The Flatwoods Monster Encounter

The Flatwoods Monster encounter is a well-known UFO sighting and cryptid story from September 12, 1952, in the small town of Flatwoods, West Virginia. Two brothers, Edward and Fred May, along with their friend Tommy Hyer, saw a bright object streak across the sky and land on a nearby farm. They ran to the May residence and told their mother, Kathleen May, who then went with them to investigate, along with a few other local boys and a National Guardsman, Eugene Lemon.

When the group reached the farm, they saw a pulsating red light. Lemon shined his flashlight in the direction of the light, and they reportedly saw a terrifying creature. The being was described as roughly 10 feet tall, with a glowing red face, a spade-shaped head, and a dark, greenish body that was either draped or robotic in appearance. The creature emitted a hissing noise and seemed to glide rather than walk.

The group fled in terror, and the story quickly spread, drawing national attention. Many theories have been proposed to explain the sighting, ranging from an owl or other local wildlife to a spacecraft and alien visitation. The Flatwoods Monster has since become a part of West Virginia folklore, inspiring various interpretations in pop culture, including films, books, and even a video game character.

The Flatwoods Monster Encounter: Detailed Description

Date and Location:

Date: September 12, 1952
Location: Flatwoods, Braxton County, West Virginia, USA

Timeline of Events:

7:15 PM:
Sighting of the Object:
Edward May (13) and Fred May (12), along with their friend Tommy Hyer (10), were playing on the school playground when they saw a bright object streak across the sky and descend into a nearby farm owned by G. Bailey Fisher. They described it as a glowing, fiery object that appeared to crash or land on the hill.

7:30 PM:
Gathering the Group:
The boys rushed to the May family home, excitedly telling their mother, Kathleen May, about what they had seen. Mrs. May decided to investigate and was accompanied by the boys, along with two other children, Neil Nunley (14) and Ronnie Shaver (10), and Eugene "Gene" Lemon, a 17-year-old National Guardsman.

Approx. 7:45 PM:
Approaching the Site:
The group made their way up the hill to where the object was believed to have landed. As they got closer, they noticed a pungent, metallic odor in the air, which some described as burning sulfur. The area was also enveloped in a thick mist or fog, contributing to the eerie atmosphere.

Approx. 7:50 PM:
Encounter with the Monster:
When they reached the top of the hill, the group saw a large, pulsating red light coming from the woods. Eugene Lemon shined his flashlight in the direction of the light. According to their accounts, the beam of light illuminated a terrifying creature. The monster was described as follows:
Height: About 10 feet tall.
Head: The head was spade-shaped, with a glowing red face, set in what appeared to be a hood or a helmet.
Body: The body was described as dark green or black, with a pleated, skirt-like lower portion. Some accounts suggest it looked robotic or like it was wearing a metallic dress.
Eyes: The creature had two large, glowing eyes, which some described as either yellow or orange.
Movement: It reportedly hovered or glided toward them, emitting a hissing or high-pitched noise.

Immediately After:
Fleeing the Scene:
Terrified, the group fled the scene and ran back to the May house. They were visibly shaken, with Lemon, in particular, described as being in a state of shock. Upon returning home, several members of the group experienced symptoms such as throat irritation, nausea, and vomiting, likely caused by the strange mist or odor they encountered.

People Involved:

Edward May (13): Witness, one of the boys who first saw the object.
Fred May (12): Witness, brother of Edward.
Tommy Hyer (10): Witness, a friend of the May brothers.
Kathleen May: Mother of Edward and Fred, led the group to the site.
Eugene "Gene" Lemon (17): National Guardsman, part of the group, and the one who shined the flashlight on the creature.
Neil Nunley (14): Witness, accompanied the group to the site.
Ronnie Shaver (10): Witness, accompanied the group to the site.
G. Bailey Fisher: Owner of the farm where the encounter took place.
Investigations and Aftermath:

Initial Reports:

After the encounter, the local sheriff, Robert Carr, and a deputy investigated the site later that evening. They found no trace of the creature but did note the strange odor lingering in the air. The next day, additional investigations were conducted by the press, including a reporter from the Braxton Democrat newspaper.

Media Coverage:

The story quickly spread and was picked up by national news outlets. Descriptions of the creature varied, but the core elements remained consistent. The incident was covered in major newspapers across the country, and it became one of the most talked-about UFO sightings of the time.

Skeptical Explanations:

Over time, skeptics have offered various explanations for the sighting:

Barn Owl Theory: One popular theory is that the "monster" was actually a barn owl perched on a tree branch. The owl's reflective eyes, combined with the mist and the group's heightened state of fear, may have created the illusion of a larger creature.

Meteorite: The object seen in the sky was likely a meteorite, which would explain the bright light and the fiery appearance. Some speculated that the group stumbled upon a meteorite that had crashed and mistook it for an extraterrestrial craft.

Military Exercise: Some theories suggest the group might have encountered a secret military exercise or drone, which could explain the strange lights, sounds, and odors.

Other Sightings and Reports:

Sutton, West Virginia - September 12, 1952 (Earlier that Day):
Location: About 5 miles from Flatwoods.
Details: Earlier on the same day as the Flatwoods encounter, a group of individuals in Sutton reported seeing a similar bright object in the sky. This sighting occurred before the Flatwoods encounter, leading some to believe that the object was the same one witnessed by the May brothers later that evening.

Strange Object in the Sky - September 13, 1952:
Location: Frametown, West Virginia, approximately 20 miles from Flatwoods.
Details: The day after the Flatwoods incident, another report came in from Frametown, where a couple claimed to have seen a strange, glowing object in the sky. They described it as a fiery orb, similar to what the Flatwoods witnesses had reported. The couple also experienced mechanical problems with their car during the sighting, a detail often associated with UFO encounters.

Strange Creature Encounter - September 13, 1952:
Location: Frametown, West Virginia.
Details: On the evening of September 13th, a local couple reported encountering a strange creature on the road near Frametown. They described the being as having a similar appearance to the Flatwoods Monster—glowing eyes and a spade-shaped head. This sighting further fueled the belief that the creature was not a one-time occurrence but possibly part of a broader phenomenon in the area.

West Virginia and Surrounding States - Early 1950s:
Location: Various locations in West Virginia and surrounding states.
Details: Around the early 1950s, there were numerous reports of UFO sightings across West Virginia and neighboring states. These sightings included descriptions of glowing objects, strange lights, and unusual creatures. Some of these reports coincided with the Flatwoods incident, leading to speculation that they might be related.

Follow-Up Investigations and Public Reaction:
UFO Flap: The Flatwoods Monster sighting occurred during what is known as a "UFO flap," a period of increased UFO activity. This wave of sightings across the United States in the early 1950s led to heightened public interest and concern about extraterrestrial visits.

Military Response: The U.S. Air Force, as part of Project Blue Book (a government investigation into UFO sightings), collected reports from this period. Although no conclusive evidence was found, the Flatwoods Monster case was noted in their files.

Ongoing Reports: Over the years, other sightings of similar creatures have been reported in West Virginia and beyond. These reports, while less well-known than the original Flatwoods encounter, have kept the legend alive.

Cultural Impact:
The Legend Grows: The combination of the Flatwoods Monster sighting and these additional reports solidified the creature's place in UFO lore. It has become a symbol of mysterious encounters in rural America, and it continues to inspire stories, documentaries, and research into unexplained phenomena.