The 1954 French flap:

A FIREBALL REPORTEDLY FELL
MONDAY EVENING, BETWEEN
LA ROUPIE AND LA LACQUE

Monday, around 9:15 p.m., Mr. Robert Boon, residing rue du Royen in Aire-sur-la-Lys, returning from the steelworks of Isbergues and going home alone by bicycle when, between La Roupie and La Lacque, he had his gaze attracted by a luminous ball which he located between the hamlet of Hourelron and the village of Thiennes. This meteor, in the shape of a balloon, seemed, from this distance (4 kilometers) to have a diameter of one meter.

Mr. Boon was blinded by a flash of lightning, presumably erupting at the time the meteor made landfall and vanished.

Mr. Boon, frightened, hurried home and his family, noticing his state of nervousness, understood the reason when they learned of this atmospheric phenomenon.

Let us add that at the same time, all the dogs in the neighborhood, probably also afraid of the lightning, had barked.

Due to the late hour, few people have been able to observe this meteor which probably fell in a field, and so far we have been unable to collect other testimonies than that of Mr. Boon.

Let us mention, however, that several inhabitants of Aire noticed at this same hour a bright light similar to a flash of heat, but without paying any other attention to it.

THE TALK OF THE WATCHER

METEOR, SAUCER, BALLOON, CIGAR OR LIGHTNING???

One of our fellow citizens, Mr. Robert Boon, living on rue du Doyen, has just been an eyewitness to an unusual atmospheric phenomenon.

Coming back from Isbergues to Aire by bicycle, Monday evening and passing by 9:15 p.m. in the hamlet of La Roupie and La Lacque, he saw in the sky in the direction of Houleron and Thiennes, at a distance which he estimated at four kilometers, a luminous ball which made a dazzling lightning flash when the meteor touched the ground to volatilize.

Mr. Boon was alone on the road at this location and at that precise time. On returning home, still in a state of emotion, he explained to his relatives what he had seen, adding that following this appearance the dogs in the neighborhood had all started to bark.

At this hour, many people are still driving on the roads and some would have noticed a gleam in the sky, but there has not yet been any other witness of this atmospheric phenomenon which, until now made himself known.

Perhaps we will find in the fields, sooner or later, traces or debris of the meteor?

Too bad, I was not at my railing at this time.

If I had known, obviously... Because since the time that I keep watch I have not yet had the chance to see one: a flying saucer...

THE WATCHER.