The Wave of 1954
Taken from: Faces of the Visitors
Kevin Randle and Russ Estes
Fireside Books/Simon & Schuster Inc.
ISBN: 0-684-83973-3
A massive but often overlooked wave of sightings took place in 1954, not in the United States but in Western Europe and South America. During that year dozens of witnesses reported seeing creatures emerging from spacecraft to collect samples or to interact with humans.
For the most part, however, this wave has been ignored in the United States. Maybe we just couldn't accept the tales of alien creatures walking the Earth. Maybe, because of the tales told by the contactees - George Adamski, George Van Tassel, Howard Menger, and others-we just didn't believe the occupant reports. We'd already heard some tales of the alien beings and those made no sense to us. We lumped the occupant sightings in with the Contacted reports.
But we were willing to listen to tales of spacecraft being seen in the sky. In some cases we would even listen to reports of craft sighted on the ground. Too often, however, we ignored the tales about the creatures who piloted the craft. These reports were treated with even more scorn than the run-of-the-mill flying saucer sightings.
One point must be made here. During the wave of 1954 there were many good sightings of spacecraft in the sky. On September 21, for example, thousands of people in Rome, including military and civilian pilots and high-ranking government officials, watched a cigar-shaped craft maneuver over the city. More importantly, the object was tracked on radar. Here was just the sort of case that skeptics often demanded, yet because it happened in Italy, it has remained virtually unknown in this country. Unfortunately, the Rome incident was neither a landing-trace case nor an occupant sighting report. Like most UFO sightings, it was just a report of a strange craft seen in the sky. Despite the added corroboration of radar tracking, this was essentially just a sighting report.
We have rejected occupant reports and landing cases because, according to some authorities, there was a lack of good corroboration for them. There was no physical evidence proving the landing had taken place.
The major exception was, of course, the Roswell crash case. There we did have high-ranking military of fixers as well as civilian authorities suggesting that the crash had taken place and that the occupants' bodies had been recovered.
But in Europe and South America in 1954, this situation changed: corroboration and evidence were suddenly available. On September 10, 1954, Maruis Dewilde was walking his dog along the railroad tracks at night near Valenciennes, France, when he saw a dark mass sitting on the roadbed. Not far from the craft were two small, wide-shouldered creatures who wore huge helmets. Dewilde wanted to walk over to them, but a bright light from the craft paralyzed him. The creatures hurried back to the craft, there was a loud whistling sound, and the object lifted into the night sky. Later examination showed depressions in the railroad ties that suggested a craft weighing 30 tons had been standing there.
On October 11, 1954, near La Croix Durade, France, a glowing object was seen lifting from a field. It disappeared in seconds, leaving flattened grass and other traces behind.
On December 19, 1954, near Valencia, Venezuela, a jockey, running in the cool of the morning, saw a disc-shaped object hovering just off the ground. Several small creatures were loading boulders into it, just as American astronauts, years later, would collect rocks on the moon. When the creatures spotted the jockey, they turned a purple ray on him that paralyzed him while they scrambled back into their craft. Later investigations revealed strange tracks on the ground.
Also interesting is the number of separate reports in which witnesses claim to have been paralyzed by a ray from the aliens. The jockey said the creatures paralyzed him with a purple ray. Dewilde, who saw the craft on the railroad, was also paralyzed. As we check out the sightings, we find many others in which the witnesses were paralyzed. Dr. Henri Robert was paralyzed in his car after the engine was stalled by a low-flying disc. A man standing close to a reddish disc suggested that he too was paralyzed.
In a number of cases the creatures seem to have been trying to abduct the witnesses. In Brazil, two boys who had been hunting were attacked by four small hairy creatures that tried to drag one of the boys off. In Venezuela, Jesus Paz walked into some bushes and began to scream. When his friends came to his aid, they saw a hairy creature running away.
It needs to be pointed out here that these witnesses were able to fight off the alien creatures. That is in odd conflict with our modern reports in which the victims are unable to resist the alien abduction attempts.
We can also look at a case from Santo Amaro, Brazil, in which a taxi driver found a landed disc with an open door. When he walked in and was spotted by three creatures, he found himself backing out of the craft against his will. This suggests that some of the alien beings have been able to control human movements.
Some people claim that the wave of 1954 introduced a number of new concepts into the UFO phenomenon, but it didn't really. All of these types of reports had been made before. This wave, however, did include a large number of occupant reports, landing reports, and descriptions of alien beings.
Though marked by peaks in France and South America, this wave actually began in Germany. By mid-August 1954 the number of sightings had begun to increase in France, where huge peaks were reached in late September and October. By September the sightings were coming from all over Western Europe and extended south into Africa. Many of these sightings were merely reports of objects in the sky, but there were dozens in which the craft were seen on the ground.
