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October 17, 1954, Cabasson, Var:

Reference for this case: 17-oct-54-Cabasson.
Please cite this reference in any correspondence with me regarding this case.

Reports:

[Ref. jve1:] JACQUES VALLEE:

Scan.

279 October 17, 1954, 08:30 p.m., Cabasson (France):

A 65-year-old man was hunting with his dog, near the junction of the Brillance Canal and the Durance River, when he saw a gray object, about 4 m long and 1 m high on the ground and 40 m away. It showed a dome from which two helmeted figures emerged. The witness fled, but his dog started toward the object. The dog soon retreated, walking awkwardly as if partly paralyzed. (Personal).

[Ref. jve2:] JACQUES VALLEE:

Jacques Vallée indicates that on October 17, 1954 at 02:30 p.m., in Cabasson, close to Corbières, in France, a 65-year-old man was hunting with his dog close to the confluence of the channel of Brillance and the Durance, when he was suddenly face to face with an object of gray color, of approximately 4 meters in length by 1 meter in height, posed on the ground within 40 meters of him. The craft was surmounted by a dome, and he saw two helmeted beings coming out of it. The witness fled, but his dog rushed towards the object; then moved quickly back, and walked during some time awkwardly as if it had been partly paralyzed.

[Ref. gcn1:] GORDON CREIGHTON:

44. Cabasson, France (2.30 p.m., October 17, 1954)

A 65-year-old man was hunting with his dog, near the junction of the Brillance Canal and the Durance River, when he saw a grey object, about 4 m. long and 1 m. high, standing on the ground at a distance of 40 m. It had a dome, from which two helmeted figures emerged. The witness fled, but his dog started toward the object. The dog soon retreated, walking awkwardly as though partially paralyzed.

Jacques Vallée (personal communication): Case No. 279 of A century of Landings, in Lumières Dans la Nuit, No 102 (October 1969) and Passport to Magonia.

[Ref. cln1:] CORAL AND JIM LORENZEN:

The authors indicate that two helmeted beings emerged from a gray disc-shaped object approximately 40 inches high and 15 feet in diameter on October 17, 1954, at Cabasson near Corbieres. A 65-year-old man, out hunting with his dog near the junction of a canal and a river, suddenly came on that object sitting on the ground less than 150 feet in front of him. Frightened then by the helmeted occupants, he turned and ran but the dog approached the object. It soon retreated, however, and its master noted that it walked in a peculiar way for some time, as if partly paralyzed.

[Ref. gcn2:] GORDON CREIGHTON:

Scan.

48. Cabasson, Basses-Alpes, France - October 17, 1954, 2:30 p.m.

A 65-year-old man was hunting, accompanied by his dog, near the junction of the Canal de Brillance and the Durance, when he saw a grayish object about 4 m long and 1 m high, placed on the ground about 40 m away. It had a dome at its upper part from which emerged two helmeted figures. The witness fled, but his dog, guided by the hunting instinct, ran towards the object. He came back half-paralyzed and trembling with fear.

Ref.: J. Vallée (personal communication), Case n° 279 of "Un siècle d'atterrissages", in LDLN and "Passport to Magonia".

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

The two authors reproduce the information from the Vallée catalogue.

[Ref. fsd1:] PIERRE SCHAEFFER AND PIERRE DELVAL:

A PREVIOUSLY UNKNOWN LANDING REPORT IN CORBIERES ("04"-Basses-Alpes)

October 1954

Investigation by Francis Schaefer (GEOCNI) and Pierre Delval (GEMOC), July 28, 1970 - (Extract from file CFRS 04 - E.A.).

Introduction:

At the occasion of a counter-investigation carried out in the area of Valensole and thanks to information that were provided to us for which we thank the authors here, we were able to proceed, last summer, to a small investigation into a landing case which had occurred in 1954, in this same area of Valensole.

Several interviews were necessary in 04-CORBIERES (not far from Ste TULLE and MANOSQUE) before learning that the main witness of this case was Mr. Maxime PIGNATELLI, now deceased. Thus we interrogated members of his family who were lengthily questioned, (and "taken by surprised"), we can draw up the following report whose interest, moreover, does not have anything to envy that of VALENSOLE which was the object, at the same occasion, of a new visit we made in order to check old testimonies.

1) THE FACTS.

