The article below was published in the daily newspaper La Liberté, Nord, France, pages 1 and 6, on October 6, 1954.
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(See our information, on page 6).
Could the secret of the flying saucers be in Beuvry? The story we tell, on page 6 suggests this and its hero, Mr. D'Oliveira, retired miner, known as a joker in the town, has just lifted a veil of the mystery that has surrounded for some time the "flying objects." Rest assured, Mr. D'Oliveira is not an astrologer; the famous saucer seen in recent days, in the northern sky, was simply made by him...
A joker, that is!
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From our private correspondent: Georges CARPENTIER
Would the mystery of saucers, cigars, discs, pots, croissants, barrels... phew!... and other flying objects be clarified? This is a very annoying little story for journalists in need of sensation on off-peak days.
Just yesterday, an impressive quantity of dispatches made mention of a surprising appearance in the skies of France, all the more mysterious since no one had yet been able to detect its origin.
24 hours ago, a journalist from Lyon claimed to have observed using binoculars, above the hill of Sainte-Foix, south of the basilica of Fourvière, (admire the precision) a bright, red disc orange. This, he said, was followed by other, smaller brilliant discs.
Our region also had its saucers. Why not? Who does not remember the excitement caused in the Valenciennes region Reims, barely a month ago and expertly exploited by a regional weekly. And the waltz of the saucers and its congeners would have continued six ... here begins our story.
A few days ago a brave woman from Beuvry (near Béthune) Mrs. Hennebelle, was going about her household chores, when a strange object crisscrossing the sky caught her eye. Calling her daughter Ghislaine, the two women observed with amazement the extraordinary craft, which had neither the shape of a cigar nor of a saucer, moving at some 300 meters in height get down suddenly in the middle of a field. Guided by a strange light and after a frantic race, the witnesses arrived just in time to extinguish the start of a fire that a trunk of straw had indeed involuntarily caused.
The mysterious flying object was just a balloon, for now, miserably deflated.
The envelope consisted of sheets of dark gray paper, carefully glued. At the base of the saucer was a small receptacle in which rested a tuft soaked in a flammable liquid. It was enough to ignite the tuft to see the craft rise and disappear with the winds, surrounded by yellowish and orange reflections. We had to learn it later, the inventor of these prototypes was inspired by the hot air balloon system.
Because immediately alerted, the gendarmerie helped by Raoul Foulquier, municipal guard, began an investigation not very easy from the start. To the great disarray of the constabulary... and specialized journalists, the delinquent, the maker of flying saucers was found. The latter one, a good brave man, retired miner, known in the commune as a cheerful joker did not have any difficulty to confess.
Because Mr. D'Oliveira, a Portuguese national, living with his daughter, has a mania, a passion... he loves making balloons...
Already in his native country, a few decades ago, Mr. D'Oliveira delighted his fellow citizens by organizing spectacular releases in the village square. In France his commune employed him at the festivities, this is how in 1939, he experienced his first adventure.
On vacation in Calais, his hobby took on again and he launched, on a beautiful summer night, a magnificent balloon. It took height and went straight over Germany. It was a few days before the declaration of war. spotted, this first saucer triggered the judicial system. The case was not followed up.
Such is Mr. D'Oliveira, a cheerful, very nice guy who, smiling, did launch into the northern sky, more than a thousand of these machines. It would even appear that he would be tempted very soon by the Martians... Thus, the mystery would be completely cleared up.
But like any farce it has its bad side, Mr. D'Oliveira will no doubt be fined for dangerous amusement. It was worth the trouble.
