In connection with an observation of 1954 in Italy, sciece fiction writer and ufologist Jimmy Guieu told of another sighting 2 years earlier in mid-October 1952 in France.
Guieu indicates that the investigation was carried out with a rigorous care by Jean Terrasson interviewing the eyewitness Felix Fize, a mason, the investigation report being sent to Guieu's ufology groupe C.I.E.O., and he indicates that he reports it wholy because of its exceptional importance.
Mr. Fize was worked on a construction site close to the airfield of Nimes-Courbessac when around 7 p.m. he suddenly saw a kind of whitish cloud that moved quickly, coming from South-west from the direction of Marseilles.
The apparatus coming from the South-west passed above the construction site, then moved towards the North-East in the direction of Le Vigan, having initially the aspect of a quickly moving "cloud", seen upfront, emitting a kind of vapor.
Mr. Fize as well as his comrades then realized when this "cloud" showed its profile while coming at their level, that it was actually an apparatus of cylindro-conical aspect, metallic, silver-yellow in color, with a seemingly rounded nose. It was approximately 30 meters long, 6 meters in diameter and evolved at an altitude of 600 to 800 meters maximum. Its back disappeared in a kind of cloudy mist.
There was on this "cylinder" three enormous port-holes or kinds of very large "bays" highly lit by a source of inner light, very white and pure, similar to a fluorescence.
Inside, five or six living beings which moved were perfectly visible to the half-length of their bodies. They were wearing kaki flight-suits, large glasses and a helmet.
The craft flew almost silently, but Mr. Fize however perceived a kind of rustling sound that he compared to the noise produced by a powerful very quiet American car.
While moving away, the machine took again an aspect of "cloud", the back also producing a vaporous boiling.
Jean Terrasson indicates that one would not have detailed anything, except when it was almost at the vertical, if the machine had been constantly in frontal position compared to the observers. He notes that arrived near the city, that is to say within one kilometer of the construction site, the machine accelerated suddenly at a vertiginous speed.
He notes that it was reported above Marseilles towards 06:50 p.m., passed above Nimes-Courbessac around 07:00 p.m. and was seen above the area of Le Vigan towards 07:10 p.m., that is to say a total distance of approximately 250 kilometers in 20 minutes, giving an average speed of 500 km/h.
The trajectory had been absolutely rectilinear and neither its altitude nor its direction had varied throughout all the observation which was approximately of 15 seconds.
Guieu indicates that an illustration was made by Jean Terrasson according to the information provided by the eyewitnesses and in particular by Felix Fize.
Neither Terrasson nor Guieu seemed to have realized that it is unbelievable that helmets and goggles are seen in an object crossing the sky in 10-15 at an altitude of 600 to 800 meters.
The report was later very distorded by Jacques Vallée who dated it of 1954 and claimed the UFO had landed.
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[Ref. jg1:] JIMMY GUIEU:
In connection with an observation of 1954 in Italy, the author talks about another sighting 2 years earlier in mid-October 1952 in France.
Guieu indicates that the investigation was carried out with a rigorous care by Jean Terrasson interviewing the eyewitness Felix Fize, a mason, the investigation report being sent to Guieu's ufology groupe C.I.E.O., and he indicates that he reports it wholy because of its exceptional importance.
Mr. Fize was worked on a construction site close to the airfield of Nimes-Courbessac when around 7 p.m. he suddenly saw a kind of whitish cloud that moved quickly, coming from South-west from the direction of Marseilles.
The apparatus coming from the South-west passed above the construction site, then moved towards the North-East in the direction of Le Vigan, having initially the aspect of a quickly moving "cloud", seen upfront, emitting a kind of vapor.
Mr. Fize as well as his comrades then realized when this "cloud" showed its profile while coming at their level, that it was actually an apparatus of cylindro-conical aspect, metallic, silver-yellow in color, with a seemingly rounded nose. It was approximately 30 meters long, 6 meters in diameter and evolved at an altitude of 600 to 800 meters maximum. Its back disappeared in a kind of cloudy mist.
There was on this "cylinder" three enormous port-holes or kinds of very large "bays" highly lit by a source of inner light, very white and pure, similar to a fluorescence.
