At a date given by the first sources as October 17, 1954, and later in 1970 as the beginning of October 1954 by members of the family of the deceased witness, Maxime Pignatelli went hunting with his dog on the banks of the river Durance at the location Les Iscles or Les Isoles, in the immediate vicinity of Corbières, a village located on road N.96. near Cabasson.
At approximately 02:00 p.m., 07:00 p.m. or 07:30 p.m., while aiming at a quail which flew away of a thicket, at the same time as he heard a noise of crushed branches, he saw the higher part of an oval object, of a diameter of 3 or 4 meters, of black color and without luminous reflections.
On the higher edge of the strange craft, he saw two heads of two small beings of children size.
The witness observed this only during a few seconds; he was seized by panic and ran away so fast that he fell in a water ditch and was soaked to the neck.
At this time, he saw his dog arriving. The animal yelled and trailed its two back legs as if those had been just been hurt or paralyzed.
At the time, nobody wanted to believe what he said he saw; but an weird fact puzzled his close relatives: on his return, he had felt a "torpor". His family even confirmed to investigators in 1970 that "the shock reflected on his heart", and he actually died from one cause or another at the beginning of September 1955.
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[Ref. jv1:] JACQUES VALLEE:
Jacques Vallée indicates that on October 17, 1954 at 02:30 p.m., in Cabasson, close to Corbières, in France, a 65-year-old man was hunting with his dog close to the confluence of the channel of Brillance and the Durance, when he was suddenly face to face with an object of gray color, of approximately 4 meters in length by 1 meter in height, posed on the ground within 40 meters of him. The craft was surmounted by a dome, and he saw two helmeted beings coming out of it. The witness fled, but his dog rushed towards the object; then moved quickly back, and walked during some time awkwardly as if it had been partially paralyzed.
[Ref. jv2:] JACQUES VALLEE:
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279 Oct. 17, 1954, 08:30 P.M., Cabasson (France). A 65-year-old man was hunting with his dog, near the junction of the Brillance Canal and the Durance River, when he saw a gray object, about 4 m long and 1 m high on the ground and 40 m away. It showed a dome from which two helmeted figures emerged. The witness fled, but his dog started toward the object. The dog soon retreated, walking awkwardly as if partially paralyzed. (Personal). |
[Ref. lo1:] CORAL AND JIM LORENZEN:
The authors indicate that two helmeted beings emerged from a gray disc-shaped object approximately 40 inches high and 15 feet in diameter on October 17, 1954, at Cabasson near Corbieres. A 65-year-old man, out hunting with his dog near the junction of a canal and a river, suddenly came on that object sitting on the ground less than 150 feet in front of him. Frightened then by the helmeted occupants, he turned and ran but the dog approached the object. It soon retreated, however, and its master noted that it walked in a peculiar way for some time, as if partially paralyzed.
[Ref. gl1:] CHARLES GARREAU AND RAYMOND LAVIER:
The two authors reproduce the information from the Vallée catalogue.
[Ref. sd1:] PIERRE SCHAEFFER AND PIERRE DELVAL:
A PREVIOUSLY UNKNOWN LANDING REPORT IN CORBIERES ("04"-Basses-Alpes)October 1954 Investigation by Francis Schaefer (GEOCNI) and Pierre Delval (GEMOC), July 28, 1970 - (Extract from file CFRS 04 - E.A.). Introduction:At the occasion of a counter-investigation carried out in the area of Valensole and thanks to information that were provided to us for which we thank the authors here, we were able to proceed, last summer, to a small investigation into a landing case which had occurred in 1954, in this same area of Valensole. Several interviews were necessary in 04-CORBIERES (not far from Ste TULLE and MANOSQUE) before learning that the main witness of this case was Mr. Maxime PIGNATELLI, now deceased. Thus we interrogated members of his family who were lengthily questioned, (and "taken by surprised"), we can draw up the following report whose interest, moreover, does not have anything to envy that of VALENSOLE which was the object, at the same occasion, of a new visit we made in order to check old testimonies. 