At the beginning of October 1954 (the members of the family do not remember any more of the exact day), Mr. Maxime PIGNATELLI left to hunt with his dog on the banks of the Durance (the "Iscles"), in the immediate vicinity of CORBIERES, a village located on road N.96.

Around 7 hours p.m. (or 07:30 p.m.), by aiming at a quail which flew away of a thicket, Mr. Maxime PIGNATELLI (at the same time as he heard a noise of crushed branches) saw... the higher part of an oval object (diameter 3 or 4 meters?), of black color and without luminous reflections.

On the higher edge of the strange apparatus two heads of two small beings tall "like children" appeared (sic).

The witness observed this amazing display only during a few seconds: an inexpressible panic seized the hunter who fled so quickly that it fell inopportunely in a ditch filled with water, ditch that he had been unable to avoid during his unrestrained race. "Soaked to the neck", he extirpated from the bad position. At this time, Mr. M. PIGNATELLI saw his dog arriving: the poor animal yelled and trailed its two back legs as if those had been just been hit by a painful discharge! Something appears undeniable: the animal was seriously wounded and the origin of that could come only from the occupants of the object stationed in the clearing.

At the time, nobody (of course) wanted to admit the authenticity of this dramatic hunting party; but an interesting fact (though regrettable for the witness) did not fail to puzzle the close relations of Mr. M. PIGNATELLI: indeed, the latter, on his return, felt a "torpor" (comparable with tiredness or somnolence) seize him. His family even confirmed that "the shock reflected on his heart". Whatever the degree of the case, the landing of CORBIERES is characterized by one (or several) physiological effect(s). The main witness was to die at the beginning of September 1955 and it is now impossible to establish a possible relation of cause and effect.

It is appropriate, in any event, to record the state of somnolence directly after the incident of the clearing.

[Missing page.]

In the CORBIERES case, we are particularly struck, even marked, by the intense fear of the witness; the latter left the place so fast that it was impossible for him to provide the least information as of the external appearance of the beings (heads, chin, eyes, ears, hair or clothing) or of the UFO (door, crutches, cupola...) for which, curiously, the interviwed people employed the expression... "football shaped", as with VALENSOLE.

His escape, alas, did not enable him to attend the take-off of the craft. Whatever, if the details are not as numerous as they were for QUAROUBLE or VALENSOLE (for example), the incident, in itself is very important.

One of the most mysterious characteristic of this landing remains the exact origin of the noise (cracking or crushing) for, according to what we know, the UFO was ALREADY posed in the clearing and even, as it seems, hidden in the vegetation. There are thus two assumptions:

a): How can a machine having already landed still produce a cracking, (We suppose, by formulating this question, that the vegetation had already undergone the consequences of a landing; it was, normally, already crushed.

b): According to the description of Mr. Maxime PIGNATELLI, small beings' appeared on the higher part of the UFO, therefore:

Even by supposing that the beings stirred up some branches until breaking them, that still does not justify the noise of crushed branches.

2) SIMILARITIES.

After examination of the landing of CORBIERES, one cannot prevent oneself from establishing solids parallel with that, more famous, of VALENSOLE...

3) SOME DETAILS ABOUT THE LOCATION.

- The "Durance" [river] separates the landing place from an airfield located, opposite, two kilometers from VINON-sur-VERDON, altitude 279 meters on roads N552 and N554.

- The landing place is at 3 km from the DAM of CADARACHE.

We note, not far, the presence of a Center for Atomic Studies that can arise a "strategic" interest. But did it already exist there in October 1954?

4) CORBIERES AND THE STRAIGHT LINES MYSTERY.

or:

IS THE ORTHOTENICAL NETWORK OF 7 OCTOBER 1954, SHOWN BY AIME MICHEL, LIKELY TO PROVIDE THE EXACT DATE OF THE LANDING OF CORBIERES?

Orthoteny, a priori, can be

Janine and Jacques Vallée, while wanting to "bar the useless mention", were brought to conclude with a "no conclusion". Here, we will justify neither one nor the other since it will be an only a matter of noting things down.

Having done again, book in hand (1), the work of Aimé MICHEL, it was possible to me to make a strange observation:

The landing of CORBIERES took place, according to interviewed people, at the beginning of October 1954. Thus let us consider the date of October the 2nd, and the 7th, 1954, very important in orthotenic research. Nothing particular appears when putting CORBIERES on the orthotenic map of October 2, 1954.

