The index page for the 1954 French flap section of this website is here.
Reference for this case: 19-Oct-54-Péronne.
Please cite this reference in any correspondence with me regarding this case.
Sergeant A. Marcel of the SMR 20/911 of the French Army wrote his report about his observation of October 19, 1954, from Doullens in the Somme:
Head of station at the radar station, on the platform of the radar station, from the sentry gatehouse, on this night of October 19, 1954, between 1:30 and 1:40 a.m., he was joined by the deputy chief of post, Corporal Chief L., himself called by the sentinel, the first asking him to note the presence of an unusual craft. Sergeant Marcel then also saw a shape of a disc which, after having crossed a layer of continuous stratocumuli clouds, low at about 1000 meters, stabilized at the vertical of the village of Bellevue (Pas-de-Calais).
He estimated its altitude during his stabilization at 800 meters. It emitted a pale green light, presenting a lower face without emission of luminous radiation.
Initially, the disc came out of the cloud layer on the national road of Doullens-Arras, above Mondicourt (Pas-de-Calais) at an excessively high speed and stopped short, "seeming not to be subject to the laws of inertia above Bellevue."
After oscillating for about 2 minutes over Bellevue, changing color at regular intervals, this disc turned 90 degrees to the right from its original course, heading east at a speed that the sergeant was unable to assess but estimated well above 1000 km/h. It disappeared in the clouds, came back into view for a few seconds, then disappeared from sight.
He insists that the thing did not give the impression of blur but stood out very clearly on the layer of clouds. He states that four sentinels who were there also saw this and were unanimous in recognizing the strangeness of the thing.
He indicates that the colors observed were respectively green, orange and yellow, with a tendency to stay longer to the green. The duration of each color was about 5 seconds.
Another witness, 2nd Class G. Guy of SMR 20/911, also stated in his guard duty report that while he was on guard on October 19, 1954, at about 1:40 a.m., he saw a disk come through the cloud layer about 4 km from him west of his station. This green luminous disc was moving at the speed of a shooting star to the east, leaving no trail and making no noise. He saw very clearly that this disc, during its travel, changed color from green to orange then dull red. The disc stabilized at about 7 to 8 km from him but did not remain totally fixed, following vertical and horizontal axes and changing color regularly. These different colors did not project any luminous reflection but were always regularly adorned with a greenish background.
It was at this moment of stabilization that he called the postmaster, the deputy chief of post, who went out and observed the phenomenon at the same time as him for about 3 minutes; then the disc disappeared above the clouds for 30 seconds and reappeared at the same altitude of 700 to 800 meters, for another 2 minutes, and disappeared.
[Ref. aft1:] THE FRENCH ARMY:
| Witness of observation: | A. Marcel, sergeant SMR 20/911 Doullens-Somme. |
|---|---|
| Location of observation: | hillock of the radar tracking station, observed from the site of the sentinel cabin. |
| Date: | October 18, 1954 at 01:34. |
| Direction of arrival: | south-east Mondicourt. |
| Direction of departure: | north-east, then full east. |
| Duration of appearance: | 2 minutes 15 s. |
| Angular elevation above the horizon: | 060° to 045°. |
| Value of angular displacement related to time: | 1st stap 090 in a half second, 2nd step motionless, 3rd step 015 in 30 s. |
| Apparent size: | coin of 5 F [approx 3 cm] seen at arm's length. |
| Shape: | disc. |
| Luminosity compared to the moon: | opaque. |
| Colors: | green, then orange, yellow. |
| Trail or wake: | None. |
| Circumstances and sky characteristics at the time of observation: | dark night with no stars. |
| Clouds: | medium height dense layer. |
| Wind: | Western direction. |
| Other witness: | Private G. Guy of SMR 20/911. |
Sargeant A. Marcel of SMR 20/911 to lieutenant-colonel commanding SMR 20/911.
Object: Report of mysterious celestial object.
