ALSACAT-2010-03-04-ROSHEIM-1
A woman who observed lights at night was troubled enough to contact a UFO website, where she was advised to go file a statement with the Gendarmerie, which she did on March 13, 2010.
In her anonymized statement made available by GEIPAN, the CNES service in charge of questions relating to reports of unidentified aerospace phenomena, we learn that on Thursday March 4, 2010, around 8:10 p.m., she was traveling in her vehicle on the A352 motorway going in the direction of Molsheim towards Strasbourg. At the height of Duppingheim, at the level of construction works, precisely after passing the first bridge under construction, she was behind a truck, and saw above it, in the sky, two lights.
They were round in shape, one orange-yellow and the second white. She thought of lights from parties or public lighting. She thinks these lights weren't moving, or they were moving in the same direction as her and at the same speed as her, who was traveling at an average of 100 km/h.
She estimates that these lights were larger in size than the North Star.
The lights were quite low at the horizon, and the orange light was higher than the white one, and to its right. Seen from a distance, the distance between them was, in her opinion, twice their size.
The lights were in front of clouds, which is what puzzled her. She observed them until the exit of the "Vigie", then did not see them again because of the dwellings which hid the view.
She adds that that same evening and during the same journey, in addition to these two lights, she saw two others, identical, which were on her left. She had observed these lights a little before the fixed radar installed under the bridge between Entzheim and Geispolsheim, over a distance of about 500 meters, shortly after the ascent, following the passage of the bridge with the traffic radar. These two lights had exactly the same characteristics as the other two, in terms of shape, size, color and positioning. However, she thinks they were further away, in her opinion between the village of Entzheim and the highway.
Because the sighting troubled her, she had searched the internet for other possible witnesses, but found none. Questioned by the gendarmes, she adds that she had not observed anything similar before, that she does not know what these lights could correspond to but is sure that they were neither planes nor stars.
The local GEIPAN correspondent, an amateur ufologist playing the role of IPN ("First Level Intervenor"), contacted the lady by telephone, noting that she seems sensible, that she does not think she saw an alien craft. He considers it likely that she saw lights related to the festivals and illuminations that often take place in Germany in the villages or castles of the Black Forest, and that the second observation could be that of aircraft landing lights.
| Date: | March 4, 2010 |
|---|---|
| Time: | ~08:10 p.m. |
| Duration: | ~5 minutes. |
| First known report date: | March 13, 2010 |
| Reporting delay: | Hours, 6 days. |
| Department: | Bas-Rhin |
|---|---|
| City: | - |
| Place: | Driving on the highway A352 from about Dupingheim to about Strasbourg, UFO in the sky. |
| Latitude: | 48.523 |
| Longitude: | 7.598 |
| Uncertainty radius: | 0 m |
| Number of alleged witnesses: | 1 |
|---|---|
| Number of known witnesses: | 1 |
| Number of named witnesses: | 1 |
| Witness(es) ages: | 36 |
| Witness(es) types: | Female psychologist aid. |
| Reporting channel: | To a UFO website, then to the Gendarmerie. |
|---|---|
| Type of location: | Driving on morotway, UFO in the sky. |
| Visibility conditions: | Night. |
| UFO observed: | Yes |
| UFO arrival observed: | No. |
| UFO departure observed: | No. |
| Entities: | No. |
| Photographs: | No. |
| Sketch(s) by witness(es): | No. |
| Sketch(es) approved by witness(es): | No. |
| Witness(es) feelings: | Puzzled. |
| Witnesses interpretation: | Not stars, not planes. |
| Hynek: | NL |
|---|---|
| ALSACAT: | Probable party lights and / or planes. |
[Ref. gei1:] GROUPE D'ETUDES ET D'INFORMATIONS SUR LES PHENOMENES AEROSPATIAUX NON IDENTIFIES (G.E.I.P.A.N.):
| ROSHEIM (67) 03/04/2010 | |
| Observed on: | 03/04/2010 |