On the other hand, by supplementing the orthotenic network for October 7, 1954 with the contribution of a new pin on the map at the site of CORBIERES, the result is rather amazing:

In spite of a very light variation (2), the place of the landing of CORBIERES occupies a "coherent" place in the already rich network for October 7, 1954.

The map at page illegible reproduces only the lines about which we will speak below.

On the question of the straight lines, we see that:

Francis Schaefer (GEOVNI)

Notes (mentioned in the text):

[Ref. agd1:] ALAIN GAMARD:

Scan.

Case # Date Time Locality Department Witness(es) name
060 17/10/1954 14.30 Cabasson. 04 ---

[Ref. lpl1:] NEWSPAPER "LE PROVENCAL":

THE FILE

Thirty years ago
the flying saucers

[...]

October 17, 1954:

In Villeneuve (the Alps of High-Provence), a hunter beats the countryside with his dog when he sees a metallized gray circular machine of 5 meters diameter and 1 meter height. The unit is overcome by a dome: two small helmeted men leave it. Terrorized, the hunter flees, his dog rushes ahead, then retreats, like partly paralyzed.

[...]

Gérard LE MAOUT.

Note: full article and scan here.

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

10/l7/1954 Cabasson

Around 2:30 p.m., a 65-year-old man was hunting near the confluence of the Durance and the Brillance canal. He was accompanied by his dog. Suddenly, 40m from him, he discovered on the ground a gray object 4m long and 1m high surmounted by a dome from which two helmeted figures emerged. The witness retreated but his dog rushed towards the object... But it soon had to turn around and it came back walking with difficulty as if he had been partially paralyzed. (J. Vallée)

A paralyzing radiation also acting on animals?

[Ref. tbw1:] TED BLOECHER AND DAVID WEBB:

Scan.

54-80 Oct. 17, 1954 1430. Cabasson, France Type B

The anonymous witness was hunting with his dog when he saw a gray object, about 4 m long and 1 m high, on the ground 40 m away. It had a dome, from which 2 helmeted figures emerged. The witness fled, but his dog started toward the object; but it soon retreated, walking awkwardly as if partially paralyzed.

Investigator:

Source: Vallee, Magonia, p. 232.

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

The two authors indicate that in Corbières in the Alps of Haute Provence, on October 17, 1954 at 02:30 p.m., Maxime Pignatelli, 65, is hunting with his dog on the banks of river Durance at a place in Cabasson called "Les Isoles."

By aiming at a bird which flies away from a bush, he hears a noise of crushed branches and sees at this time an oval object of a diameter of 3 or 4 meters, of gray color and without luminous reflections, with a dome, on the ground.

Two heads of small beings large "as children" appear on the higher edge of the strange machine.

The witness only observes this amazing sight during a few seconds; he is seized by panic. He fled so quickly that he falls inopportunely in a ditch filled with water. Soaked to the neck, he manages to extirpate himself from this bad position.

At this time there, the hunter sees his dog arriving: the poor animal howls and trails its two rear legs. This state could come only from the occupants of the object landed in the clearing.

The witness, on his return home, felt a torpor (comparable to a tiredness or somnolence).

Figuet and Ruchon noted that it occurred during the night according to Schaefer and Delval's 7 p.m. time, and that hunting quails is not possible at night.

They indicate as source case 279 of the Vallée catalogue, page 164 of the Garreau and Lavier book "Face aux ET", and the investigation by Pierre Schaefer and Pierre Delval on July 27, 1970, published in the magazine "Phénomènes Inconnus."

[Ref. jsr1:] JEAN SIDER:

Jean Sider indicates that on October 17, 1954 at 02:30 P.M. in Cabasson close to Corbières in the Alpes de Haute-Provence, Maxime Pignatelli was hunting on the blanks of the river Durance in company of his dog.

Near the Iscles location, he suddenly heard a noise of broken branches. While seeking what had caused this noise, he saw an oval object resting on the ground.

While looking at it with attention, he noticed two heads of small beings on the higher part of the machine. This took only a few seconds to him, "but here already the fear seizes him." Terrified, he fled with so much haste that he fell into a water ditch.

He stood up soaked but with no hurt, and at this time he saw that his dog emerging, howling and dragging his two rear legs. On his return to his home, he felt a torpor overcome him.

