Valensole Close Encounter

At approximately 5:45 a.m. on July 1, 1965, farmer Maurice Masse was preparing to work in his lavender field near Valensole when he heard a whistling sound. He saw an egg-shaped or rugby-ball-like object, about the size of a small car, resting on six legs with a central pivot. Two small humanoid figures, roughly 1 meter tall, wearing gray-green one-piece suits, were standing nearby examining the lavender plants. They had large heads, smooth white skin, and large slanted eyes. When Masse approached within about 7 meters, one being pointed a small tube-like object at him, instantly paralyzing him. He remained conscious but unable to move while the beings made gurgling sounds, finished their task, re-entered the craft, and it rose vertically before accelerating away at high speed. Masse regained mobility after about 15 minutes. The gendarmerie investigated promptly, documenting a star-shaped impression in the soil with a central hole and noting the ground had become unusually hard. The case was reported in official police records and later reviewed by GEIPAN.