1) THE FACTS.At the beginning of October 1954 (the members of the family do not remember any more of the exact day), Mr. Maxime PIGNATELLI left to hunt with his dog on the banks of the Durance (the "Iscles"), in the immediate vicinity of CORBIERES, a village located on road N.96. Around 7 hours p.m. (or 07:30 p.m.), by aiming at a quail which flew away of a thicket, Mr. Maxime PIGNATELLI (at the same time as he heard a noise of crushed branches) saw... the higher part of an oval object (diameter 3 or 4 meters?), of black color and without luminous reflections. On the higher edge of the strange apparatus two heads of two small beings tall "like children" appeared (sic). The witness observed this amazing display only during a few seconds: an inexpressible panic seized the hunter who fled so quickly that it fell inopportunely in a ditch filled with water, ditch that he had been unable to avoid during his unrestrained race. "Soaked to the neck", he extirpated from the bad position. At this time, Mr. M. PIGNATELLI saw his dog arriving: the poor animal yelled and trailed its two back legs as if those had been just been hit by a painful discharge! Something appears undeniable: the animal was seriously wounded and the origin of that could come only from the occupants of the object stationed in the clearing. At the time, nobody (of course) wanted to admit the authenticity of this dramatic hunting party; but an interesting fact (though regrettable for the witness) did not fail to puzzle the close relations of Mr. M. PIGNATELLI: indeed, the latter, on his return, felt a "torpor" (comparable with tiredness or somnolence) seize him. His family even confirmed that "the shock reflected on his heart". Whatever the degree of the case, the landing of CORBIERES is characterized by one (or several) physiological effect(s). The main witness was to die at the beginning of September 1955 and it is now impossible to establish a possible relation of cause and effect. It is appropriate, in any event, to record the state of somnolence directly after the incident of the clearing. |
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In the CORBIERES case, we are particularly struck, even marked, by the intense fear of the witness; the latter left the place so fast that it was impossible for him to provide the least information as of the external appearance of the beings (heads, chin, eyes, ears, hair or clothing) or of the UFO (door, crutches, cupola...) for which, curiously, the interviewed people employed the expression... "football shaped", as with VALENSOLE. His escape, alas, did not enable him to attend the take-off of the craft. Whatever, if the details are not as numerous as they were for QUAROUBLE or VALENSOLE (for example), the incident, in itself is very important. One of the most mysterious characteristic of this landing remains the exact origin of the noise (cracking or crushing) for, according to what we know, the UFO was ALREADY posed in the clearing and even, as it seems, hidden in the vegetation. There are thus two assumptions:
a): How can a machine having already landed still produce a cracking, (We suppose, by formulating this question, that the vegetation had already undergone the consequences of a landing; it was, normally, already crushed. b): According to the description of Mr. Maxime PIGNATELLI, small beings' appeared on the higher part of the UFO, therefore:
Even by supposing that the beings stirred up some branches until breaking them, that still does not justify the noise of crushed branches. 2) SIMILARITIES.After examination of the landing of CORBIERES, one cannot prevent oneself from establishing solids parallel with that, more famous, of VALENSOLE...
3) SOME DETAILS ABOUT THE LOCATION.- The "Durance" [river] separates the landing place from an airfield located, opposite, two kilometers from VINON-sur-VERDON, altitude 279 meters on roads N552 and N554. - The landing place is at 3 km from the DAM of CADARACHE. |
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We note, not far, the presence of a Center for Atomic Studies that can arise a "strategic" interest. But did it already exist there in October 1954? 4) CORBIERES AND THE STRAIGHT LINES MYSTERY.or: IS THE ORTHOTENIXAL NETWORK OF 7 OCTOBER 1954, SHOWN BY AIME MICHEL, LIKELY TO PROVIDE THE EXACT DATE OF THE LANDING OF CORBIERES? Orthoteny, a priori, can be
Janine and Jacques Vallée, while wanting to "bar the useless mention", were brought to conclude with a "no conclusion". Here, we will justify neither one nor the other since it will be an only a matter of noting things down. Having done again, book in hand (1), the work of Aimé MICHEL, it was possible to me to make a strange observation: The landing of CORBIERES took place, according to interviewed people, at the beginning of October 1954. Thus let us consider the date of October the 2nd, and the 7th, 1954, very important in orthotenic research. Nothing particuliar appears when putting CORBIERES on the orthotenic map of October 2, 1954. On the other hand, by supplementing the orthotenic network for October 7, 1954 with the contribution of a new pin on the map at the site of CORBIERES, the result is rather amazing: In spite of a very light variation (2), the place of the landing of CORBIERES occupies a "coherent" place in the already rich network for October 7, 1954. The map at page illegible reproduces only the lines about which we will speak below. On the question of the straight lines, we see that:
Francis Schaefer (GEOVNI) Notes (mentioned in the text):
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[Ref. lp1:] "LE PROVENCAL" NEWSPAPER:
THE FILEThirty years ago
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Note: full article and scan here.
