Red lights in Ardennes, France

Between October 30, 1957 at 11:30 PM and October 31, 1957 at 1:30 AM, two distinct phenomena were observed by several groups of witnesses in the Ardennes (08). The first group observed from Louvergny at 11:40 PM toward the West a stationary red disk of large diameter that seemed to separate into two parts at 11:50 PM before disappearing. Astronomical verification gives the Moon at azimuth 245° and an elevation of 30°, appearing as a tilted half-disk. The descriptions given match the Moon poorly (elevation and shape). The same day, a second group on the RN46 between Pauvres and Mazagran observed a small object with green reflections moving rapidly approximately from SE to NW. The observation lasted a few dozen seconds. The witnesses' description suggests the passage of a bolide (meteorite fall). In the same evening, a third group located 100m from the level crossing at Novy-Chevrières observed at 11:50 PM toward this village the passage in the cloudy sky of a red luminous object in the overcast sky (see map). No noise was heard during the observation. Despite uncertainties about the observation directions, it is possible that these witnesses mistook the Moon, which was located exactly in that direction (a Moon in front of which clouds could have moved). However, this hypothesis is poorly compatible with the movement of the object as reported by the witnesses. Still on October 30 at 11:50 PM at Ambly-Fleury, a fourth group observed the passage of a red glow in the sky in the same observation direction as this third group. This could also be the temporary observation of the Moon in a break in the clouds. The Geipan classifies these cases as C due to lack of information and cross-checking: it could be a misidentification of the Moon and the passage of a bolide, but the elements are not precise enough to confirm these hypotheses.