The index page for the 1954 French flap section of this website is here.
Reference for this case: 24-Oct-54-Lalizolle.
Please cite this reference in any correspondence with me regarding this case.
The regional newspaper Centre - Matin for October 28, 1954, reportedly told:
"A hunter, Mr. Laforêt, coffee shop owner domiciled route de la Bosse in Lalizolle going hunting Sunday, October 24 around 10:30 saw in the wood called 'Grandchamp' on the commune of Lalizolle a flying saucer posed in a clearing. It measured about 3 m in length and 1.70 to 1.80 m in height."
"Not believing his eyes, Monsieur Laforêt went back to fetch neighbors Messrs. Dochet and Billaud... But when all came back to see the saucer it was gone."
"Mystery or hallucination? Let's just say a prank."
On August 8, 1972, ufologist Jean Giraud found the witness's wife, her husband having died six months ago. His wife confirmed the observation to Jean Giraud, adding that at first she had hesitated to believe her husband.
Then with two neighbors, she agreed to go to the place. One of the neighbors, Mr. Dochet, took his shotgun "just in case...", the other neighbor, Mr. Billaud, took a butcher's knife.
On site, there was no flying saucer anymore, but on a circle of 2 to 3 meters of radius, the grass of the clearing had been packed or flattened, and Mr. Laforêt's hunting dogs refused to approach the place.
Madame Laforêt had not been able to give any precision as to the description of the observed craft.
[Ref. ioi1:] "INFO-OVNI" MAGAZINE:
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DATE 10/24/1954
HOUR 10:30
PLACE Wood of Granchamp Lalizolle (Allier)
WITNESS Mister Laforêt bar owner.
THE FACTS.
A COFFEE SHOP OWNER SAW A SAUCER LAND NEAR LALIZOLLE.
"A hunter, Mr. Laforêt, coffee shop owner domiciled route de la Basse in Lalizolle going hunting Sunday, October 24 around 10:30 saw in the wood called "Grandchamp" on the commune of Lalizolle a flying saucer in a clearing. It measured about 3 m in length and 1.70 to 1.80 m in height.
"Do believing his eyes, Monsieur Laforêt went back to fetch neighbors Mrs Dochet and Billaud... But when all came back to see the saucer it was gone.
"Mystery of hallucination? Let's say prank quite simply."
SOURCES.
Regional Press. "Centre-Matin" for 10/28/1954
INVESTIGATION.
The investigation carried out on 08/08/1972 revealed that the witness had died six months ago. His interviewed wife confirmed the observation. She made the following points:
At first she hesitated to believe her husband. Then with two neighbors she agreed to go to the scene. Monsieur Dochet took his shotgun "just in case..." Monsieur Billaud armed himself with a butcher's knife.
On site there was nothing, but on a circle of 2 to 3 m radius, the grass of the clearing was packed (or flattened) and most importantly, the hunting dogs of Monsieur Laforêt refused to approach places of the landing.
No further precision could be given by Madame Laforêt as to the appearance of the craft observed.
INVESTIGATOR.
Jean Giraud Group 03100.
[Ref. ioi2:] "INFO-OVNI" MAGAZINE:
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... 10/24/1954 10:30 Lalizolle Witness Mr. Laforêt
In a clearing of the wood of Grands Champs, the witness found himself face to face with a "Saucer" placed on the ground of 3 m. in length and 1.70 m high. He fled, later returning with other people, all finding that the grass was crushed on a circle of 2 to 3 m in diameter. The dogs refused to approach the trace (Pers. Inv.)
[Ref. ous2] "OURANOS" UFOLOGY MAGAZINE:
2) There is also the fact that dogs led to the scene of an observation refuse to approach the place where the "Flying Saucer" landed. We had the opportunity to investigate a case of this type. The facts happened on 10/24/1954 in Lilizolle [sic] (Allier) and the witness's dogs refused to enter the circle of crushed grass marking the spot where the craft had landed, all happening as if they had perceived an "unpleasant" smell to which the humans (the witnesses returned to the scene) were not sensitive.
[Ref. ldl1:] UFOLOGY MAGAZINE "LUMIERES DANS LA NUIT":
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October 24, (Centre Matin for 10-28) Lalizolle 10:30.
Mr. Laforêt discovers a FS 3 m in diameter, 1.70 to 1.80 m high, placed in a clearing. According to a personal document by Mr. Giraud: the grass was packed on the ground on a circle 3 m in diameter. The dogs refused to approach.
[Ref. vns1:] JEAN AND JOSIANE GIRAUD - "VUES NOUVELLES":
7/ A VERY SPECIAL CASE.
Whatever the reference book consulted, the authors who report such facts all agree on one point: the Fairy Rings enjoyed an evil reputation. It was strongly advised to avoid approaching it, especially at night.
However, in volume I of his "Croyances du Centre", Lainsel de la Salle reports on page 121 a fact which is in flagrant contradiction with all that has been said and written on this topic. In the Berry, the Fairy Rings were considered PROTECTIVE ENCLOSURES whenever one was pursued by an ANIMAL or AN EVIL Beast.
