1954 French UFO Wave
Background
In 1954, France experienced a major UFO wave with over 100 official reports collected by gendarmes throughout metropolitan France, including some classified as close encounters.
Nearly 40 percent of cases from this period in the later GEPAN database were Type D (unexplained), prompting the French government to investigate the phenomenon.
Preceding Events
In 1951, three Air Force pilots in Vampire F-5B fighters spotted a silvery round object.
A mass sighting occurred over Antananarivo, Madagascar.
The Wave
Gendarmes collected over 100 official reports of flying saucer sightings.
Some were classified as close encounters.
Significance
Nearly 40 percent of cases were Type D (unexplained) in the GEPAN database.
These events, combined with earlier incidents, prompted the French government to begin investigating the phenomenon.