Jean Sider provides the above report quoting Michel Figuet as the source, and adds the information that a counter-enquiry made in 1970 by Francis Schaefer and Pierre Delval, of the Ouranos ufology group, showed that the emotional shock recorded by the witness had affected his heart condition.

[Ref. mft1:] MICHEL FIGUET:

Nr of the J. C. Fumoux list Nr of the Francat list Localization Date Class Credibility Sources Number of W
097 225 Cabasson 10/17 CE3 NI [= Unidentified] investigation 2-p. 178 1 W

[Ref. mft2:] MICHEL FIGUET:

CASE Nr CLASSIFICATION DATE HOUR PLACE ZIP CODE CREDIBILITY SOURCE
225 CE3 17 10 1954 14.30 Cabasson 04450 El NI [= Unidentified], OVNI: p. 178

[Ref. jsc1:] JOHN F. SHUESSLER:

1954/10/17 FRANCE, CABASSON

Source:
Official UFO, Feb. 76

A hunter, with dog, saw a disk-shaped object land and two beings emerge. The hunter fled, but his dog approached and then retreated, walking awkwardly for some time as if partly paralyzed.

EFFECTS:
Paralysis
Animal reaction

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

4174: 1954/10/17 14:30 10 5:45:00 E 43:46:00 N 3333 WEU FRN AHP 8:8

CABASSON,FR:1+DOG:4M SCR+HELMETED OIDS/WOODS:DOG WALKS ODDLY AFTER:/r113p123

Ref#217 Jean SIDER: Le DOSSIER 1954 (2 vol.) Page No. 207 : MOUNTAINS

[Ref. goe1:] GODELIEVE VAN OVERMEIRE:

The Belgian ufologist indicates that in 1954, on October 17, in France, in "Villeneuve (Cabasson?)", the Alpes de Haute Provence, "Maxime Pignatelli who wants to hunt the grive with his dog, close to the confluence of the Durance and of the Channel of Brillance, sees at 14:30 to 40 m of him on the ground, a gray object of approximately 4 m length by 1 m in height, overcome by a dome from which two helmeted silhouettes came out. The witness flees, the dog ran towards the object but soon retreated, walking with difficulty, as if partly paralyzed."

The source is noted as "Jacques Vallée: 'Chronique des apparitions ET' - DENOEL 1972 - J'AI LU COLL. - p. 284".

[Ref. mcn1:] MARK CASHMAN:

Cabasson (France).

10/17/1954
20:30

A 65 year old man was hunting with his dog, near the junction of the Brillance Canal and the Durance River, when he saw a gray object, about 4 m long and 1 m high on the ground and 40m away. It showed a dome from which two helmeted figures emerged. The witness fled, but his dog started toward the object. The dog soon retreated, walking awkwardly as if partly paralyzed.

[Ref. fbn1:] FABRICE BONVIN:

Fabrice Bonvin notes:

Case #006: 17/10/1954, p. 178 (Cabasson)

[Ref. kbd1:] KEITH BASTERFIELD:

The Australian ufologist indicates that on 17 October 1954 at 1430 in Cabasson, a 65-year-old male hunter, with dog, saw a disk-shaped object land and two helmeted beings emerged. The hunter fled, but his dog approached and then retreated, walking awkwardly for some time as it partly paralyzed.

He says it is one of the 15 cases in France in 1954 where there was a reported paralysis of the witness or witnesses when they were within a certain distance of a low-level UFO, distances that are 6m (1 case), 20m (2), 50m (2) 100m (1) and 150m (1). He adds that there seems little doubt about a relationship between the UFO and the paralysis, as the paralysis commenced upon observing the UFO and then ceased when the UFO left.

The source is noted "Bowen, C. 1969. The Humanoids. Neville Spearman. London. p48."

[Ref. ars1:] ALBERT ROSALES:

174.

Location. Cabasson France

Date: October 17 1954

Time: 1430

Maxime Pignatelli was hunting with his dog when he saw a gray object, about 4 meters long and 1 meter high, on the ground 40 meters away. It had a dome, from which 2 helmeted figures emerged. The witness fled, but his dog started toward the object; but it soon retreated, walking awkwardly as if party paralyzed.

Humcat 1954-102

Source: Jacques Vallee, Passport to Magonia

Type: B

[Ref. ars2:] ALBERT ROSALES:

156.