| Region: | Alsace |
| Department: | Rhin (Bas) |
| Class: | B |
| Summary: | Probable observation of lights related to parties in Germany. |
| Description: | On March 4, 2010, around 08:30 p.m. a motorist sees "suspicious" lights in the sky that she cannot explain to herself. She will see them several times later, always in the same place. It is likely that these lights are spotlights that illuminate the many castles located on the heights of mountains in the eastern Black Forest on the other side of the Franco-German border. The period of observation is a festive period in France but also in Germany where very colorful festivals (carnival festivals) are held at this time of the year (Kappensitzung). The Germans are very fond of these feasts. |
| Report: | None. |
| Details of the testimony | |
| Witness | |
| Date of the observation | 03/04/2010 |
| Document number | |
| Age | Adult (more than 18) |
| Profession | Employees, Workers |
| Sex | Female |
| Reaction | |
| Credibility | |
| Conditions | |
| Environment | Departmental paths, roads |
| Weather conditions | Not-specified |
| Hour of the observation | Numbered: 8 p.m. - 10 p.m. |
| Reference frame | Sky or clouds |
| Distance between phenomenon and witness | Other (other terms used, comparisons, etc. |
| Start of the observation | Start of observation by witness |
| End of the observation | End of observation by phenomenon |
| Localization | |
| Angle of the site | Low on the horizon |
| Direction of observation | Not-specified |
| Heading | Not-specified |
| Trajectory | Not-specified |
| Nature of the observation | Descriptive terms (lights, etc) |
| Characteristic of the observation | Multiple |
| Global shape | Round, circular, ball |
| Color | Orange, fire;White (light-colored) |
| Apparent size | Stars, planets |
| Apparent speed | Null |
| Noise | Not-specified |
| Effect on the environment | Not-specified |
| Number | 2 |
|
NATIONAL GENDARMERIE
Company [-]
Unit [-]
PRELIMINARY INVESTIGATION
SUMMARY MINUTES
Document number 01
Sheet 1/1
Saturday, March 13, 2010 at 15 hours 10 minutes.
We, the undersigned Gendarme [-], Police Officer.
Under the control of Major [-], Judicial Police Officer.
Considering Articles 20,21-1 and 75 to 78 of the Code of Criminal Procedure
Finding us at the office of our unit [-] report the following operations:
PREAMBLE
On Saturday, March 13, two thousand and ten, at four o'clock p.m., appears at the office of our unit, Madam [-] who resides [-]. She wants to bring her testimony following the observation of "suspicious" lights in the sky.
STATEMENT OF FACTS
On 03/04/2010, around 8:10 p.m., while she is traveling on the motorway between MOLSHEIM and STRASBOURG, she observes, at first, two lights (yellow-orange and white) between DUPPINGHEIM and the "Vigie". In a second time, she makes the same observation between ENTZHEIM and GEISPOLSHEIM.
INVESTIGATION
She recounts the facts she witnessed. For her, it is neither planes nor stars.
(See Exhibit # 01)
CLOSURE
Accordingly, we forward this procedure, in the form of information, to the various addressees mentioned below.
On that minutes are made and closed [-] on 03/12/2010.
The Judicial Police Officer:
[Signature]
TO
(1) - The Prosecutor of the Republic
(1) - The Prefect of the Department
(2) - Directorate General of the National Gendarmerie - Office Defense Operation - Operations Branch - Office Intelligence Situation
(1) - The Commander of the North Air Gendarmerie Group
(1) - Archives
Closing date 12.03.2010
|
NATIONAL GENDARMERIE
Company [-]
Unit [-]
PRELIMINARY INVESTIGATION
MINUTES OF WITNESS HEARING
Unit Code 03470
PV 00243
Year 2010
Justice file Nr
Document number 02
Sheet 1/1
Saturday, March 13, 2010 at 14 hours 20 minutes
We, the undersigned Gendarme [-] Judicial Police Officer
Under the control of: Major [-] Judicial Porice Officer
Considering Articles 20. 21-1 and 75 to 78 of the Code of Criminal Procedure
Being at the office of our unit we report the following:
Sex F
Name [-]
First name [-]
Family status [-]
Date of birth 07/21/1974
City Birth and Postal Code [-]
Address [-]
Validity Civil Status
Profession Psychological medical help
Nationality (If foreigner).