I have the honor to account to you the following facts:
Chief of post at the radar tracking station in the night of October 19, 1954, I was the witness of the appearance of a luminous phenomenon in the following circumstances:
Between 1:30 and 1:40 local time, the deputy chief of station, corporal Chief L., called by the sentinel, came to seek me, requiring from me to note the presence of a strange craft. I go there and, indeed, note the presence of this craft that has the shape of a disc which, after having crossed a layer of continuous stratocumuli, low of approximately 1 000 meters, was stabilized at the vertical of the village of Bellevue (Pas-de-Calais).
I estimated its altitude during its stabilization as of 800 meters approximately, emitting a pale green light. It presented to me its lower face without emission of light radiation.
I tried to determine the relief, but the zone of shade resulting from the light on the black bottom of the sky did not allow it.
After having oscillated during 2 minutes approximately above Bellevue while changing color at regular intervals, this disc made 90° to the right compared to its initial path, took the direction east at a speed which I cannot evaluate, but definitely higher than 1 000 km/h, disappeared in the clouds, returned in sight during a few seconds, then disappeared definitively from my field of vision.
I insist on the fact that this appearance did not give the impression of blur but was detached very clearly on the clouds layer.
Four sentinels that were present noted the facts and were unanimous to recognize the strangeness of the thing.
The colors observed are, respectively: green, orange and yellow, with a tendency to remain longer with the green. The period of each color was approximately 5 s. Initially, the disc came out of the vapor cloud on the national road of Doullens-Arras, above Mondicourt (Pas-de-Calais) at an extremely fast speed and stopped short, seeming not to be subjected to the laws of inertia above Bellevue.
Signed sergeant A. Marcel SMR 20/911.
Private G. Guy of SMR 20/911 to the security officer of SMR 20/911.
Object: report on guard duty.
I have the honor to account for the following facts:
Whereas I was on duty of guard on October 19, 1954, towards 01:40, I saw a disc come through the cloudy ceiling at approximately 4 km of me in the west of the station. This green luminous disc moved at the speed of a shooting star towards the east, not leaving any trail and without any noise. During its displacement, I saw this disc very distinctly change color from green to orange then matt red. This disc stabilized at approximately 7 to 8 km from me but did not remain fixed. It followed vertical and horizontal axes and changed color regularly. These various colors did not project any luminous reflection but were always with a greenish background. It is at this time of stabilization that I called the chief of station, the deputy chief of station, who came out and noted this fact at the same time as I during approximately 3 minutes; then this disc disappeared above the clouds during 30 s and reappeared at the same altitude of 700 to 800 m, during 2 more minutes, and disappeared.
Signed private G. Guy.
[Ref. cpr1:] CLAUDE POHER, UFO RESEARCH GROUP "GEPA":
In 1968-1969, before the official GEPAN ufology effort started, its future head Dr Claude Poher was a member of the unofficial GEPA ufology group, and gathered a computer coded listing of more than 700 UFO reports on which multiple factors statistical computation could be run. In the file were a number of 1954 French UFO reports, among those this one.
For readability, a decoded interpretation of the data is provided here under the original 80 character encoded string. Decoding was done according to the original indications, the code number and its generic meaning is given. Please not that the generic meaning of each code is a predefined category, not the real specific details of the case. For example, if the main witness' age was 33, the coding would result in a number "3" which corresponds to a category "Adult from 21 to 59 years."