[Ref. fr1:] MICHEL FIGUET AND JEAN-LOUIS RUCHON:
The two authors indicate that in Corbières in the Alps of Haute Provence, on October 17, 1954 at 02:30 p.m., Maxime Pignatelli, 65, is hunting with his dog on the banks of river Durance at a place in Cabasson called "Les Isoles."
By aiming at a bird which flies away from a bush, he hears a noise of crushed branches and sees at this time an oval object of a diameter of 3 or 4 meters, of gray color and without luminous reflections, with a dome, on the ground.
Two heads of small beings large "as children" appear on the higher edge of the strange machine.
The witness only observes this amazing sight during a few seconds; he is seized by panic. He fled so quickly that he falls inopportunely in a ditch filled with water. Soaked to the neck, he manages to extirpate himself from this bad position.
At this time there, the hunter sees his dog arriving: the poor animal howls and trails its two rear legs. This state could come only from the occupants of the object landed in the clearing.
The witness, on his return home, felt a torpor (comparable to a tiredness or somnolence).
Figuet and Ruchon noted that it occurred during the night according to Schaefer and Delval's 7 p.m. time, and that hunting quails is not possible at night.
They indicate as source case 279 of the Vallée catalogue, page 164 of the Garreau and Lavier book "Face aux ET", and the investigation by Pierre Schaefer and Pierre Delval on July 27, 1970, published in the magazine "Phénomènes Inconnus."
[Ref. js1:] JEAN SIDER:
Jean Sider indicates that on October 17, 1954 at 02:30 P.M. in Cabasson close to Corbières in the Alpes de Haute-Provence, Maxime Pignatelli was hunting on the blanks of the river Durance in company of his dog.
Near the Iscles [sic] location, he suddenly heard a noise of broken branches. While seeking what had caused this noise, he saw an oval object resting on the ground.
While looking at it with attention, he noticed two heads of small beings on the higher part of the machine. This took only a few seconds to him, "but here already the fear seizes him." Terrified, he fled with so much haste that he fell into a water ditch.
He stood up soaked but with no hurt, and at this time he saw that his dog emerging, howling and dragging his two rear legs. On his return to his home, he felt a torpor overcome him.
Jean Sider provides the above report quoting Michel Figuet as the source, and adds the information that a counter-enquiry made in 1970 by Francis Schaefer and Pierre Delval, of the Ouranos ufology group, showed that the emotional shock recorded by the witness had affected his heart condition.
[Ref. jc1:] JOHN F. SHUESSLER:
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1954/10/17 FRANCE, CABASSON Source: A hunter, with dog, saw a disk-shaped object land and two beings emerge. The hunter fled, but his dog approached and then retreated, walking awkwardly for some time as if partially paralyzed. EFFECTS: |
[Ref. go1:] GODELIEVE VAN OVERMEIRE:
The Belgian ufologist indicates that in 1954, on October 17, in France, in "Villeneuve (Cabasson?)", the Alpes de Haute Provence, "Maxime Pignatelli who wants to hunt the grive with his dog, close to the confluence of the Durance and of the Channel of Brillance, sees at 14:30 to 40 m of him on the ground, a gray object of approximately 4 m length by 1 m in height, overcome by a dome from which two helmeted silhouettes came out. The witness flees, the dog ran towards the object but soon retreated, walking with difficulty, as if partially paralysed."
The source is noted as "Jacques Vallée: 'Chronique des apparitions ET' - DENOEL 1972 - J'AI LU COLL. - p. 284".
