 'M.O.C.' Seghers pub., p. 234"

[Ref. jbu1:] JEROME BEAU:

Jérome Beau indicates as source "Vallée, J., Anatomy 130".

[Ref. jbu2:] JEROME BEAU:

[Ref. lcn1:] LUC CHASTAN:

Luc Chastan indicates in his database that in the Saone et Loire in St Romain sous Gourdon on October 14, 1954 at 20:00 hours, "at twilight, the witness circulates by motor cycle on the road which connects Saint-Romain-sous-Gourdon to les Brosses-Tillots, when, without apparent reason, his engine stops. Mr. B pedals to restart his motorcycle, but in vain. He then puts foot at ground, it is at this time that he sees a sharp gleam spouting out within fifty meters of him. This gleam is emitted by a circular machine that the witness compares to a plate turned upside down. The observer chooses to make a U turn pushing his vehicle. While arriving, in opposite direction, at the point where the engine had stopped, he was very surprised to note the correct operation of the latter. The object takes off."

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 dusk in St Romain, France, there was a sighting.

The source is indicated as Bowen, Charles, The Humanoids: FSR Special Edition No. 1, FSR, London, 1966.

[Ref. djn2:] DONALD JONHSON:

Donald Johnson indicates that on October 14, 1954, between Saint-Romain-sous-Gourdon and les Brosses-Tillots, Saone-et-Loire a motorcyclist saw a circular craft shaped like an upside-down plate just after dark. At the same time the engine on his motorcycle stalled. After watching it for some time, he pushed the motorcycle down the road, where it could be restarted. In the same area an engineer also saw a luminous object coming down rapidly.

The sources are indicated as Aime Michel, Flying Saucers and the Straight Line Mystery, p. 175; Jacques Vallee, Anatomy of a Phenomenon, p. 130; Jacques Vallee, Passport to Magonia: A Century of Landings, case # 259; Larry Hatch, U computer database, case # 3919; Michel Carrouges, Les Apparitions de Martiens, p. 128.

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

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

This database recorded this case 12 times:

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

Explanations:

It is not proven that it was the meteor of 06:10 p.m. that day, but however, the presence of the meteor should have been mentioned.

"Maneuvering as if to land" can create the mental image of a craft that performs various and complex maneuvers; but it can obviously just as well only mean: descending.

Keywords:

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

Saint-Romain-sous-Gourdon, Saône-et-Loire, craft, object, circular, saucer, plate, engine, stop, stall, luminous, motorbike, road, failure

Sources:

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

• [----] Article in the local newspaper Le Petit Mâconnais, Mâcon, France, page 5, October 18, 1954.
• [aml1] "Mystérieux Objets Célestes", book by Aimé Michel, Arthaud publisher, France, page 234, 1958.
• [aml3] "Soucoupes Volantes - L'étrange découverte d'Aimé Michel", article by Aimé Michel, in the popular science magazine Science et Vie, France, #485, page 7, February 1958.
• [aml5] "Un nouvel accès au problème des soucoupes volantes", article by Aimé Michel, in the magazine Lumières Dans La Nuit (LDLN), France, #4, pp. 4-5, May 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.
• [gqy1] "Observations 1954", monograph by Guy Quincy, France - Algeria, private publication, page 17, the 1950's.
• [gqy2] "Atterrissages au XXe siècle", monograph by Guy Quincy, France - Algeria, private publication, unnumbered pages, the 1950's.
• [mcs1] "Les Apparitions de Martiens", book by Michel Carrouges, aka Louis Couturier, Fayard publisher, France, pages 80,128, 1963.
• [aml4] "Mystérieux Objets Célestes", article by Aimé Michel, in the ufology magazine Lumières Dans La Nuit (LDLN), France, #84, page 8, September / October 1966.
• [lcp2] "Piece for a Jigsaw", book by Leonard G. Cramp, Somerton Publishing Co publishers, U-K., 1966.
• [jve5] "Catalogue préliminaire de 500 observations", listing in "Les Phénomènes Insolites de l'Espace", book by Jacques and Janine Vallée, Table Ronde publishers, France, 1966.
• [jve2] "Anatomy of a Phenomenon", book by Jacques Vallée, Henry Regnery publisher, USA, 1966.
• [jve2] "Anatomy of a Phenomenon", book by Jacques Vallée, Neville Spearman publisher, U-K, 1966.
• [ask1] "A Study of Secondary Effects", unpublished manuscript by A. Schopick, USA, page 14, Summer 1966.
• [aml1] "A Propos des Soucoupes Volantes - Mystérieux Objets Célestes", book by Aimé Michel, reprint of "Mystérieux Objets Célestes", Planète publishers, France, page 213, 1966.
• [jve1] "Un Siècle d'Atterrissages", catalogue by Jacques Vallée, in the ufology magazine Lumières Dans la Nuit (LDLN), France, N° 103, page 5, December 1969.
• [jve1] "Passport to Magonia - On Ufos, Folklore, and Parallel Worlds", book by Jacques Vallée, Contemporary Books publishers, USA, 1969.
• [jve3] "Chronique des Apparitions Extra-Terrestres", French translation of "Passport to Magonia", book by Jacques Vallée, Denoël publisher, France, page 303, 1972.
• [jve3] "Chronique des Apparitions Extra-Terrestres", French translation of "Passport to Magonia", book by Jacques Vallée, J'Ai Lu publisher, France, page 281, 1974.
• [jve2] "Anatomy of a Phenomenon - UFOs in Space", book by Jacques Vallée, Tandem Books publishers, U-K, page 130, 1974.
• [aml6] "Une nouvelle approche au problème UFO - Introduction à une étude de J.-C. Dufour", article by Aimé Michel, in the ufology magazine Lumières Dans La Nuit (LDLN), France, #132, page 3, February 1974.
• [gal1] "Face aux Extra-Terrestres", book by Charles Garreau and Raymond Lavier, Jean-Pierre Delarge - Mame publishers, France, pp 60-61, 1975.
• [gal1] "Face aux Extra-Terrestres", book by Charles Garreau and Raymond Lavier, Jean-Pierre Delarge - J'Ai Lu publishers, France, page 64, 1975.
• [ufa1] "1945 - 1975: Trente Années de Perturbations Electromagnétiques", catalog in the ufology bulletin Ufologia of the Cercle Français de Recherches Ufologiques (C.F.R.U.), France, #5, page 9, July / August / September 1976.
• [aml1] "Mystérieux Objets Célestes", book by Aimé Michel, Seghers publisher, France, page 234, 1977.
• [aml1] "Mystérieux Objets Célestes", book by Aimé Michel, Robert Laffont publisher, France, page 234, 1978.
• [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.
• [bbr1] "La Grande Peur Martienne", book by Gerard Barthel and Jacques Brucker, Les Nouvelles Editions Rationalistes publishers, France, page 197, 1979.
• [fru1] "OVNI, Premier Dossier Complet des Rencontres Rapprochées en France", book by Michel Figuet and Jean Louis Ruchon, Alain Lefeuvre publisher, France, page 163, 1979.
• [mrr1] "UFO Reports Involving Vehicle Interference", compiled by Mark Rodeghier, Center for UFO Studies (CUFOS), USA, 1981.
• [mft2] "ATTERRISSAGES D'UFO sur le continent français du 26 septembre 1954 au 18 octobre 1954", list by Michel Figuet in the ufology magazine Lumières Dans La Nuit (LDLN), France, #249-250, page 27, March / April 1985.
• [mft3] "Catalogue Francat des Rencontres Rapprochées en France (Listing 800 1982) (2 - Suite)", list compiled by Michel Figuet, in the ufology magazine Lumières Dans La Nuit (LDLN), France, #257-258, page 19, November / December 1985.
• [mft1] "Catalogue Francat des rencontres rapprochées en France - Listing 800 - 1982 - 6 - Suite et Fin", listing par Michel Figuet, in the ufology magazine Lumières Dans La Nuit (LDLN), #265-266, page 17, July / August 1986.
• [lcp2] "UFOs and Anti-Gravity: Piece for a Jigsaw", book by Leonard G. Cramp, Adventures Unlimited Press publishers, U-K., page 216, 1997.
• [jsr1] "Le Dossier 1954 et l'Imposture Rationaliste", book by Jean Sider, Ramuel publisher, France, page 254, 1997.
• [lgs1] "The Fifth Horseman of the Apocalypse - UFOa: A History - 1954 October - Supplemental Notes", monograph by Loren E. Gross, USA, page 45, 2002.
• [lhh1] "*U* Computer Database", database by Larry Hatch, USA, circa 2002.
• [goe1] "Chronologie OVNI", web page compiled by Godelieve Van Overmeire, Belgium, circa 2003, at users.skynet.be/sky84985/afin54.htm
• [jbu1] "Jeudi 14 octobre 1954", web page compiled by Jérôme Beau, France, circa 2006, at rr0.org/data/1/9/5/4/10/14/index.html
• [jbu2] "Résumés d'événements d'interférence avec des véhicules", web table by Jérôme Beau, part in English, part in French, circa 2006, at www.rr0.org/data/1/9/8/1/10/Rodeghier_VehiclesInterference/1.html
• [lcn1] Base OVNI France, website by Luc Chastan, France, circa 2006, at baseovnifrance.free.fr/detobs.php?numobs=998
• [uda1] "14 Oct 1954 - St Romain, France", web page at the UFOdna website, circa 2007, at www.ufodna.com/uf02/uf2/022847.htm
• [djn2] "The Worldwide UFO Wave of 1954", electronic article by Donald Johnson, Ph.D., USA, page 8, 2009, at www.ufoinfo.com/onthisday/papers/Worldwide%20UFO%20Wave%20of%201954.pdf
• [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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