Location. Reims Marne France

Date: October 17 1954

Time: evening

An unidentified man, returning from fishing along the canal at Reims, saw a bright light resting on the grass near the canal. As he approached he saw it came from a cigar shaped object about 26 feet long and 7 feet high. From one end came "phosphorescent" lights, which reflected on the metallic hull of the object. A door appeared from which emerged three hairy beings, about 3 ft 9" tall, walking "crab-wise," or sideways. The an even smaller being a little more than a yard high appeared, whose lower legs appeared transparent. The witness tried to approach closer, but the entities rushed back inside the object at surprising speed, just as the witness was paralyzed by a red beam of light, which turned yellow, coming from a porthole. The object then took off and flew rapidly towards Tinquex. The witness then recovered his freedom of movement.

Humcat 1954-31

Source: Joel Mesnard & Jean Marie Bigorne

Type: B

[Ref. djn1:] DONALD JOHNSON:

Encounters with Aliens on this Day

October 17

[...]

1954 - In Cabasson, France a 65-year-old man was hunting with his dog at 2:30 p.m. near the junction of the Brillance Canal and the Durance River. He saw a gray object, about four meters long and one meter high on the ground and 40 meters away. It had a dome from which two helmeted figures emerged. The witness fled, but his dog started toward the object. The dog soon retreated, walking awkwardly as if partly paralyzed. (Source: Jacques Vallee, Passport to Magonia: A Century of Landings, p. 232).

[...]

[Ref. jbu1:] JEROME BEAU:

Jerome Beau indicates that on Sunday, October 17, 1954 at 02:30 p.m., in Cabasson, close to Corbières, in France, a 65-year-old man was hunting with his dog close to the confluence of the channel of Brillance and the Durance, when he was suddenly face to face with an object of gray color, of approximately 4 meters in length by 1 meter in height, posed on the ground within 40 meters of him. The craft was surmounted by a dome, and he saw two helmeted beings coming out of it. The witness fled, but his dog rushed towards the object; then moved quickly back, and walked during some time awkwardly as if it had been partly paralyzed.

[Ref. lcn1:] LUC CHASTAN:

Luc Chastan indicates that in Corbières on October 17, 1954 at 14:30 hours, "The witness is hunting with his dog on the edges of the Durance at the location Cabasson 'Les Isoles'. By aiming at a partridge which flies away from a thicket he hears a noise of crushed branches and sees at this time an oval object with a dome(diameter 3 or 4 meters) of gray color and without luminous reflections, posed on the ground. On the higher edge of the strange apparatus two heads appear of beings small 'like children'."

"The witness observes this amazing display during a few seconds only; panic grabs him. He flees so quickly that he inopportunely falls in a ditch filled with water. Soaked to the neck he can come out of this bad position."

"At this time, the hunter sees his dog arriving: the poor animal yells and trails the two back legs. Its pain could come only from the occupants of the object posed in the clearing."

"The witness, when he was back home felt a torpor (comparable to a tiredness or somnolence)."

The sources are indicated as "Ovni, Premier dossier complet... by Figuet M./ Ruchon J.L. ** Alain Lefeuvre pub. 1979" and "Chroniques des apparitions E.T. by Vallée Jacques ** DENOEL 1972 - coll. J'AI L".

[Ref. uda1:] "UFODNA" WEBSITE:

The website indicates that on 17 October 1954 at 14:30 in Cabasson, France "Hunter incident." And: "Hunter and dog near Brillance Canal/Durance R, saw gray object 4m long, 40 m away. two figures with helmets emerged. Dog partly paralyzed went it approached."

And: "An object was observed. Physiological effects were noted."

And: "One gray domed disc, about 20 feet across, around 100 feet away, was observed by one male 65-year-old witness on a river briefly. Two beings, each wearing a helmet, were seen."

And: "Maxime Pignatelli was hunting with his dog when he saw a gray object, about 4 meters long and 1 meter high, on the ground 40 meters away. It had a dome, from which 2 helmeted figures emerged. The witness fled, but his dog started toward the object; but it soon retreated, walking awkwardly as if partly paralyzed."