This VERY specific tradition finds a remarkable extension in certain observations carried out on traces of contemporary landings.
Following a personal investigation, we were able to establish the following facts:
10/24/1954, Lalizolle (Allier): In a clearing in the woods of Grandchamps, Mr. Marcel Laforêt was amazed to discover a "Flying Saucer" posed on the ground. He retreated to seek backup. After arming himself with a shotgun, he returned to the scene, accompanied by his wife and two dogs. Two neighbors also came, Mr. Duchez (also armed) and his wife, as well as an itinerant butcher, Mr. Billot, who had armed himself with a butcher's knife. When the troop arrived on the spot, the craft had disappeared, but there remained a circle of packed-crushed grass 3 m in diameter. The five witnesses could see that THE TWO DOGS REFUSED TO APPROACH THE TRACE!
This state of affairs which involves many particular circumstantial elements. All we will say is that after learning of the Lalizolle observation, we had considered the hypothesis that the repulsion of Mr. Laforêt's dogs might have been caused by a substance of a peculiar odor, odor perceptible by the subtle sense of smell of the dog, but not perceived by the atrophied humen sense. Since the publication of LDLN #130, another hypothesis seems just as likely to us. In his investigation into the observation of 09/03/1973 in Feignies, Mr. Bigorne indicates that on the scene of the overflight of the craft, significant traces of negative ionization were found. So, we pose an easy to answer question: are dogs allergic to negative ions? The experimentation must be easy and we would have there a solid element of response to a recorded phenomenon (animal reaction).
[Ref. ous1] UFOLOGY MAGAZINE "OURANOS":
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10/24/1954 Lalizolle (10 : 30).
Mr. Marcel Laforet, who had gone hunting, discovered in a clearing in the forest of Grandchamp an apparatus 3 m long and 1.70 to 1.80 m high. Distraught, he turned around to get help. On his return, in the company of 4 people, the machine had disappeared but the grass was packed and crushed on a circle of 2 to 3 m in diameter. Although there was nothing left, the witness's dogs refused to approach the place. (Personal investigation and Centre Matin for 10/28/1954).
[Ref. gab1:] UFOLOGY GROUP "G.A.B.R.I.E.L.":
Where the phenomenon becomes more interesting is when the behavior of the animal is disturbed in an abnormal manner. We thus recorded cases of fear (10/02/1954 Poncey sur l'Ignon), cases of hostility ((10/03/1954 Annoeulin: Mr. Lecoevre's dog barked with rage at a "Flying Saucer" on the ground...). Some might point out that fear and aggression are still normal behaviors. And is this normal?
24/10/1954 Lalizolle (Allier)
This Sunday, around 10:30 a.m., Mr. Marcel Laforêt, out hunting, discovered in a clearing in the woods of Grandchamp a "Flying Saucer" placed on the ground. He quickly returned to look for "reinforcement witnesses”. When they arrived on the scene, there was nothing left except a circle of 2 to 3m in diameter where the grass was packed. The witness's dogs categorically refused to approach the premises. (J. Giraud)
This time, it is no longer about ultrasounds. Could it be then that the "Flying Saucers" leave chemical substances on our soil, the smell of which only dogs would be able to perceive? The question may arise because we have seen that extraterrestrial craft sometimes leave products and elements on our soil, either of a complexity defying all analysis, or of a hopeless banality. Here again, soil sample analyzes seem to us to be of paramount importance. Failing this, investigators could take a dog to the scene or submit a sample of soil taken from a landing site. We do not guarantee the results but the experience is worth trying.
[Ref. fru1:] MICHEL FIGUET AND JEAN-LOUIS RUCHON:
The two authors indicate that on October 24, 1954 at 10:30 a.m. in Lalizolle in the department of Allier, Mr. Laforêt found himself face to face with an object in the shape of a saucer posed on the ground. It had a 3 meters length on 1m70 height.
He fled, and came back later on the premises with other people, and all noted that the grass had been crushed on a circle from two to three meters in diameter. The dogs refused to approach the trace.
They indicate that their source is ufologist Jean Giraud of the LDLN 03100 Group who made the investigation, and Info-OVNI, Catalogue Allier.
[Ref. mft1:] MICHEL FIGUET:
| CAS Nr | CLASSIFICATION | DATE | HOUR | PLACE | ZIP CODE | CREDIBILITY SOURCE |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 253 | CE2 | 24 10 1954 | 10.30 | Lalizolle 03450 D4 | NI, OVNI: p. 197 |
[Ref. jsr1:] JEAN SIDER:
Jean Sider first gives information on this case coming from the newspaper Center-Matin for October 28, 1954, which indicates this:
On October 24, 1954, at 10:30 A.M., in Lalizolle, in the department of the Allier, Mr. Laforêt was hunting in the wood of Grandchamps, and he saw a flying saucer posed on the ground in the center of a clearing.
The saucer was approximately three meters wide, for a little less than three meters high.
Mr. Laforêt went back to alert neighbors, but when he returned with them, the flying saucer was not there anymore.