If we follow the standard technique of looking for similarities among the reports, we quickly see that the beings were said to have worn diving suits and helmets with tubes extending down into backpacks, and the use of a paralysing ray is often mentioned. On November 11, 1954, near Isola, Italy, a farmer watched as a cigar-shaped craft landed in a field. Three small creatures exited. The farmer, convinced that they had come to steal his rabbits, ran for his rifle. As he raised it, it grew so heavy that he dropped it. Then he became paralyzed.
We must remember, however, that these sightings did not take place in a vacuum. Just as the American press had done in 1947 and 1952, the European newspapers carried the stories. Jacques Vallee, writing in Challenge to Science, commented that many reports that were not mentioned by researchers could be found in the newspapers, which often carried the tales complete with witnesses' names and addresses. In other words, a great deal of information was provided by the newspapers, but no organisation existed to investigate it.
Vallee reports that the French wave had begun to slow by November, but the number of reports increased in South America, Africa, Asia, and Australia. This demonstrates the worldwide presence of the UFO phenomenon. Even though we believe that the vast majority of sightings take place in the United States, the simple fact is that sightings in other parts of the world are rarely reported in the United States. Newspapers and television news reports ignore most of these sightings and consider the reports unreliable. UFO researchers, however, are well aware of the number of sightings coming from other parts of the world.
The 1954 Occupant Database
March 15, 1954, Santa Maria, Brazil: Rubem Hellwig
When Hellwig spotted a football-shaped object landing nearby, he stopped his car and approached it. He saw two creatures near the UFO. They were of average size with brown faces and light hair. One was gathering samples while the other watched, maybe standing guard. They spoke to Hellwig in a language he couldn't understand. Finally they returned to their ship, which took off and disappeared into the distance.
March 16, 1954, Santa Maria, Brazil: Rubem Hellwig
In his second sighting in as many days, Hellwig came across the same ship but different crew members. This time he saw one man and two women. Each of the women had long dark hair, a dark complexion, and large eyes. They told Hellwig they were studying the natural riches of Brazil.
August 23, 1954, Thonon, France
A man approached a landed UFO near which two small creatures were standing. They were dressed in light-colored suits, and they grunted like pigs. Eventually they entered the craft, which glowed brightly and then took off quickly.
September 10, 1954, Mourieras, France
A farmer on his way home saw a man of average height wearing a helmet. The man made friendly gestures, then finally turned away and walked into the forest. A moment later a cigar-shaped craft lifted off.
September 10, 1954, Valenciennes, France: Maruis Dewilde
Dewilde, walking his dog along the railroad tracks at night, noticed a dark mass. Not far away were two small creatures that had wide shoulders and wore huge helmets. Dewilde planned to approach the men, but a bright light from the craft paralyzed him. The creatures returned to the craft, there was a loud whistling noise, and it rose into the sky. An examination of the rail bed revealed depressions on the ties where the object had stood.
September 17, 1954, Cenon, France: Yves David
David was bicycling when he felt a tingling all over his body. He stopped and got off his bike as his headlight went out. In front of him he saw the dark shape of a craft about 10 feet long and 3 feet high. David, the tingling having spread through his body and paralyzed him, watched as a small silhouette moved away from the craft. It approached him, touched him on the shoulder, and then returned to the ship, which gave off a greenish glow, then disappeared. When it was gone, David recovered the use of his limbs.
September 26, 1954, Valence, France
While gathering mushrooms in the woods, a woman saw a small humanoid, which she thought was a scarecrow. It seemed to be wearing a diving suit with a clear helmet. When it began moving toward her, she fled, badly frightened. When she looked back, the creature was gone. A few moments later she heard a loud whistling and saw a disc-shaped object lift from the woods. Evidence of a landing was later found.
September 30, 1954, Marcilly-sur-Vienne, France
Eight construction workers reported seeing a disc-shaped object sitting on the ground. Standing nearby they saw a small humanoid wearing a helmet.
September 30, 1954, Ligescourt, France: Bernard Devoisin and Rene Coudette
Devoisin and Coudette were riding their bicycles when they spotted a glowing orange object sitting on the road. Near it was a small creature in a diving suit. The being returned to the object, which then took off.
October 4, 1954, Poncey, France: Yvette Fourneret
As Fourneret was about to close a window in her home, she saw an object about 10 feet in diameter hovering near a plum tree. Its glow threw a pale light on the tree. She ran next door, and moments later two men armed with shotguns entered the field. They didn't find the object but did discover a hole where soil had been pulled from the ground.
