The article below was published in the daily newspaper Le Courrier de Saône-et-Loire, France, page 8, on October 21, 1954.
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AN EXPLANATION FOR THE FLYING SAUCERS: A STRANGE PHENOMENON OBSERVED AFTER THE PASSAGE OF A "STRATOJET" PLANE
VIENNE. -- A "Stratojet" plane that flies daily over the Rhône Valley at an altitude of about 10,000 meters was mistaken yesterday by some people for a flying saucer.
The chief instructor of the Vienne flying club quickly dissuaded the overly imaginative witnesses, but a strange phenomenon occurred after the powerful jet aircraft passed by. In the sky, formations resembling parachutes appeared, exhibiting bizarre movements and looking like light veils that eventually reached the ground.
Witnesses of the phenomenon picked up this material, which was very soft to the touch and had a texture somewhat like rubber. Upon reaching the ground, it evaporated—probably due to the temperature.
One of the witnesses placed some of the substance in a box and had it photographed immediately. A few hours later, what remained in the box, though it was airtight, had evaporated.
This phenomenon, caused by condensation in the rarefied and cold atmosphere of certain elements in the "Stratojet" fuel, can create white or iridescent formations moving at high speeds and altitudes, and can thus give rise to more or less fanciful interpretations.
This observation, made above the Vienne airfield, is identical to one previously reported by a resident of Oloron.
DJAKARTA. -- The Indonesian news agency Antara reports that on Tuesday evening, around 9 p.m. local time, the population of Bondowoso, in eastern Java, was struck with terror upon seeing a white and green disc pass rapidly over the city and disappear within half a minute. Witnesses described the object as a large plate spinning in motion.
This is the second time the residents of Bondowoso have witnessed such a phenomenon. The first appearance of a strange object reportedly took place on July 25, at the same time.