Inside, five or six living beings which moved were perfectly visible to the half-length of their bodies. They were wearing kaki flight-suits, large glasses and a helmet.
The craft flew almost silently, but Mr. Fize however perceived a kind of rustling sound that he compared to the noise produced by a powerful very quiet American car.
While moving away, the machine took again an aspect of "cloud", the back also producing a vaporous boiling.
Jean Terrasson indicates that one would not have detailed anything, except when it was almost at the vertical, if the machine had been constantly in frontal position compared to the observers. He notes that arrived near the city, that is to say within one kilometer of the construction site, the machine accelerated suddenly at a vertiginous speed.
He notes that it was reported above Marseilles towards 06:50 p.m., passed above Nimes-Courbessac around 07:00 p.m. and was seen above the area of Le Vigan towards 07:10 p.m., that is to say a total distance of approximately 250 kilometers in 20 minutes, giving an average speed of 500 km/h.
The trajectory had been absolutely rectilinear and neither its altitude nor its direction had varied throughout all the observation which was approximately of 15 seconds.
Guieu indicates that an illustration was made by Jean Terrasson according to the information provided by the eyewitnesses and in particular by Felix Fize.
[Ref. mc1:] MICHEL CARROUGES:
The author indicates that according to Jimmy Guieu, page 211, in October 1952, close to Nimes in the Gard, mason Felix Fize and several workmen had seen a curious whitish cloud. Then only, they "recognized" a metallic, yellow-silver cylinder, 30 meters in length, with brilliantly lit port-holes, which seemed to emit at the front and the back a "vaporous boiling" so that it seemed always escorted of a cloud, which misled the witnesses at times.
Carrouges indicates that this cigar was definitely lower, at most at 600 or 800 meters, and undoubtedly much less, since the witness saw very clearly, through the port-holes, the silhouettes of pilots wearing flight goggles and helmets.
Carrouges indicates that in this respect, the drawing established by Mr. Terrasson following the indications of the witnesses and reproduced by Jimmy Guieu on page 176 is particularly striking.
[Ref. jv1:] JACQUES VALLEE:
Jacques Vallée indicates that the first UFO landing with a complete description of "Little Men" was reported in Le Vigan. the Gard, in France on October 15, 1952.
[Ref. jv2:] JACQUES VALLEE:
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103 Oct. 15, 1952, 19:10, Le Vigan (France). Approximate date. Figures with helmets and masks were seen through lighted windows inside a bright yellow, cigar-shaped object on the ground. Length 30 m, diameter 6 m. Forward section was rounded, and a sort of fog was noted at both ends of object. (Quincy; Anatomy 62) |
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266 Oct. 15, 1954, 07:50 P.M. Nimes-Courbessac Airfield (France). A yellow, cigar-shaped object with brilliant portholes, 30 m long, 6 m diameter, was seen on the ground. Figures with helmets covering the head could be seen inside. A sort of haze was observed at both ends of the craft. (Quincy). |
[Ref. jv3:] JACQUES VALLEE:
Jacques Vallée indicates that on October 15, 1954, at 07:50 p.m., close to the airport of Nimes-Courbessac, a yellow object in the shape of a cigar, with brilliant "ports", of approximately 30 meters length by 6 meters in diameter, was seen on the ground. Forms with helmets covering their heads were visible inside. A kind of fog was observed at each end of the apparatus.
[Ref. gl1:] CHARLES GARREAU AND RAYMOND LAVIER:
These authors indicate that on October 15, 1954, at 06:00 P.M., between Vigan and Vallerangue in the department of Gard, witnesses see a cigar-shaped object which is landed on the ground. Its length is 30 meters approximately, it is 6 meters high, and the front is rounded.
A fog surrounds the extremities. The witnesses see helmeted silhouettes through portholes.
These authors and ufologist comment that the object seen in this case may have been the same as the one seen 50 minutes later in Nimes.