The sources are noted as Webb, David, HUMCAT: Catalogue of Humanoid Reports; Lorenzen, Coral E., Flying Saucer Occupants, Signet T3205, New York, 1967; Lorenzen, Coral E., Encounters with UFO Occupants, Berkley Medallion, New York, 1976, ISBN:425-03093-8; FSR, FSR (formerly Flying Saucer Review), FSR, London, 1966; Bowen, Charles, The Humanoids: FSR Special Edition No. 1, FSR, London, 1966; Pereira, Jader U., Les Extra-Terrestres, Phenomenes Spatiaux, Paris, 1974; Vallee, Jacques, A Century of Landings (N = 923), (in JVallee04), Chicago, 1969; Schoenherr, Luis, Computerized Catalog (N = 3173); Delaire, J. Bernard, UFO Register Volume 7 (1976), Data Research, Oxford, 1976; Hatch, Larry, *U* computer database, Author, Redwood City, 2002; Rosales, Albert, Humanoid Sighting Reports Database.

[Ref. uda2:] "UFODNA" WEBSITE:

The website indicates that on 17 October 1954 at 20:30 in Cabasson, France, "A gray object, about four meters long and one meter high on the ground; two helmeted figures emerged."

And: "In Cabasson, France a 65-year-old man was hunting with his dog at 2:30 p.m. near the junction of the Brillance Canal and the Durance River. He saw a gray object, about four meters long and one meter high on the ground and 40 meters away. It had a dome from which two helmeted figures emerged. The witness fled, but his dog started toward the object. The dog soon retreated, walking awkwardly as if partly paralyzed."

And: "A 65-year-old man was hunting with his dog, near the junction of the Brillance Canal and the Durance River, when he saw a gray object, about four meters long and one meter high on the ground and 40 meters away. It showed a dome from which two helmeted figures emerged. The witness fled, but his dog started toward the object. The dog soon retreated, walking awkwardly as if partly paralyzed."

And: "One ball was observed."

The source is said to be "Vallee Magonia Database".

[Ref. crn1:] CRUN:

The blog of the CRUN mentions that in "1954, there was reportedly a case with observation of humanoids in Cabasson, near Corbières".

[Ref. prn1:] PETER ROGERSON:

October 17 1954.1430hrs.

CABASSON (VAR : FRANCE)

A 65 year old man was hunting with his dog near the junction of the Brilliance Canal and the Durance River, when he saw a grey object about 4m long and 1m high on the ground 40m away. It had a dome from which two helmeted figures emerged. The witness fled but his dog started towards the object, but soon retreated, walking awkwardly as if partly paralyzed.

Vallee case 279)

[Ref. tai1:] "THINK ABOUT IT" WEBSITE:

Location: Cabasson France

Date: October 17 1954

Time: 1430

Maxime Pignatelli was hunting with his dog when he saw a gray object, about 4 meters long and 1 meter high, on the ground 40 meters away. It had a dome, from which 2 helmeted figures emerged. The witness fled, but his dog started toward the object; but it soon retreated, walking awkwardly as if partly paralyzed.

Source: Jacques Vallee, Passport to Magonia 279

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

*Oct. 17, 1954 - In Cabasson, France a 65-year-old man was hunting with his dog at 2:30 p.m. near the junction of the Brillance Canal and the Durance River. He saw a gray object, about four meters long and one meter high on the ground and 40 meters away. It had a dome from which two helmeted figures emerged. The witness fled, but his dog started toward the object. The dog soon retreated, walking awkwardly as if partly paralyzed. (Sources: Jacques Vallee, Passport to Magonia: A Century of Landings, p. 232, case # 279; David F. Webb & Ted Bloecher, HUMCAT: Catalogue of Humanoid Reports, case # A0310).

[Ref. jgz1:] JULIEN GONZALEZ:

The author indicates that there was close encounter of the third kind in Cabasson at the place "Les Iscles" close to Corbières, in the Alpes-de-Haute-Provence, on October 17, 1954, at 02:30 p.m..

Maxime Pignatelli, 65 years old, deceased at the beginning of September 1955, was hunting with his dog on the edges of the Durance when while aiming at grive which flew away from a thicket, he heard a noise of crushed branches and saw at this time an oval object of black color and without luminous reflections posed on the ground.

On the higher edge of the strange apparatus there were two heads of small beings of the size of children. The witness observed this during a few seconds only, he was seized of panic and fled so fast that he fell in a ditch filled with water.

Soaked to the neck he managed to get out of his bad position, and at this time, he saw his dog emerging while howling and while trailing its two legs back.

Back home he felt a torpor comparable with tiredness or somnolence. His family has even said at the time of a counter-investigation by Francis Schaefer and Pierre Delval in July 1970 that the shock had affected his heart.

