The index page for the 1954 French flap section of this website is here.
Reference for this case: 3-Nov-54-Saint-Venant.
Please cite this reference in any correspondence with me regarding this case.
The local newspaper Le Journal de Lillers, from Lillers, Pas-de-Calais, reported on page 2 on November 5, 1954 under the title "Nos scoucoupes!", that on November 3, 1954, at about 01:30 p.m., one could see many people with their heads raised, arms outstretched, pointing to an area of the sky, towards the zenith, where a thin whitish filament appeared, which quickly got lost "in the milky mist of this beautiful autumn day."
The emitting source of this small plume seemed to be animated by a great speed and drew small circles whose center was appreciably stationary.
It lasted a few tens of minutes, and then went from two big bright spots, heading towards the South East, "as planes flying very high often appear!"
On that same November 5, 1954, another local newspaper, L'Echo de la Lys, reported the sighting as having taken place on November 3, 1954 "shortly before 11 a.m.". The newspaper said that several people living in the street of Paris, Mr. André Bocquet, butcher bein the first, had seen in the sky a white ball illuminated "having clearly the looks and the characteristics of a flying saucer."
In a few moments a crowd had gathered to observe the luminous phenomenon, "which suddenly disappeared, evaporated, heading north."
[Ref. jdl1:] "LE JOURNAL DE LILLERS" NEWSPAPER:
|
- Our saucers! - Tuesday, around 1:30 p.m., you could see many people with their heads raised, their arms outstretched, indicating an area of the sky.
Towards the zenith, appeared a thin whitish filament, which was immediately lost in the milky mist of this beautiful autumn day. The source of this small plume seemed to be moving at high speed and drawing small circles whose center was noticeably stationary.
This demonstration lasted a few tens of minutes and was followed by the passage of two large bright spots, heading towards the South East, like planes flying very high often look!
[Ref. jdl2:] NEWSPAPER "LE JOURNAL DE LILLERS":
|
[...]
Finally, they were seen in our region, and not far from us! Indeed "saucers" were seen in the sky of St-Venant; our readers will be able to read the report that we publish in our regional column, in the St-Venant section, while waiting to see some in Lillers...
[Ref. les1:] NEWSPAPER "L'ECHO DE LA LYS":
|
ONE WAS SEEN IN SAINT-VENANT. -- Yes, undoubtedly, several people living on rue de Paris - Mr. André Bocquet, butcher, the very first - were able to see in the sky, on Tuesday a little before 11 a.m. an illuminated white ball clearly having the looks and characteristics of a flying saucer.
In a few moments a crowd formed to observe the luminous phenomenon, which suddenly disappeared, evaporated, heading north.
As many people have seen the "illuminated white ball" it can be certified that this is not an individual case of hallucination. And according to data provided by witnesses, the saucer seems to meet the definition given by Alton's physicist.
Note that the appearance of saucers is rare in daylight and generally occurs at night.
|
Negative case, plane contrail.
Note that the newspaper L'Echo de la Lys is in their other articles on the "flying saucers" in 1954, totally skeptical, and even bantering, on this topic.
(These keywords are only to help queries and are not implying anything.)
Saint-Venant, Pas-de-Calais, multiple, thin, whitish, filament, planes, André Bocquet, butcher, ball, white, luminous
[----] indicates sources that are not yet available to me.
| Version: | Created/Changed by: | Date: | Change Description: |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1.0 | Patrick Gross | May 17, 2020 | First published. |
| 1.1 | Patrick Gross | June 4, 2020 | Addition [les1]. In the Summary, addition of the paragraph "On that same November 5, 1954, another local newspaper" and the next paragraph. |
| 1.2 | Patrick Gross | October 28, 2020 | Addition [jdl2]. |