We hear the person named above who declares to us:
"I come to your services to bring you my testimony concerning facts that I witnessed.
On Thursday, March 4, around 8:10 pm, I drove aboard my [-] branded vehicle on the A 352 motorway in the MOLSHEIM direction towards STRASBOURG. At the level of the municipality of DUPPIGHEIM, at the level of works and more precisely after passing the first bridge under construction, I witnessed the following facts. I drove behind a truck and above it, in the sky, I saw two lights. It was round shaped light. One was yellow-orange and the other white. I was thinking of lights coming from parties or public lighting. I do not think these lights were moving or they were moving in the same direction as me. I think these lights were bigger than the polar star. These lights were in front of clouds, that's why they hit me. I could observe these lights until the exit of the "Vigie". I did not see them because of the houses that hid the view. For me, these lights were quite low on the horizon. The lights were not in line. The orange light was at the top and the other at the bottom to the left. From a distance, the distance between them represents, in my opinion, double their size. I drove an average of 100 kilometers / hour. For me, these lights were moving, in my opinion, at the same speed as me.
I would also like to point out to you that, on the same evening and during the same trip, in addition to these two lights, I also observed two others, identical. They were, compared to my direction of movement, on my left. I started to observe them a little before the fixed radar, installed under the bridge between ENTZHEIM and GEISPOLSHEIM. I observed them over a distance of about 500 meters, shortly after the climb, following the crossing of the bridge with the radar. These two lights had exactly the same characteristics as the other two, on their shape, size, color and positioning. I would simply say that they were further, in my opinion, between the ENTZHEJM town and the highway. I would like to tell you that I was going to an associative meeting on STRASBOURG. I did not take any pictures.
This observation has somewhat worked on me. I began researching the internet to find other possible witnesses of these facts. I went to the [-] website and I recounted my observation. An interlocutor asked me to go give a statement to the gendarmerie. In carrying out my research, I am the only person to have witnessed these facts on 03/042010. I do not know the identity of the person who advised me to come see you.
Question: Have you ever witnessed similar facts?
Answer: No, not of that kind, no.
Question: What do you think these lights could be?
Answer: No, I can not say it. I can only say that it is neither an airplane nor a star.
At [-], March 13, 2010 at 02:55 p.m., having read the information of the civil status and statement above, I persists and have nothing to change, add or remove.
The person heard
[Signature]
The Judicial Police Officer
[Signature]
Recalling the facts: Madam [-] was at about 8.30 p.m. on the A352 motorway, (mark 1 on the picture in Att), and was driving in her car towards Strasbourg (mark 2). She then saw two lights, one white, the other yellow / orange for a long time since she has traveled the distance between the two marks always seeing these lights. (Rep 3 represents the direction of observation with respect to rep 1 and 2).
I had several phone contacts with Madam [-] and I met this lady on August 27, 2010 at her home.
Already on the phone she told me her own findings regarding these lights since she had seen them several times in the same place and taking more care in observing. These lights seemed to be moving, but it is likely that this came from the fact that the witness herself was moving with her vehicle.
The Entzheim airport (Att 1) being very close to the place of her observation we had initially thought that it was about planes in landing approach. But after thinking about it it is more than likely that these lights are spotlights that illuminate the many castles located on the heights of the mountains located in the East, in the Black Forest on the other side of the Franco-German border.
The period of observation is a festive period in France but also in Germany where colorful festivals are held at this time of the year. (Carnival, Kappensitzung). The Germans are very fond of these feasts and give in to exuberance.
The lady who appeared to me to be od sound mind and has a solid formation, is very Cartesian and did not get excited about what she observed. Her concern was mainly to understand what she had seen and she sought answers herself. Like many witnesses, she said, with a small smile, to have wished that what she had observed was of exotic origin, but quickly changes her mind by telling that what she saw has nothing to do with an extraterrestrial craft. It is obvious to her.
