The Wytheville UFO Wave
Over 3,000 UFO reports flooded a small Virginia town after local radio journalist Danny Gordon covered initial police sightings. Gordon himself witnessed strange craft, photographed objects, received threats from unknown parties, and had his home broken into - nothing stolen but his UFO files searched.
In October 1987, the small Blue Ridge Mountain town of Wytheville, Virginia, became the epicenter of one of the largest UFO flaps in American history. What began as a 60-second news story about police officers seeing strange lights turned into a three-year phenomenon with over 3,000 reported sightings. Local radio journalist Danny Gordon, initially a skeptic, became a witness himself - and then a target. He received threatening phone calls warning him to stop publicizing the sightings, and his home was broken into with nothing stolen but his UFO files disturbed.
Danny Gordon
The Key Figure
Danny Gordon was the news and sports director for WYVE Radio since 1984. He was a native of Wytheville and, at the outset, self-described as a skeptic with no prior interest in UFOs. He was a professional journalist.
The First Story
On October 7, 1987, Sheriff Wayne Pike contacted Gordon. The previous night, five police officers had observed strange lights over the area known as Fort Chiswell. The lights were described as red and green flashing and the officers, with their military training, were not easily fooled.
Initial Report
Gordon ran a 60-second story on the incident, describing it as “an interesting tidbit.” He expected a minimal response, but what happened next shocked him.
The Response
Public Reaction
Immediately after the story was broadcast, an unprecedented reaction occurred. Hundreds of calls flooded the radio station, jamming the switchboard. Gordon worked until midnight handling the flood of UFO reports.
October 17, 1987
A special call-in program was dedicated to UFO reports. This event saw massive listener participation, with reports varying wildly, and the community becoming visibly engaged in the phenomenon.
The Sightings
Object Descriptions
Witnesses reported seeing very large, long objects with blinking lights – often described as noiseless. These objects frequently took the form of egg-shaped objects, and were often observed with red, green, and white flashing lights resembling a Christmas tree-like lighting system. Some witnesses reported observing cube-shaped objects and silent black triangles, along with a variety of other shapes and sizes.
Total Reports
By the end of December 1987, over 1,500 reports had been received. By the end of the investigation, Gordon personally documented over 3,000 reports. Most of the objects observed were completely silent, and witnesses reported seeing multiple shapes. The phenomenon became a community-wide event.
Gordon’s Personal Sighting
October 21, 1987
While driving with friend Roger Hall in the area south of Wytheville, Gordon observed an unusual object on the horizon. He parked his car and exited to investigate.
What He Saw
The craft was described as a large dome-shaped object with a strobe light on top. A red ball approached and docked with the craft, and the craft then flew upward, unable to be photographed.
December 2, 1987
On December 2, 1987, Gordon, his wife, and their daughter were leaving the local mall when people began screaming. A large object was visible and it broke into four smaller objects. Gordon photographed the objects.
The Photographs
The only known photographs from the Wytheville wave depicted objects changing form – from teardrop shapes to round shapes to disc shapes to egg-shaped. These photographs represent the only physical evidence obtained from the event.
Notable Witnesses
Multiple Observers
Numerous individuals reported witnessing the phenomena. Patricia Akers reported ten sightings from an area north of Wytheville; Rita Marie Vaught described a circle object with strange lights behind a ridge; Mary Jane Williamson reported a large object with lights and a red center light; and multiple police officers and civilians from all backgrounds provided accounts.
Media Attention
The story garnered national coverage. A press conference attracted national coverage, and the National Enquirer sent a reporter who left without obtaining a sensational story. Television crews arrived, and an episode was produced for “Unsolved Mysteries.”
The Threats
March 19, 1988
While packing for the Broadcasters Conference, Gordon received a call from a “retired Military Intelligence Officer.” The officer instructed Gordon to tape the call and warned him that if anything happened to him, the recording would prove he had been warned, and that Gordon and his family would be threatened if he continued to publicize the sightings.
April 1988
Two men visited Gordon’s home, claiming to be newspaper reporters. One interviewed Gordon for 45 minutes, and the second man roamed the house taking photographs. This suspicious behavior raised concerns.
The Break-In
Following the press conference, Gordon returned home to find his house had been broken into. Strangely, nothing was stolen, but Gordon believes the intruders sought his UFO photographs and searched his UFO files.
Official Contact
Pentagon Response
Gordon contacted the Defense Department, telling them, “confirms UFOs exist” and stated they “do not pose a threat to Wythe County.” The government officially acknowledged the phenomenon.
Explanations Attempted
Various explanations were attempted, including the possibility of experimental military aircraft (which the military denied), planes refueling (which the Pentagon said was illegal at that altitude), but no satisfactory conventional explanation was provided, and the mystery remained.
Legacy
Danny Gordon
Danny Gordon retired from WYVE Radio in 2016. He co-authored a book, “Don’t Look Up! The Real Story Behind the Virginia UFO Sightings,” with Paul Dellinger. He continues to speak about his experiences and has transformed from a skeptic to a witness.
Cultural Impact
Wytheville today hosts the Wytheville UFO Fest, established in 2022, and a 35th-anniversary celebration is held annually. The case is featured on “Unsolved Mysteries,” and the town has become a tourist attraction.
Analysis
Why This Case Matters
The evidence included thousands of witnesses over an extended period, reports from multiple witness types (police, civilians), documented threats against the investigator, a break-in suggesting someone wanted information suppressed, photographic evidence obtained, and a professional journalist as the primary documenter.
The Threats Question
The identity of the person who warned Gordon remains unknown – was it a military intelligence officer, a government agency, or an unknown party? Why would such a person threaten a small-town radio journalist? What was being hidden?
Gordon’s Transformation
Gordon’s journey began with skepticism, he covered the story professionally, became a witness himself, received threats, and ultimately became a believer. His personal experience fundamentally changed his perspective.
The Question
October 1987. Wytheville, Virginia.
Danny Gordon is a radio journalist. He covers news and sports. He’s a skeptic about UFOs. They’re not real. They’re not news.
Then the sheriff calls.
Five police officers - trained observers, military backgrounds - saw strange lights over Fort Chiswell. Red and green, flashing. Not normal.
Gordon runs a 60-second story. Interesting tidbit. Nothing more.
His phone won’t stop ringing.
Hundreds of calls. People who’ve seen things. Things they can’t explain. The switchboard jams. He works until midnight taking reports.
Then he sees it himself.
October 21st. A dome-shaped craft. A red ball docks with it. It flies away.
He’s not a skeptic anymore.
The reports keep coming. 1,500 by Christmas. 3,000 eventually. A whole town seeing things in the sky.
Then the threats start.
A military intelligence officer calls. Tells him to tape the conversation. Warns him: stop publicizing this, or something will happen to you and your family.
Two men come to his house. Say they’re reporters. One asks questions. The other wanders around, photographing everything.
His house is broken into. Nothing stolen. But his UFO files have been searched.
The Pentagon tells him: UFOs exist. They don’t threaten Wythe County.
But someone threatened Danny Gordon.
Someone broke into his home.
Someone didn’t want this story told.
Wytheville.
1987 to 1990.
3,000 witnesses.
One journalist.
Threats. Break-ins. Warnings.
And still no explanation.
What was in the sky over Wytheville?
What was so important that someone threatened a small-town radio man to keep it quiet?
Danny Gordon is still asking.
Forty years later.
Still no answer.
Sources
- Wikipedia search: “The Wytheville UFO Wave”
- CIA UFO/UAP Reading Room — Declassified CIA documents on UAP