| Original code: | 0641551910195420001JA5004010462012AA30132031207000000000000000000000000001000000 |
| Location: | Peronne - France |
| Case number: | 0641 |
| Source code: | 55 |
| Nature of the source: | Reports from official French sources : Police, Gendarmerie, Army, Pilots |
| Day: | 19 |
| Month: | 10 |
| Year: | 54 |
| Hours: | 20 |
| Minutes: | 00 |
| Type of Time: | 1 = local time |
| Number of witnesses: | 5 = 5 |
| Main witness named: | 0 = name is not indicated |
| Main witness age: | 0 = no indication |
| Main witness occupation: | 4 = army, police, fireman, constable |
| Official investigation: | 1 = an official investigation was made |
| Weather: | 0 = no indication |
| Duration: | 4 = from 1 to 19 minutes |
| Minimal distance witness - phenomenon: | 6 = larger than 3 km |
| Method of observation: | 2 = binoculars, spyglass, theodolithe |
| Number of "objects" observed simultaneously: | 01 = 1 |
| Shape of the "object" (terminology of witness(es)): | 2 = round, circular, bowl |
| Dimensions of the phenomenon: | AA = angular size, 30 = 30 minutes of arc |
| Color of the observed phenomenon: | 13 = several colors, changing color |
| Luminosity of the phenomenon: | 2 = luminous, fluorescent |
| Lights or projectors on the phenomenon: | 0 = no indication |
| Moving speed of the phenomenon: | 3 = successively motionless, or slow, AND rapid |
| Acceleration of the phenomenon: | 1 = very high acceleration reported |
| Trajectory of the phenomenon: | 2 = motionless or straight line with stops |
| Sounds perceived during observation: | 0 = no indication |
| Maximum angular height of observation (horizon = 0°): | 7 = altitude is indicated |
| Nature of the landing place: | 0 = no indication |
| Number of contact points with ground: | 0 = no indication |
| Traces of landing: | 0 = no indication |
| Observation of "occupants": | 0 = no indication |
| Height of the occupants observed: | 00 = no indication |
| Garment of the occupants: | 00 = no indication |
| Garment: | 0 = no indication |
| General behavior of "occupants": | 0 = no indication |
| Interaction of "occupants" with witness: | 0 = no indication |
| Head, hair: | 0 = no indication |
| Voice, breathing, chin: | 0 = no indication |
| Skin: | 0 = no indication |
| Eyes: | 0 = no indication |
| Mouth: | 0 = no indication |
| Various details: | 0 = no indication |
| Thermal effects: | 0 = no indication |
| Luminous effects: | 0 = no indication |
| Magnetic effect (or electromagnetic): | 0 = no indication |
| Odor perceived by witness: | 0 = no indication |
| Physiological effects on the witness(es): | 0 = no indication |
| Psychological effect on the witness(es): | 0 = no indication |
| Effects on animals: | 0 = no indication |
| Other effects reported: | 0 = no indication |
| Nebulosity: | 0 = no indication |
| Oscillations, emission of matter: | 1 = "undulating" movement, oscillations "like dead leafs" |
| Spin, formation flight: | 0 = no indication |
| Immediate disappearance: | 0 = no indication |
| Halo surrounding the phenomenon: | 0 = no indication |
| Interaction witness / phenomenon (complement to the other rubrics): | 0 = no indication |
| Drawing or photo: | 0 = no indication |
| Structural details observed: | 0 = no indication |
[Ref. lcn1:] LUC CHASTAN:
Luc Chastan indicates that in the Somme in Péronne on October 19, 1954 at 20:00 hours "Five gendarmes observe during several minutes and at long distance a round object. The observation is done with the naked eye and with binoculars. The size of the object is estimated as 30 minutes of arc. It was luminous with changing colors. Its trajectory was jerked, in straight line with stops and strong accelerations. It was also actuated by an undulating movement."
The source is indicated as "Les Universons by Poher Claude ** http://www.premiumwanadoo.com/universons/".
[Ref. ubk1:] "UFO-DATENBANK":
| Case Nr. | New case Nr. | Investigator | Date of observation | Zip | Place of observation | Country of observation | Hour of observation | Classification | Comments | Identification |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 19541019 | 19.10.1954 | Peronne | France | 20.00 |
|
Possible extraterrestrial craft.
(These keywords are only to help queries and are not implying anything.)
Péronne, Somme, official, multiple, duration, colors, luminous, manoeuvers, slow, fast, motionless
[----] indicates sources that are not yet available to me.
| Version: | Created/Changed by: | Date: | Change Description: |
|---|---|---|---|
| 0.1 | Patrick Gross | January 27, 2005 | First published. |
| 1.0 | Patrick Gross | January 4, 2010 | Conversion from HTML to XHTML Strict. First formal version. Additions [lcn1]. |
| 1.1 | Patrick Gross | March 6, 2017 | Addition [ubk1]. |
| 1.1 | Patrick Gross | January 12, 2019 | Addition of the Summary. Explanations changed, were "Not looked for yet." |
