The 1954 French flap:

SECRETARY OF STATE FOR THE AIR
Observation report
of Mysterious Celestial Object

Names &: Firstnames: []

Rank or Prof: Colonel

Address: E.M.P. at the S. Dir. (room 623)

Signature

Classific(1) 6
Air Regiment: 624
Formation

When and where did you observe the object

1 Day: 27 Month: October Year: 54

2 Hour: 17 Minutes: 45 local (as accurate as possible)

3 Place of observation: Camp of Mailly Sunset according to the directory Se. L. 16:38 G.M.T. 17:38

Elements of observations concerning the object.

Angular estimates can be made in degrees, widths of hand or, for height, as a function of the distance "zenith-horizon" (sketch on the back)

4 Direction of Arrival: Slightly north of the sunset.

5 Departure Direction:

6 Duration of onset; 10 to 15 "motionless [?] 25 to 30 sec.

7 Angular height above the horizon: 45 ° to 20 °

8 Value of the horizontal displacement as a function of time:

9 Number of items: 1

Aspect of the object

10 Apparent size (pea - nail - coin of ... francs, seen at arm's length) Sky object ....
10' to 15' 1/3, and 1/2 moon diameter.

11 Form: Segment [?]

12 Comparative brightness: sun - star - moon - luminescent tube - shiny metal - opaque - transparent - dark - scintillating ...

13 Color: [] to have lighting in the [?]

14 Trail or Wake:

15 Other features:

(1) Do not enter anything in these textboxes.

Circumstance and appearance of the sky at the time of observation

16 Dawn - sunrise - day - sunset - dusk - clear night (moon) - dark starry night - dark night without stars

Pure sky at sunset - wind a few moments after observation (1 or 2 minutes)

17 Clouds: high sail end - moon halo - sun halo.
Medium layer: low density - dense - very dense - low clouds on the horizon.

18 Wind: Estimated direction.

Additional detailed information with photo attached if possible

19. - Sketch and plan of the place of observation, Mention the orientation of the sketch, the direction of the observation and the landmarks to find the location.

20. - Sketch of the sky and landscape in front of the observation, tracing the apparent shape of the trajectory, including if possible landmarks taken either in the landscape or in the sky (sun, moon, stars, constellations)

21. - Behavior of the object when you moved.

22. - Sketch as precise as possible of the object itself, indicate the colored areas if necessary.

A very bright segment standing out against the blue green of the pure sky.

[?] 30°

[?] Move 2° relative to 1 landmark of the "bus"

Very suddenly punctual on the spot

Bright spot duration 3" and a bit more

23.- Other information deemed useful:

24.- Other observers having seen the same phenomenon:

Name: []
Addresses: Société nationale de [Nord?]

25.- Observations (1)

Probably plane lighted from below

[] Assumed of 30 m of span:

Estimate for 20 ° angular height

D = 30,000 mm * 1 m / 3 mm = 10 Km

H = 3,400 m.

ADVICE FOR THE OBSERVATION OF M.O.C. [Mystérieux Objet Céleste, i.e. Mysterious Sky Object]

1°/ - If possible, have other witnesses check what you see.

2°/ - Note in your memory (or, if you can, in writing) the maximum details, for a precise report.

3°/ - If you are on the ground, try to position yourself so that you can do exactly what you were doing when you first saw the object, but examine the effect of your movements on the apparent position of the object. If you are flying, do all the maneuvers necessary for a good observation of the craft and photograph it if possible. In all cases, on the ground or in flight, beware of reflections and refraction of luminous objects: observe, if possible, only through air.

4°/ - Estimate the dimensions, height and displacement of the machine only in angular values (any other estimate is likely to be impossible or erroneous). If there is no instrument, use your hand or a specific object held at arm's length.

5°/ - If you cannot check your watch, you will have a proper estimate of the time in seconds counting: and one, and two, and three .. etc ...

6°/ - Record at the best the weather conditions or have them established by your local weather station using the exact hour.

7°/ - Fill in the observation report as soon as possible.

Base Nr: 1257

Official investigation done

Place of observation: Mailly le Camp

Department : Aube (10)

Lat. 48.666 Long. +4.216

Date of observation: octobre 1954

Time: 05:38 p.m.

Type of observation: Visual: Distant

Number of witnesses: undetermined number

Towards the end of the month, several people among them a colonel, and an engineer specialized in aeronotics [sic], left the camp of Mailly where they had been testing apparatus, when suddenly slightly in the north compared to the setting sun which had just disappeared behind the horizon, an object evolving with an angular height ranging between 20 and 45° appeared. It resembled a small segment of straightline, advancing with a slope of 30° on the vertical. The object advanced in this position during 25 to 30 seconds, then it rocked around its centre of gravity and reduced to a point which very quickly disappeared.

Number of object: 1

Type of object : Cigar

Color not defined

No indication of luminosity

No weather indication

Physical effects: No

Effects on the witness: No

Presence of entities: No

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