The 1954 French flap:

ACHEUX-EN-VIMEU
THE ACHEUX PHENOMENON

Should we say "saucer"? Should we say meteor? Should we say atmospheric phenomenon?

What is certain is that a very curious event occurred last Monday, October 25, around 1:30 p.m..

It is not for us to characterize the thing. But here's exactly what happened.

Mr. Maurice Leclerc, 19 years old, son of Mr. and Mrs. Leclercq, debtors and depositaries of newspapers, on the place, had left Acheux to go to the annex of Zoteux, to see his sister there. From time to time there were lightning bolts, but no thunder roar.

However, riding on a bicycle, the young man was suddenly surprised by a great light; which illuminated part of the field exploited by Mr. Alfred Niquet and of which Miss Dufètelle-Thibaut is the owner. Sparks spurted from the ground and it looked like vibrations. No noise however. But suddenly a glow rose vertically to 15, 20 or 25 meters high - it was difficult to assess exactly - and disappeared suddenly.

Somewhat emotional, Maurice Leclerc went home and shared with everyone what had just happened.

The next day, around 1 a.m., we went with the secretary of the town hall and some people and we looked in the field if some vestiges of some craft remained and, not 60 meters from the road as the young man believed, but at nearly 200 meters, it was found that the ground was completely charred on about 3 square meters, the flints themselves being almost pulverized and become brittle.

What is currently the cause, what is the nature of this phenomenon, this is what we do not know so far.

"...conversely an interesting phenomenon which left traces and was mentioned in the press is not listed by the ufologists, because the journalist used neither the word UFO, nor the word flying saucer. As an example a Picardy case of 1954 "the phenomenon of Acheux" (UFO with traces in Acheux in Vimeu). I challenge you to find it in the files of the ufologists."

"Dominique Caudron."

ACHEUX - EN - VIMEU

THE ACHEUX PHENOMENON

"Should we say "saucer"? Should we say meteor? Should we say atmospheric phenomenon?

What is certain is that a very curious fact occurred last Monday, October 25, at about 13:30.

It does not rest with to us to characterize the thing. But here is exactly what happened.

Mr. Maurice Leclerc, aged 19, son of Mr. and Mrs. Leclercq, shoppers and newspapers stand owners, in the city, had left Acheux to go in the district of Zoteux, to see his sister there. There were, at some times, thunderflashes, but no thunderclaps.

However, travelling by bicycle, the young man was suddenly surprised by a large gleam, which illuminated part of the field exploited by Mr. Alfred Niquet and of which Miss Dufètelle-Thibaut is the owner. Sparks spouted out of the ground and one had thought there were vibrations. No noise however. But, suddenly, a gleam amounted vertically at 15, 20 or 25 meters in height - it was difficult to evaluate exactly - and disappeared in a snap.

A bit shaken, Maurice Leclerc returned at his place and informed everyone of what had just occurred.

The following day, at about 1 o'clock, one went with Mr. the Secretary of the Town Hall and some people sought if some vestiges remained or an unspecified machine in the field and, not within 60 meters of the road as the young man had believed, but within nearly 200 meters, one noted that the ground was entirely burnt on 3 square meters approximately, the flint stones themselves being almost pulverized and having become friable.

What is the actual cause; what is the nature of this phenomenon, that is what one is unaware of up to now.