[Ref. fr1] MICHEL FIGUET ET JEAN-LOUIS RUCHON:
The two authors indicate that on October 15, 1954 at 07:00 p.m. in Nimes in the department of the Gard, a group of masons worked on a construction site near the airfield of Courbessac, when they saw in the direction of Marseilles a kind of whitish cloud which came facing them.
Whereas it arrived at their level, they saw that it was a cylinder of metallic appearance whose back disappeared in a kind of cloudy mist. Its size was estimated as of six meters in diameter for thirty meters in length.
On this object, three enormous openings resembled bays vividly illuminated by a very white and pure interior light source, laid out horizontally.
Five or six beings were visible, to the half of the bodies. The witnesses noted that they were dressed in kaki clothes and wore large glasses and a helmet.
The object went away in the direction of Le Vigan.
Michel Figuet notes that there are contradictions between Jacques Vallée's summary and that of Jimmy Guieu: for Vallée, the object landed, for Guieu it is at 600 or 800 meters of altitude, for Vallée it is 07:50 p.m., for Guieu it is 07:10 p.m.. Guieu indicates that the object comes from Marseilles in the South-west whereas Marseilles is in South-east.
[Ref. op1:] MAGAZINE "OVNI PRESENCE":
An article in this ufology magazine interprets the sighting as that of a "slow meteor."
[Ref. fb1:] FABRICE BONVIN:
Fabrice Bonvin notes:
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Case #004: 15/10/1954, p. 168 (Le Vigan) |
[Ref. go1:] GODELIEVE VAN OVERMEIRE:
The Belgian ufologist states on the one hand that on October 15, 1954, in France, between Le Vigan and Vallerangue in the Gard, at 6 p.m., the witnesses saw an object in the shape of a cigar posed on the ground, 30 meters in length approximately, 6 meters in height, with a fog which wrapped its ends. Through the port-holes the witnesses distinguished helmeted silhouettes.
Godelieve Van Overmeire notes the question about whether it was the same apparatus that was seen a little later in Nimes.
The source is indicated as Garreau and Lavier in "Face aux extra-terrestres", Delarge - J'ai Lu, page. 77.
She specifies that actually according to OVNI Présence #33/34 of December 1985, it wwas a "slow fireball" seen on all France and elsewhere. Or that according to another possibility of what it would actually have been, it could be a hoax which finished badly for at least one of the witnesses, Ottoviani, who was prosecuted in Court for grivelery, according to Erich Zurcher in "Les Apparitions d'Humanoïdes", Alain Lefeuvre publisher, 1979, page 182.
In another entry of her catalogue, she notes that on October 15, 1954, in Nimes-Courbessac in France, at the airfield, an object in the shape of a yellow cigar with brilliant port-holes, 30 meters in length, and 6 meters in diameter, was seen on the ground with at 07:50 p.m. by the mason Felix Fize and his workmates. Silhouettes carrying helmets covering the head could be seen inside, and a kind of fog was observed at the two ends of the ship.
La source est indiquée comme Jacques Vallée dans "Chronique des apparitions ET", Denoel, J'ai Lu, 1972 page 282.
She specifies that the contradictions between the report by Jacques Vallée and the report by Jimmy Guieu can be read in Figuet / J.L. Ruchon in "Ovni, premier dossier complet..." Alain Lefeuvre publisher, 1979, pages 169,170.
[Ref. ar1:] ALBERT ROSALES:
Albert Rosales indicates in his catalogue that in the Nimes Courbessac Airport, Gard, France, on early October 1952 at 07:10 p.m., several witnesses, including Mr. Felix Fize, saw a UFO of yellowish-silvery metallic appearance, flying at an altitude of about 700 meters. Through 3 large windows could be seen beings with helmets and goggles. Duration of observation was 10-15 seconds.
Albert Rosales indicates that the source is M. Terrasson for C.E.I. Ouranos.
[Ref. jb1:] JEROME BEAU:
Jerome Beau indicates that on October 15, 1952 at 07:00 p.m. in Le Vigan in the Gard, France, silhouettes equipped with helmets and masks are seen through the enlightened port-holes of a shining yellow object in the shape of a cigar, posed on the ground. "Length: 30 m; diameter: 6 m. Front part is round, and a sort of fog at the 2 ends of the apparatus."
