Cette page en français
The index page for the 1954 French flap section of this site is here.
Reference number for this case: 5-Oct-54-Rethel. Thank you for including this reference number in any correspondence with me regarding this case.
[Ref. ll1] NEWSPAPER "LE LORRAIN":
A large shell pierced with portholesRheims -- (From our correspondent.) It is a mechanic of the Panhard factories of Rheims, Mr. Joseph Roy, aged 30, which had the invaluable advantage of seeing a machine within a few meters of the road from Rheims to Rethel, on the sideway. In the night of Tuesday to Wednesday, as he was riding his motorcycle, he suddenly saw in front of him, he told, a sharp and reddish gleam which suddenly disappeared. Arrived at the point where he had seen this gleam, he noticed an odd object in the fields, of 3 meters length, having the form of a large shell, bored with port-holes at its front. He distinguished, also, a vague silhouette. But, seized with fright, he fled. Three other workmen are said to have seen the same gleam at the same place. |
[Ref. jb1] JEROME BEAU:
Jérôme Beau indicates that on October 5, 1954, Joseph Roy, aged 30, mechanic with the Panhard factories, drives by motorcycle at a few meters of the road from Rheims to Rethel on a sideway, when he sees in front of him a sharp and reddish gleam which disappears suddenly. Arrived at the place where he saw the gleam, he notices a 3 m long object in the fields, having the shape of a large shell, bored port-holes at its front. He also distinguishes a vague silhouette. Seized with fright, he fleds. 3 other workmen are said to have seen the same gleam at the same place.
Jérôme Beau indicates that the source is Le Lorrain, of Nancy, for Saturday 9 - Sunday 10, October 1954, page 7, according to Sider, 1997.
Unfortunately all that seems to be known on the occurrence is what appeared in the newspaper, and apparently no investigation of data gathering followed.
It is not possible to discard the possibility that Mr. Roy might have actually seen some earthly vehicle. The fact that he saw the occupant only as a silhouette, in the night, and that he fled with no further look, suggest that the observation conditions were sufficiently poor to allow for some confusion to occur.
(These keywords are only to help queries and are not implying anything.)
Rethel, Ardennes, Joseph Roy, road, motorcycle, gleam, red, object, cigar, landing, elongated, portholes, occupant, frightened
[---] indicates sources which I have not yet checked.