Jean Sider adds that in an investigation report published in "Info-OVNI", Allier catalogue, Jean Giraud questioned the witness and thus learned that the grass had been crushed on a diameter of three meters on the location, and dogs refused to approach the place. Sider specifies that this information was not in the newspaper Centre-Matin's article. Jean Giraud had concluded that Mr. Laforêt, coffee shop owner in Lalizolle, was of good faith.
[Ref. lhh1:] LARRY HATCH - "*U* COMPUTER DATABASE":
4259: 1954/10/24 10:30 2 3:00:20 E 46:09:20 N 3333 WEU FRN ALR 7:7
LALIZOLLE,FR:3M SCR ^ in WOODS:3M/FLAT GRASS:DOGS REFUSE/GO NEAR:/r30p197
Ref#194 LUMIERES dans la NUIT.(LDLN France) Issue No. 128 : FOREST
[Ref. goe1:] GODELIEVE VAN OVERMEIRE:
The Belgian ufologist indicates in her catalogue that in France, in 1954, on October 24, in Lalizolle, "Towards 10:30 Mr. Laforêt is face to face, in a clearing of the "Bois des Grands Champs" with a 3 m long saucer, 1m70 high, posed on the ground. He flees. Later he returns on the spot with other people and all note that the grass is crushed in a circle from 2 to 3 m in diameter. The dogs refuse to approach the trace."
The source is indicated as: "M. FIGUET/ J.L. RUCHON: "Ovni, Premier dossier complet..." éd. Alain Lefeuvre 1979, p. 197)".
[Ref. lcn1:] LUC CHASTAN:
Luc Chastan indicates that in the Allier in Lalizolle on October 24, 1954 at 10:30 hours, "a witness is nose to nose with an object in the shape of a saucer posed on the ground. Size 3 meters long by 1m70 high. He flees, returns later on the spot with other people, all note that the grass is crushed on a circle from two to three meters in diameter. The dogs refused to approach the trace."
The source is indicated as "Ovni, Premier dossier complet... by Figuet M./ Ruchon J.L. ** Alain Lefeuvre pub. 1979".
[Ref. prn2:] PETER ROGERSON - "INTCAT":
October 24 1954. 1030hrs.
GRANDCHAMP, LALIZOLE [sic] (ALLIER : FRANCE)
Mr Laforet encountered a disc shaped object, 3m diameter, 1.7m high, at the wood at Grandchamp. He ran away and returned with some companions. They found a circle of flattened grass 2-3m in diameter, which the dogs refused to approach.
C. E. OVNI M 46 citing Lumieres dans le [sic] Nuit 128 p18.
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Unfortunately, the newspaper article if not very informative, certainly not serious thus not quite reliable, and the main witness had died when an investigation took place.
So, the "most ordinary" scenario would be that a meteor passed over the wood and looked as if it landed in the forest but of course just went behind the horizon, and Mr. Laforêt, going to investigate, found a clearing with a circle of grass flattened by some animals for example and believed it was the saucer's landing spot.
Of course I do not know if this is correct, or if an extraterrestrial craft really landed in the clearing. Probably, I will never know.
The only chance to make the case more than an anecdote with potential trivial explanation would be to locate the place, check the soil and find something that would be evidence of a truly interesting nature that survived the passing of time; but where is the clearing?
On a sidenote: cases in which a round "flying saucer" reportedly lands and flattens grass in a circle occurred in numbers. When this happened in Australia in the 1970'a, it made an impression on one Doug Bower. Bower later returned to the U-K. and in 1978, with his new friend David Chorley, he started, as a prank, to flatten corn in circles in the Wiltshire fields, expecting people would believe flying saucers had landed. After two years of making circles in vain, the prank started to succeed, and the crop circles lore started.
Some of the "crop circles experts" tried to find cases before 1978 to "prove" the circles existed before Bower and Chorley's prank, and called all sorts of various types of UFO landing traces "crop circles". But they apparently missed this one.
(These keywords are only to help queries and are not implying anything.)
Lalizolle, Allier, Laforêt, forest, clearing, morning, dog, hunting, flying saucer, round, trace, Dochet, Billaud, crop circle
[----] indicates sources that are not yet available to me.
| Version: | Created/Changed by: | Date: | Change Description: |
|---|---|---|---|
| 0.1 | Patrick Gross | May 1, 2005 | First published. |
| 1.0 | Patrick Gross | March 2, 2009 | Conversion from HTML to XHTML Strict. First formal version. Additions [goe1], [lcn1]. |
| 1.1 | Patrick Gross | December 10, 2018 | Additions [lhh1], [prn2], [ldl1], [ioi1], [ioi2], Summary. Explanations changed, were "Not looked for yet". |
| 1.2 | Patrick Gross | July 13, 2019 | Addition [ous2]. |
| 1.3 | Patrick Gross | October 24, 2019 | Addition [mft2]. |
| 1.4 | Patrick Gross | March 16, 2022 | Addition [vns1]. |
| 1.5 | Patrick Gross | July 13, 2022 | Addition [gab1]. |