Julien Gonzalez notes that Schaeffer and Delval had given the hour as 07:00 p.m. or 07:30 p.m. but that in October it is dark at this hour and it is thus not possible to hunt the grive.

He indicates as sources the "Un siècle d'atterrissages" catalogue by Jacques Vallée, case 279; "Phénomènes Inconnus" magazine #14 (1st series), 1971, pages 10-13 with the counter-investigation by Francis Schaefer and Pierre Delval on July 28, 1970; C. Garreau and R. Lavier: Face aux Extra-Terrestres, page 164; Michel Figuet and Jean-Louis Ruchon, OVNI le premier dossier complet des rencontres rapprochées en France, pages 178-179; Jean Sider, Le dossier 1954 et l'imposture rationaliste, page 207.

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

This database recorded this case six times:

Case Nr. New case Nr. Investigator Date of observation Zip Place of observation Country of observation Hour of observation Classification Comments Identification
19540000 00.00.1954 Cabasson France
19541017 17.10.1954 Cabasson France 14.30 CE III
19541017 17.10.1954 Cabasson France 14.30 CE III
19541017 17.10.1954 Cabasson France 14.30 CE III
19541017 17.10.1954 Cabasson France 14.30 CE III
19541017 17.10.1954 Brillance Kanal France 14.30

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

October 17 1954. 1430hrs.

CABASSON (VAR : FRANCE)

A 65 year old man, Maxime Pignatelli, was hunting with his dog near the junction of the Brilliance Canal and the Durance River, when, alerted by a noise he saw a grey object about 4m long and 1m high on the ground 40m away. It had a dome from which two helmeted figures emerged. The witness fled in panic, falling into a water hole in the process, but his dog started towards the object, but soon retreated, walking awkwardly as if partially paralysed. Maxime himself felt a numbness when he got home.

Explanations:

Map.

There isn't much comment possible on the sighting itself. The duration was only of a few seconds, the sighting distance is not known, the beings are apparently only seen from the head up, the UFO was apparently in some brushes and is practically not described either. The UFO was seen only on the ground, not flying. The dog's behavior and the torpor of the witness make up for some strangeness, but this is not really assured, there was no examination.

About the date: It seems that investigators Schaefer and Delval though they were investigating a previously unknown case, possibly because they dealt with Corbières whereas the case was mentioned as "Cabasson" by Vallée previously. It is thus possible that the correct date was indeed October 17, 1954, as indicated by Vallée, and that the memory of the relatives in 1970 was not as accurate as the first information. However, Vallée unfortunately does not tell us how he heard of the case, "Personal" having little meaning as in other cases, "Personal" was used for cases where Vallée could not have been the first source.

About the "straight lines" (Orthoteny): Using the places indicated by Schaefer and Delval, there are hardly any real straight lines when the places are plotted:

Plot

In addition to this obvious problem, it must be noted that whereas Schaefer and Delval use 10 sightings for October 7, 1954, there were actually at least 47 sightings that day!

Keywords:

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

Cabasson, Var, canal, river, Durance, grey, object, landing, dome, occupants, humanoids, helmet, paralyzed, dog, animal, effects, Maxime Pignatelli

Sources:

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

Document history:

Version: Created/Changed by: Date: Change Description:
0.1 Patrick Gross May 20, 2003 First published.
1.0 Patrick Gross December 31, 2009 Conversion from HTML to XHTML Strict. First formal version. Addition [lcn1].
1.1 Patrick Gross March 18, 2010 Additions [goe1], [djn1], [uda1], [uda2], [crn1].
1.2 Patrick Gross August 14, 2013 Addition [prn1].
1.3 Patrick Gross October 9, 2014 Addition [tai1].
1.4 Patrick Gross October 16, 2014 Addition [nip1].
1.5 Patrick Gross October 20, 2016 Additions [gcn1], [ars2], [jgz1].
1.6 Patrick Gross February 2, 2017 Addition [ubk1].
1.7 Patrick Gross September 30, 2021 Additions [mft1], [mft2], [lhh1], [prn2], [tbw1].
1.8 Patrick Gross March 18, 2022 Addition [gcn2].
1.9 Patrick Gross June 3, 2022 Addition [agd1].
2.0 Patrick Gross July 15, 2022 Addition [gab1].

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This page was last updated on July 15, 2022.