[Ref. mc1:] MARK CASHMAN:
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Cabasson (France). 10/17/1954 A 65 year old man was hunting with his dog, near the junction of the Brillance Canal and the Durance River, when he saw a gray object, about 4 m long and 1 m high on the ground and 40m away. It showed a dome from which two helmeted figures emerged. The witness fled, but his dog started toward the object. The dog soon retreated, walking awkwardly as if partially paralyzed. |
[Ref. fb1:] FABRICE BONVIN:
Fabrice Bonvin notes:
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Case #006: 17/10/1954, p. 178 (Cabasson) |
[Ref. ar1:] ALBERT ROSALES:
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174. Location. Cabasson France Date: October 17 1954 Time: 1430 Maxime Pignatelli was hunting with his dog when he saw a gray object, about 4 meters long and 1 meter high, on the ground 40 meters away. It had a dome, from which 2 helmeted figures emerged. The witness fled, but his dog started toward the object; but it soon retreated, walking awkwardly as if partially paralyzed. Humcat 1954-102 Source: Jacques Vallee, Passport to Magonia Type: B |
[Ref. dj1:] DONALD JOHNSON:
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Encounters with Aliens on this Day October 17 [...] 1954 - In Cabasson, France a 65-year-old man was hunting with his dog at 2:30 p.m. near the junction of the Brillance Canal and the Durance River. He saw a gray object, about four meters long and one meter high on the ground and 40 meters away. It had a dome from which two helmeted figures emerged. The witness fled, but his dog started toward the object. The dog soon retreated, walking awkwardly as if partially paralyzed. (Source: Jacques Vallee, Passport to Magonia: A Century of Landings, p. 232). [...] |
[Ref. kb1:] KEITH BASTERFIELD:
The Australian ufologist indicates that on October 17, 1954, at 02:30 p.m., in Cabasson, France, one male hunter, with a dog, saw a disk-shaped object land and two helmeted beings emerged. The hunter fled but his dog approached and then retreated, walking awkwardly for some time as if partially paralyzed.
The source is indicated as Bowen, C. 1969, The Humanoids, Neville Spearman, London, page 48.
[Ref. jb1:] JEROME BEAU:
Jerome Beau indicates that on Sunday, October 17, 1954 at 02:30 p.m., in Cabasson, close to Corbières, in France, a 65-year-old man was hunting with his dog close to the confluence of the channel of Brillance and the Durance, when he was suddenly face to face with an object of gray color, of approximately 4 meters in length by 1 meter in height, posed on the ground within 40 meters of him. The craft was surmounted by a dome, and he saw two helmeted beings coming out of it. The witness fled, but his dog rushed towards the object; then moved quickly back, and walked during some time awkwardly as if it had been partially paralysed.
[Ref. lc1:] LUC CHASTAN:
Luc Chastan indicates that in Corbières on October 17, 1954 at 14:30 hours, "The witness is hunting with his dog on the edges of the Durance at the location Cabasson 'Les Isoles'. By aiming at a partridge which flies away from a thicket he hears a noise of crushed branches and sees at this time an oval object with a dome(diameter 3 or 4 meters) of gray color and without luminous reflections, posed on the ground. On the higher edge of the strange apparatus two heads appear of beings small 'like children'."
"The witness observes this amazing display during a few secondsonly ; panic grabs him. He flees so quickly that he inopportunely falls in a ditch filled with water. Soaked to the neck he can come out of this bad position."
"At this time, the hunter sees his dog arriving: the poor animal yells and trails the two back legs. Its pain could come only from the occupants of the object posed in the clearing."
"The witness, when he was back home felt a torpor (comparable to a tiredness or somnolence)."
The sources are indicated as "Ovni, Premier dossier complet... by Figuet M./ Ruchon J.L. ** Alain Lefeuvre pub. 1979" and "Chroniques des apparitions E.T. by Vallée Jacques ** DENOEL 1972 - coll. J'AI L".
[Ref. ud1:] "UFODNA" WEBSITE:
The website indicates that on 17 October 1954 at 14:30 in Cabasson, France "Hunter incident." And: "Hunter and dog near Brillance Canal/Durance R, saw gray object 4m long, 40 m away. two figures with helmets emerged. Dog partially paralyzed went it approached."
And: "An object was observed. Physiological effects were noted."
And: "One gray domed disc, about 20 feet across, around 100 feet away, was observed by one male 65-year-old witness on a river briefly. Two beings, each wearing a helmet, were seen."
And: "Maxime Pignatelli was hunting with his dog when he saw a gray object, about 4 meters long and 1 meter high, on the ground 40 meters away. It had a dome, from which 2 helmeted figures emerged. The witness fled, but his dog started toward the object; but it soon retreated, walking awkwardly as if partially paralyzed."
