The index page for the 1954 French flap section of this website is here.
Reference for this case: Sep-Oct-54-Leers.
Please cite this reference in any correspondence with me regarding this case.
The ufologist Jean-Pierre D'Hondt, from the ufology group GERU, received a letter on January 17, 1999, signed by Mr. Bernard Schneider, who reported that one evening in September or October 1954, while he was at the time a Customs officer, he was on duty in a guard post right on the border of Leers and Toufflers, when, around 6:30 or 7:00 p.m., while everything was calm, with no wind or any kind of noise, he suddenly saw an intense glow.
He thought that a car had taken this small road, so he went out abruptly to see what it was, and then observed in the already fallen night, an object coming toward him, which looked like a large electric light bulb swaying as it moved, somewhat as if it had been attached to a parachute.
Observing it closely, he estimated it to be at an approximate height of 80 to 100 meters. It followed a Roubaix-Néchin line, without making any noise in the very calm evening, and then it departed, still swaying and maintaining the same altitude.
He was still wondering what it could be and thinks he remembers that there was a small note about it in a local newspaper...
[Ref. jdt1:] JEAN-PIERRE D'HONDT:
Ufologist Jean-Pierre D'Hondt of GERU received the following letter on January 17, 1999:
I am telling you what I saw one evening of September or October 1954. Being at the time employee of the Customs, I was in guard duty in a sentinel's shack, just at the limit between Leers and Toufflers. I thus ensured the guard of this shelter when, at approximately 06:30 p.m. or 07:00 p.m. I do not know exactly anymore, whereas all was quiet, without wind, nor noise of any kind, I suddenly saw an intense gleam. Thinking that a car had taken this small road, I hurriedly came out in order to see what it was.
I then observed, in the night already fallen, an object which came towards me. It resembled a little a large electric bulb which advanced while swinging, as if it had been attached to a parachute. I well observed this phenomenon which I located at an approximate height of 80 to 100 meters. This machine followed a path Roubaix-Néchin (B), I repeat it, without any noise in this very quiet evening and it left, always swinging and keeping same altitude.
54 years later, I still wonder what it was. I believe to remember that there was a small information in a local newspaper on this matter...
That is my testimony and I swear to you on my honor that what I explain above is very real and is still well anchored in my memory at nearly 73 years of age.
Hoping that this interests you, I send you my best regards.
Mister Bernard Schneider, honorary Customs Officer.
[Ref. lcn1:] LUC CHASTAN:
Luc Chastan indicates that in the Nord in Leers in September 1954 at 18:45 hours "the witness is in faction in a customs hut between Leers and Toufflers when he observes an intense light. Thinking of a car, the witness leaves his shelter and then observes an object coming towards him resembling a large electric bulb".
The source is said to be"Lumières dans la Nuit issue 376".
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Possible Chinese lantern.
See Beuvry-lès-Béthunes.
(These keywords are only to help queries and are not implying anything.)
Leers, Nord, Bernard Schneider, customs, night, light, luminous, gleam, oscillation, silent
[----] indicates sources that are not yet available to me.
| Version: | Created/Changed by: | Date: | Change Description: |
|---|---|---|---|
| 0.1 | Patrick Gross | August 16, 2007 | First published, [jdt1], [lcn1]. |
| 1.0 | Patrick Gross | December 21, 2009 | Conversion from HTML to XHTML Strict. First formal version. |
| 1.1 | Patrick Gross | October 4, 2025 | Addition of the Summary. |