October 4, 1954, Salta, Argentina
A number of children reported seeing three small humanoid creatures with greenish skin.
October 5, 1954, Loctudy, France
A baker was drawing water from a well when he noticed an object he estimated to be 10 feet in diameter sitting on the ground. A small being with a hairy face and large oval eyes approached him and spoke to him in a strange language. The baker called his boss, and they watched as the creature got back into the craft, which then took off quickly.
October 5, 1954, Mertrud, France
A road repairman spotted a strange object sitting on the road. Near it he saw a small hairy creature. The being returned to the craft, which then took off. Traces from the craft were found on the road.
October 9, 1954, Pournoy, France
Four children saw a bright glow from a nearby cemetery. Approaching, they saw an object about 8 feet in diameter standing on three legs. A small creature carrying a bright light exited the craft. It spoke to them, but they couldn't understand it. They finally ran away, and when they looked back, they saw that the object was already in the sky, flying away.
October 9, 1954, Carcassonne, France: Jean Bertrand
Bertrand was driving when he spotted a spherical object sitting on the road in front of him. Through a translucent top, he could see a human-shaped shadow moving. As he approached, the object took off.
October 9, 1954, Rinkerode, Germany
A movie projectionist saw a cigar-shaped craft sitting near the road. Near the object, which gave off a blue light, were four small beings wearing rubber overalls. They had large chests and thin arms and legs, and they seemed to be working on the underside of the object.
October 9, 1954, Lovoux, France
A cyclist saw a small creature carrying a double-beam light, which it used to paralyze the man. The creature walked along the road for a short distance and then disappeared into the forest.
October 11, 1954, Taupignac, France
Three men traveling in a car spotted a disc-shaped craft sitting in a field. Four tiny humanoids were working nearby. When they saw the men, they ran to the disc and shot a beam of light at the men so that they couldn't give chase. The craft then took off.
October 12, 1954, Tehran, Iran
A witness claimed that he clearly saw a creature moving around inside a disc-shaped object that was hovering close to the ground. The being was tiny and dressed in black. When a crowd began to gather, the craft flew away.
Part 2
October 12, 1954, Lauttey, Morocco
A French engineer saw a creature about 4 feet tall, dressed in a silver suit, entering a disc-shaped object. It took off quickly, disappearing in just seconds.
October 13, 1954, Bourasote, France
Three people saw a reddish disc-shaped craft about 12 feet in diameter. Although the witnesses were not together, they all reported that the being wore a shiny suit and had a large head and enormous eyes. The man closest to the object claimed he was paralyzed, and when the Craft finally took off, he was thrown to the ground.
October 14, 1954, Meral, France
A farmer was leaving his home when a glowing ball landed not far from him. It gave off a bright light that illuminated the fields for about 200 yards. As he approached it, he saw a domed disc that appeared to be translucent. Behind the glow he could see a dark shape moving about. Then the light changed from white to red and the object took off at great speed.
October 15, 1954, Toulouse, France
A witness reported that he saw a small creature with large eyes near a small disc-shaped craft.
October 16, 1954, Baillolet, France: Dr Henri Robert
Robert watched four disc-shaped objects fly over his car. One of them dropped out of the formation, and as it approached the ground, Robert's car stalled and his headlights faded. Robert felt paralyzed as he sat in the car during the whole sighting. A small creature appeared and moved, illuminated by the glow of the craft. When the light went out, he could see nothing. When the craft finally took off, Robert could again move, and he was able to start his car.
October 17, 1954, Isle of Capri, Italy
An artist walking along a road came upon a landed, disc-shaped craft about 15 feet in diameter. Four small creatures dressed in coveralls emerged from it.
October 18, 1954, Doubs, France
A motorcyclist noticed a red glow on the road. She thought nothing of it until, moments later, she saw a figure near the road. It was dressed in a one-piece silver suit and was accompanied by two smaller beings. She continued on but looked back in time to see a round object lifting into the sky
October 18, 1954, Fontenay-Forey, France
A couple watched a cigar-shaped craft as it suddenly dived toward the ground. The couple approached it and saw a being about 3 feet tall. Its eyes seemed to glow orange. Four other witnesses reported watching the red-glowing cigar in flight.
October 18, 1954, Royan, France
A couple watched two ball-shaped objects that appeared to be joined by a bright beam of light. When the light went out, the two objects landed separately. A small creature got out of each craft and entered the other craft. Both ships then took off and flew away.
October 21, 1954, Shrewsbury, England: Jennie Roestenburg
Roestenburg and her two children watched an aluminum colored disc with transparent panels. Inside they saw two men with white skin and long hair. They wore skintight suits and helmets.