On Google Earth looking in the direction of her observation we find the cities of Offenburg, Oberkirch and Oppenau, Germany. Between these cities we have the mountain and a multitude of picturesque places and villages on which are implanted some medieval castles, privileged places for the feasts at this time of the year. (Att 2)
This observation is to be classified as UAP B, because most probably identified. Even if we are not sure, it can only be festive lights or the lighting of a monument. The aircraft landing lights explain the second set of lights observed by the witness, it is an approach area for planes going to Entzheim airport.
Investigation conducted by Christian COMTESSE
[Ref. spa1:] "SPICA" UFOLOGY ASSOCIATION:
| City | Date and hour of observation | General shape Identification |
General color Hypothesis |
Conclusion |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| ROSHEIM | Thursday 4 March 2010 at 08:30 p.m. | Unusual luminosity Unidentified |
information not communicated None |
Unsolved -lack of info |
|
|
The observation likely starts at the first bridge of the two bridges at Duppingheim, so at the bridge marked "Pont 1" on the above map.
The two lights are above a truck that drives in front of her, so they are above the runways of the Strasbourg-Entzheim airport at this time.
But the woman continues to observe them until the exit of the highway of "La Vigie"; this point is almost 8 kilometers east of Pont 1. She indicates that the lights did not seem to be moving, suggesting lights that remain in front of her during these 8 kilometers. This can hardly be Chinese lanterns, it suggests distant lights like those indicated by the IPN, perhaps lights from the many festivities in the Black Forest, indeed. Note that the duration of observation is of about 5 minutes, after that, she said, the lights are hidden from view by the obstacles.
It is not obvious in the report that the second observation takes place during the first one, but it becomes obvious on the map. The second observation is located at "Pont 3", the road bridge between Geispolsheim and Entzheim. There, she indicates that she saw these two other lights on her left, and the airport is on her left. These two other lights may well be those of planes approaching or taking off from there. She only observed them over 500 meters of her travel at a speed given as 100 km / h on average; this gives us an observation duration in the order of 15 to 25 seconds.
The lack of information leaves room for uncertainty. The fact that both observations are said to be identical lights would suggest that both were planes. The lady excludes planes, but does not indicate the reason. For the first observation, she notes that the distance between the two lights is twice their size, which is similar to that of a star, it seems compatible with lights on the same object, an airliner for example.
It would have been necessary to know the distance which separated her car from the truck at the beginning of observation. It is only if the truck is far enough from her that it would not have hidden lights that would have been on the ground in the Black Forest in Germany, whose first slopes are still more than 30 kilometers away of her at this time.
In the same order of ideas, I am not sure that the Black Forest can be seen from the A352 at the "Pont 1". This day view from the A352 just after the "Pont 1" does not show the Black Forest. It is possible that aerial lights in this direction could be seen, but lights on the ground could only be seen intermittently, when obstacles such as trees visible here allow.
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However, just after the "Pont 2" - which is perhaps after all the starting point of the observation - the Black Forest becomes easily visible:
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This last image also illustrates the importance of the distance, that remained unknown, between the witness and the truck that preceded her; it is understandable that if the lights were exactly above the truck, the truck must be really distant so that ground lights in the Black Forest are not hidden by the truck.
All along the route between "Pont 2" and "La Vigie", the Black Forest is generally visible; but it is often hidden more or less partially by trees or other obstacles. In addition, the highway is not a straight line, it is winding. It would have been necessary to know if the two lights were in a fixed direction of observation in the sky all along, or not, and to know if the lights were really seen all along, or occasionally masked. If they had been under the eyes of the lady all along, they would probably have been higher than the Black Forest ground.
Below, a view from another point of the A352 on the witness's trip; there, the Black Forest is largely hidden by the trees.
|
Probable party lights and / or planes
* = 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 | July 26, 2018 | Creation, [gei1], [spa1]. |
| 1.0 | Patrick Gross | July 26, 2018 | First published. |