Jérôme Beau indicates that his sources are "Quincy" and "Vallée, J., Anatomy 62"
Jerome Beau indicates that on October 15, 1954 at 07:50 p.m. in Nimes-Courbessac, an airfield in France, 1 object in the shape of a yellow cigar with shining port-holes, 6 m diameter, 30 m length is seen on the ground. Silhouettes carrying helmets covering the head can be seen inside. A kind of fog is observed at the 2 ends of the ship.
Jérôme Beau indicates that his source is "Quincy".
[Ref. bo1:] BASE OVNI-FRANCE:
A database entry dated October 15, 1954, 07:00 p.m., indicates that several witnesses observed between Le Vigan and Valleraugue a yellow shining cigar posed on the ground: length 30 meters, diameter 6 meters, front round, and a sort of fog at the two ends of the apparatus. Inside are silhouettes equipped with helmets and masks, seen through enlightened port-holes.
The source is indicated as "Ovni, Premier dossier complet... par Figuet M./ Ruchon J.L. ** éd. Alain Lefeuvre 1979."
Another database entry dated October 15, 1952, 07:00 p.m., indicates that an object in the shape of a yellow cigar of shining color is observed posed on the ground. Length 30 meters, diameter 6 meters. The front part is round and a sort of fog is at the the two ends of the object. There are enlightened port-holes where one can see silhouettes equipped with helmets and masks.
The source is indicated as "Chroniques des apparitions E.T. par Vallée Jacques ** DENOEL 1972 - coll. J'AI LU".
What a big mess!
The case, obviously of 1952 and not 1954, became two different entries in Vallée's catalogue, and other ufologist simply did the same, as so often, simply copying Vallée's shoddy summaries. And this, in spite of the fact that the very sources indicated by some ufologists do point at the date problem!
It is very likely that Vallée mixed up two stories, that of Mr. Fize reported by Terrasson to Guieu, that occurred some date of October 1952, and possibly some other case of 1954.
Obviously, it is impossible that Mr. Fize saw goggles and helmets of occupants of a foggy object that crossed the sky in 10-15 seconds at a sighting distance of 600 to 800 meters!
Contrary to Jimmy Guieu's assertion, the investigation by Mr. Terrasson appears to be only some notes he took from hearing Mr. Fize, with no attempt at really understanding what has been going on, as he did not seem to realize the impossibility of distinguishing goggles on people so far away and so fast moving, and as he put Marseilles in the wrong direction. and of course, the sightings by other people at other places are not correctly documented, and the "timing" of the object rests only in the usual belief at the C.E.I.O. that witnesses indication of times such as "19:10" or "18:50" must be taken at face value as exact timing, whereas they are probably just rough estimates.
Perhaps this was an observation of a triple-head meteor with a whimsical description by the witness, or a mixture of an observation of a meteor and a hoax. Certainly not a "slow meteor" since 10-15 seconds are a normal observation duration for a normal meteor.
| Id: | Topic: | Severity: | Date noted: | Raised by: | Noted by: | Description: | Proposal: | Status: |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Data | Severe | October 2, 2007 | Patrick Gross | Patrick Gross | Missing the primary source, report by Jean Terrasson. | Help needed. | Opened. |
| 1 | Data | Severe | October 2, 2007 | Patrick Gross | Patrick Gross | Missing the drawing by Jean Terrasson, in Guieu first edition. | Help needed. | Opened. |
Possible meteor or hoax. Insufficient data.
* = Source I checked.
? = Source I am told about but could not check yet. Help appreciated.
| Main Author: | Patrick Gross |
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| Contributors: | None |
| Reviewers: | None |
| Editor: | Patrick Gross |
| Version: | Created/Changed By: | Date: | Change Description: |
|---|---|---|---|
| 0.1 | Patrick Gross | October 2, 2007 | Creation, [jv1], [mc1], [jv3], [jv2], [jg1], [gl1], [fr1], [op1], [fb1], [go1], [ar1], [jb1], [bo1]. |
| 1.0 | Patrick Gross | October 2, 2007 | First published. |