October 27, 1954, Les Jonquets-de-Livet, France
A farmer watched a cigar-shaped object with lights on both ends as it landed in a nearby field. He didn't investigate then, but later, with a group of people, he sighted the object again. The witnesses saw two small creatures in silver suits near the object, which later took off silently.
November 2, 1954, Santo Amaro, Brazil
A taxi driver saw a large glowing object sitting in a vacant field between two houses. As he approached, a door opened in the side of the object and he entered. Inside, he saw a table with maps on it, including one of South America. While he was studying the map, three creatures appeared. They resembled perfectly formed humans but were much smaller. Although they made no move toward him, he found himself backing out of the craft, almost against his will. Once he was outside, the craft took off.
November 8, 1954, Monza, Italy
A huge crowd went to investigate a light and saw three creatures near a disc-shaped object sitting on three legs. The beings spoke with guttural sounds. The creatures got back into their ship, and it lifted without a sound.
November 14, 1954, Isola, Italy
A farmer watched a cigar-shaped object land in a field. When three small beings got out, he was convinced that they were going to steal his rabbits. He ran for his rifle, but when he took aim, it grew so heavy he could not hang on to it. As he dropped it, he became paralysed. The beings did take the rabbits and returned to their ship. It lifted silently, and when it was gone, the farmer could move again. He picked up his rifle and fired it once at the ship. Apparently he missed.
November 14, 1954, Brazil
A railroad employee spotted three small humanoids who seemed to be examining the railroad bed with a lantern. They wore tight-fitting luminous clothes. When they saw the man, they ran back to their ship, an oval-shaped object, which rose straight into the sky and quickly disappeared.
November 28, 1954, Caracas, Venezuela: Gustave Gonzales and Jose Ponce
Gonzales and Ponce were driving toward a produce warehouse when they sighted a glowing sphere hovering above the street. Gonzales got out and spotted a small, hairy creature with glowing eyes. Gonzales tried to grab the creature which struck him, knocking him backwards. The being then advanced, clawed hands extended, and Gonzales pulled his knife. He struck the creature in the shoulder, but the blade glanced off. Another being came from the ship and both then returned to it. The craft took off swiftly.
December 4, 1954, Pontal, Brazil: Jose Alves
Alves watched as a disc-shaped object landed and three small men in tight-fitting clothes got out. They gathered samples of the plants, and one took some water from a nearby stream. They then returned to their craft, which took off swiftly.
December 9, 1954, Linha Bela Vista, Brazil
A farmer working in his field heard a sound like a sewing machine and looked up to see a disc-shaped object hovering nearby. The animals in the field under the craft scattered as it landed. Three beings of medium height were visible. One stayed in the craft looking out a hatch while the others walked toward the farmer. The farmer dropped his hoe, and one of the beings picked it up and handed it to him. The alien then uprooted some of the plants. The farmer spoke to the creature, but it didn't seem to understand. Both beings then returned to their craft, and it took off.
December 10, 1954, Caracas, Venezuela
Two men watched two small beings run into the bushes. A few minutes later a glowing disc-shaped object rose into the sky with a sizzling sound.
December 10, 1954, Chico, Venezuela
While hunting, two boys spotted a shiny object they said resembled two soup bowls put together. Four small hairy creatures emerged and tried to drag one of the boys toward the craft. The other boy fired at the creatures with a shotgun, but the buckshot bounced off. The creatures gave up and ran back to their craft. Investigators taken to the site found evidence of a struggle.
December 11, 1954, Linha Bela Vista, Brazil
A farmer went out to investigate a noise and saw an object with a bottom like that of a teakettle, hovering over a field. He saw two humanoids in the field. As the farmer started toward them, they tried to warn him off. When he refused to stop, they pulled up a tobacco plant and ran back to their craft.
December 15, 1954, Campo Grande, Brazil
A fisherman sighted two objects hovering overhead, one revolving around the other. Using the telescopic sight on his rifle, he watched as three creatures descended, gathered samples, and then returned to their craft.
December 16, 1954, San Carlos, Venezuela: Jesus Paz
Three men driving home stopped along the roadside. Jesus Paz got out of the car and walked into the bushes. A moment later he screamed. When his friends ran to his aid, they found him on the ground and saw a short, hairy creature running away. A flat, shiny object then rose into the sky, disappearing in seconds.
December 19, 1954, Valencia, Venezuela
A jockey, running in the cool of the morning, came across a disc-shaped craft hovering just off the ground. Several small creatures were loading boulders into the craft. When they spotted the jockey, they turned some kind of device on him that emitted a purple light that paralysed him. The creatures returned to their craft and it took off. Later investigations revealed the strange tracks on the ground.
