The article below was published in the daily newspaper Le Figaro, Paris, France, page 4, on October 15, 1954.
|
The flying saucer dossier grew considerably yesterday following numerous reports.
The most unusual case appears to be the one observed in Fontaine-de-Vaucluse.
The maneuvers of a white disc caused a stir yesterday, around 1:30 p.m., among the inhabitants of this small town near Avignon. With good binoculars, the object’s details could be clearly seen: a white disc topped with a spherical dome of the same color. From the lower edge of the saucer, two powerful lights flashed intermittently, changing color from white to violet, passing through red.
The Caritat Air Base (Vaucluse), once alerted, immediately dispatched two jet planes over Fontaine-de-Vaucluse. After circling above the town, the planes gained altitude and sped toward the object.
By radio, the pilots reported to their base that the craft was in sight and that they were pursuing it. Finally, the aviators reported that they abandoned the chase, as the saucer’s speed exceeded theirs.
From Fontaine-de-Vaucluse, residents could clearly see the flying disc streak away, pursued by the two jets.
Other somewhat fanciful reports were also collected.
A mechanic from Leguevin (Haute-Garonne), Mr. Jean Marty, claims to have seen a strange craft land in a field. He rushed over, but the craft took off, leaving on the ground a message… written in Vietnamese and concerning fish deliveries to Indochinese ports!
An employee at Montluçon station encountered a Martian who delivered a naturally incomprehensible speech, in which the word "gas-oil" appeared frequently. The being, clearly disappointed, climbed into a "flying torpedo" and disappeared into space.