The sources are noted as Webb, David, HUMCAT: Catalogue of Humanoid Reports; Lorenzen, Coral E., Flying Saucer Occupants, Signet T3205, New York, 1967; Lorenzen, Coral E., Encounters with UFO Occupants, Berkley Medallion, New York, 1976, ISBN:425-03093-8; FSR, FSR (formerly Flying Saucer Review), FSR, London, 1966; Bowen, Charles, The Humanoids: FSR Special Edition No. 1, FSR, London, 1966; Pereira, Jader U., Les Extra-Terrestres, Phenomenes Spatiaux, Paris, 1974; Vallee, Jacques, A Century of Landings (N = 923), (in JVallee04), Chicago, 1969; Schoenherr, Luis, Computerized Catalog (N = 3173); Delaire, J. Bernard, UFO Register Volume 7 (1976), Data Research, Oxford, 1976; Hatch, Larry, *U* computer database, Author, Redwood City, 2002; Rosales, Albert, Humanoid Sighting Reports Database.
[Ref. ud2:] "UFODNA" WEBSITE:
The website indicates that on 17 October 1954 at 20:30 in Cabasson, France, "A gray object, about four meters long and one meter high on the ground; two helmeted figures emerged."
And: "In Cabasson, France a 65-year-old man was hunting with his dog at 2:30 p.m. near the junction of the Brillance Canal and the Durance River. He saw a gray object, about four meters long and one meter high on the ground and 40 meters away. It had a dome from which two helmeted figures emerged. The witness fled, but his dog started toward the object. The dog soon retreated, walking awkwardly as if partially paralyzed."
And: "A 65-year-old man was hunting with his dog, near the junction of the Brillance Canal and the Durance River, when he saw a gray object, about four meters long and one meter high on the ground and 40 meters away. It showed a dome from which two helmeted figures emerged. The witness fled, but his dog started toward the object. The dog soon retreated, walking awkwardly as if partialIy paralyzed."
And: "One ball was observed."
The source is said to be "Vallee Magonia Database".
[Ref. cr1:] CRUN:
The blog of the CRUN mentions that in "1954, there was reportedly a case with observation of humanoids in Cabassou, near Corbières".
There isn't much comment possible on the sighting itself. The duration was only of a few seconds, the sighting distance is not known, the beings are apparently only seen from the head up, the UFO was apparently in some brushes and is practically not described either. The UFO was seen only on the ground, not flying. The dog's behavior and the torpor of the witness make up for some strangeness, but this is not really assured, there was no examination.
About the date: It seems that investigators Schaefer and Delval though they were investigating a previously unknown case, possibly because they dealt with Corbières whereas the case was mentioned as "Cabasson" by Vallée previously. It is thus possible that the correct date was indeed October 17, 1954, as indicated by Vallée, and that the memory of the relatives in 1970 was not as accurate as the first information. However, Vallée unfortunately does not tell us how he heard of the case, "Personal" having little meaning as in other cases, "Personal" was used for cases where Vallée could not have been the first source.
About the "straight lines" (Orthoteny): Using the places indicated by Shaefer and Delval, there are hardly any real straight lines when the places are plotted:
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In addition to this obvious problem, it must be noted that whereas Schaefer and Delval use 10 sightings for October 7, 1954, there were actually at least 47 sightings that day!
| Id: | Topic: | Severity: | Date noted: | Raised by: | Noted by: | Description: | Proposal: | Status: |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Ufology | Severe | December 22, 2007 | Patrick Gross | Patrick Gross | First report of case of unknown source. | Help needed. | Opened. |
| 2 | Ufology | Severe | December 22, 2007 | Patrick Gross | Patrick Gross | Single witness. | Help needed. | Opened. |
| 3 | Ufology | Severe | December 22, 2007 | Patrick Gross | Patrick Gross | Sighting conditions are poor, short duration, no distance, poor descriptions. | Help needed. | Opened. |
| 4 | Ufology | Severe | December 22, 2007 | Patrick Gross | Patrick Gross | witness deceased, no known investigation when he was alive. | Help needed. | Opened. |
Extraterrestrial beings or confusion.
* = 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 | December 22, 2007 | Creation, [jv1], [jv2], [lo1], [sd1], [gl1], [lp1], [fr1], [js1], [jc1], [mc1], [fb1], [ar1], [kb1], [jb1]. |
| 1.0 | Patrick Gross | December 22, 2007 | First published. |
| 1.1 | Patrick Gross | March 18, 2010 | Additions [go1], [dj1], [ud1], [ud2], [cr1]. |
