N42 Near Ecaillon, FR being encounter — October 22, 1954

On October 22, 1954, miner Casimir Szymura reported an encounter while riding his motorcycle on the Douai–Valenciennes road near Écaillon. La Croix du Nord published his account two days later. He placed it around 7:15 p.m.; the imported catalogue gives 7:20 and a different road number. Szymura said a brilliantly illuminated, submarine-shaped machine approached and his motorcycle stopped. Four small occupants were visible inside. One came out and shook his hand; its head reached approximately his shoulder. It spoke in an unfamiliar language that he compared with Chinese, then returned to the object, which departed rapidly. That comparison did not identify an actual language. The story later acquired a claim that the handshake had improved his vitality and billiards skills. Local investigator Dominique Caudron considered it a joke or hoax, citing contemporary follow-up and the lack of corroboration on a busy road. Jean Sider speculated that an unremembered abduction might underlie the account, while expressly acknowledging no proof. Szymura’s published story itself describes a roadside encounter, not a claimed taking aboard.