The index page for the 1954 French flap section of this website is here.
Reference for this case: 8-aug-54-Garnat-sur-Engièvre.
Please cite this reference in any correspondence with me regarding this case.
In his book "Alerte dans le Ciel", the journalist, ufologist and author Charles Garreau reported that in Garnat-sur-Engièvre in the Allier, on August 8, 1954, a colonel driving by car from Dijon saw almost ahead in the north-west of the sky a shiny disc with a metallic luster which moved roughly following the Loire Valley.
He was very intrigued and stopped his vehicle to better observe.
The clearly lenticular object evolved at an angle of about 35° above the horizon, at about the cirrus clouds altitude of 5000 to 6000 meters. It was moving at a speed he estimated to be 600 to 800 kph while appearing to oscillate and rotate and at the same time showing a lateral gyration.
The object suddenly came to a standstill and remained stationary for a few seconds, then after a "lightning bolt fat" start, it "disappeared" towards the West. Its apparent diameter was 2 centimeters at arm's length.
Garreau did not indicate any source, and I found no additional information to date about this; which might have been a sighting of the August 8, 1954, meteor.
[Ref. cgu1:] CHARLES GARREAU:
The author indicates that in Garnat sur Engièvre in the Allier, on August 8, 1954, a colonel was driving by car, coming from Dijon and saw almost opposite him in the north-western sector of the sky, a disc shining of a metallic flare which moved while following roughly the Loire Valley.
He was strongly intrigued and stopped his vehicle for better observing.
The object evolved under an angle of approximately 35° above the horizon, at approximately the altitude of the cirri, or 5000 to 6000 meters. It was of definitely lenticular shape and moved at a speed that he estimated to be 600 to 800 km/h while seeming to oscillate and turn on itself and while describing at the same time like a side gyration.
The object was suddenly immobilized and remained stationary a few seconds, then after a "striking" starting, it "disappeared" in direction of the West. Its apparent diameter was 2 centimeters at arm's length.
[Ref. lcn1:] "BASE OVNI FRANCE" WEBSITE:
Base Nr: 1274
No known official investigation
Place of observation: Garnat sur Engièvre
Department: Allier (03) Lat. 46.633 Long. +3.65
Date of observation: 08 August 1954
Time: Time unknown
Type of observation:
Visual: Distant
Number of witnesses: 1
A colonel being in a car, coming from Dijon sees almost facing him in the north-western sector of the sky a brilliant disc which moved while roughly following the Loire Valley. Very intrigued he stops his vehicle for better observing it. The object evolved under an angle of approximately 35° above the horizon. It was about with the altitude than the cirrhus [sic] clouds i.e. 5 to 6000 meters. Its shape was definitely lenticular. It moved at an estimated speed of 6 to 800 km/h. It seemed to oscillate and rotate while performing at the same time like a side gyration. Suddenly the object immobilized and remained stationary a few seconds. Then after an amazing start it disappeared in direction of the West. His apparent diameter was 2 cm at arm's length. It had a metallic glare.
Number of objet: 1
Type of object: Disc
Main color: Metallic (silver,)
Observed luminosity: Shiny
Clouded sky high altitude
Physical effects: No
Effects on the witness: No
Presence of entities: No
Sources: by **
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Possibly the slightly distorted report of a meteor.
There were several observations that same day, spread over the Vosges, Somme and Allier departments. Since no time is indicated for this report, it is not possible to clearly associate it with others.
It is not totally unusual for a meter going towards a witness to give the impression of a brief stop. This can also explain why a trail would not have been distinguished.
(These keywords are only to help queries and are not implying anything.)
Garnat-on-Engièvre, Allier, colonel, car, road, disc, shining, high, lenticular, fast, oscillations, rotation, motionless, metallic, silver
[----] indicates sources that are not yet available to me.
| Version: | Created/Changed by: | Date: | Change Description: |
|---|---|---|---|
| 0.1 | Patrick Gross | August 1, 2007 | First published. |
| 1.0 | Patrick Gross | January 6, 2010 | Conversion from HTML to XHTML Strict. First formal version. |
| 1.1 | Patrick Gross | January 6, 2010 | Addition of the Summary. Explanations changed, were "Not looked for yet. Eventually distorted report of meteor." |
