ALSACAT-1973-09-03-SEWEN-1
In his 2012 book on the history of UFO sightings in Alsace, Christian Valentin recounted a sighting of a retired couple from Mulhouse, who went for a picnic in the Doller Valley on September 3, 1973.
Around 4 pm they had stopped near Sewen and saw an object about ten times the size of Venus, in the north. It was surrounded by small bright spots. The main object disappeared northwards moments later, while the bright spots formed a circle and then an isosceles triangle pointing upwards.
The observation seemed to have lasted more than a quarter of an hour.
Christian Valentin indicates that this comes from an investigation by the GREI ufology group of Mulhouse, to whom the witness had made this sketch:
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The notes on the sketch indicate that it was an absolutely cloudless sky, with almost no wind on the ground level, and the sketch shows three phases of observation: the first, the second 5 minutes later, and the third 8 or 10 minutes later.
The case was previously mentioned by ufologist Charles Garreau in his 1974 book:
The "satellites were the size of the planet Venus. The 'Mothership' was 5-6 times larger. The phenomenon gradually faded in the sky, misty in altitude."
| Date: | September 3, 1973 |
|---|---|
| Time: | ~04:00 p.m. |
| Duration: | 8 to 15 minutes. |
| First known report date: | 1974 |
| Reporting delay: | Days, 1 year. |
| Department: | Haut-Rhin |
|---|---|
| City: | Sewen |
| Place: | Near Sewen, UFO in the sky. |
| Latitude: | 47.806 |
| Longitude: | 6.906 |
| Uncertainty radius: | 4 km |
| Number of alleged witnesses: | 2 |
|---|---|
| Number of known witnesses: | 1 or 2 |
| Number of named witnesses: | ? |
| Witness(es) ages: | Aged. |
| Witness(es) types: | Retired couple from Mulhouse. |
| Reporting channel: | Local ufology group GREI. |
|---|---|
| Type of location: | Picnic spot in the Vosges, UFO in the sky. |
| Visibility conditions: | Day, cloudless sky. |
| UFO observed: | Yes |
| UFO arrival observed: | ? |
| UFO departure observed: | Yes |
| Entities: | No |
| Photographs: | No. |
| Sketch(s) by witness(es): | No. |
| Sketch(es) approved by witness(es): | No. |
| Witness(es) feelings: | ? |
| Witnesses interpretation: | ? |
| Hynek: | DD |
|---|---|
| ALSACAT: | Possible military flares, or fireworks. |
[Ref. cgu1:] CHARLES GARREAU:
- On September 3 also, at about 04:30 p.m. in Mulhouse, a bright object is seen, surrounded by several "satellites". The main object disappears to the north, while the satellites form a circle, then ten minutes later, form an isosceles triangle. A spatial geometry as unusual as it is unexpected. These satellites were the size of the planet Venus. The "Mothership" was 5-6 times larger. The phenomenon gradually faded in the sky, misty in altitude.
[Ref. goe1:] GODELIEVE VAN OVERMEIRE:
1973, September 3
France, Mulhouse
Around 4:30 p.m. one sees a luminous object surrounded by several satellites. The main object disappears to the north, while the satellites form a circle, then ten minutes later arrange themselves in an isosceles triangle. These satellites were the size of the planet Venus, the mothership was 5-6 times larger. The phenomenon gradually faded in the hazy sky at an altitude. (Charles GARREAU: "Alerte dans le ciel: le dossier des enlèvements" Alain Lefeuvre pub. 1981, p.249, 250)
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[Ref. lcn1:] LUC CHASTAN - "BASE OVNI FRANCE":
General features
| Num Base: | 860 |
| Département: | Haut Rhin (68) |
| Place of observation: | Mulhouse |
| Latitude: | 47.75 |
| Longitude: | +7.333 |
| Date of observation: | 03 September 1973 |
| Hour: | 16:30 hours |
| Duration (HH:MM:SS): | 00:10:00 |
| Weather: | No weather indication |
| Type of observation: | Visual: Distant |
| Nbr of witness(es): | undetermined number |
| Official investigation: | No |
Features of the object
| Nbr of object: | undetermined number |
| Type of object: | cigar and discs |
| Size: | Not specified |
| Color: | not defined |
| Luminosity: | Brilliant |
| Visual characteristics: | No indication |
| Speed: | not defined |
| Movement/Displacement: | Various maneuvers |
| Object on the ground: | No |
| Instantaneous disappearance: | No |
Observation
Observation of a luminous object surrounded by several satellites. The main object disappears to the North, while the others place themselves in a circle, then ten minutes later put themselves in an isoceles triangle. The satellites were the size of Venus while the main object was 5 to 6 times larger. The phenomenon progressively dimmed in the foggy sky in altitude.
Sources
Soucoupes volantes, 25 ans d'enquêtes by Garreau Charles ** Mame
[Ref. soi1:] "SPACE OVNI" WEBSITE:
- In Mulhouse, September 3, 1973
[Ref. tae1:] "LA TAVERNE DE L'ETRANGE" WEBSITE:
On September 3, [1973] at 04 : 30 p.m. in Mulhouse, several UFO in a circle, then a mothership comes 6 times bigger and absorbs the samller ones.
[Ref. spa1:] UFOLOGY GROUP "SPICA":
| City | Date and hour of observation | General shape Identification |
General color Hypothesis |
Conclusion |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| MULHOUSE | Monday 3 September 1973 at 04:30 p.m. | information not communicated Unidentified |
information not communicated None |
Unsolved -lack of info |
[Ref. cvn2:] CHRISTIAN VALENTIN:
Former journalist Christian Valentin published in 2012 a very interesting book telling the story of UFO sightings, flying saucers sightings, in Alsace, from the beginning to 1980.
In this book, he reports that there was a testimony by a retired couple from Mulhouse, who went picnicking in the valley of the Doller on September 3, 1973.
At 4 a.m. they stopped at the level of Sewen and saw an object about ten times the size of Venus in the north. It was surrounded by tiny points of light. The main object disappeared northward moments later, while bright spots formed a circle and an isosceles triangle pointing upwards. All the observation seemed to have lasted more than a quarter of an hour.
Christian Valentin says this comes from an investigation by the GREI of Mulhouse, the witness having provided this sketch:
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So this was about lights, moving, with an object or bigger light among them.
Maybe a military drill involving a helicopter and flares? Maybe some improvised firework? Nothing seems sure to me...
Possible military flares, or fireworks.
* = Source is available to me.
? = Source I am told about but could not get so far. Help needed.
| Main author: | Patrick Gross |
|---|---|
| Contributors: | None |
| Reviewers: | None |
| Editeur: | Patrick Gross |
| Version: | Create/changed by: | Date: | Description: |
|---|---|---|---|
| 0.1 | Patrick Gross | September 18, 2015 | Creation, [cgu1], [lcn1], [cvn2]. |
| 1.0 | Patrick Gross | September 18, 2015 | First published. |
| 1.1 | Patrick Gross | February 14, 2018 | Additions [soi1], [tae1], [spa1]. |
| 1.2 | Patrick Gross | January 17, 2023 | Addition [goe1]. |
