The Braxton County Monster

On September 12, 1952, residents of Flatwoods, West Virginia investigated a crashed light on a hillside and encountered a terrifying 10-foot entity. The Flatwoods Monster—or Braxton County Monster—became one of the most iconic cryptid/UFO cases of the 1950s.

The Night

September 12, 1952:

• Friday evening
• Object seen falling
• Bright light
• Landed on hill
• Boys investigated

The Witnesses

Who went up:

• Kathleen May (adult)
• Eugene Lemon (National Guard)
• Five young boys
• Dog with them
• Curious locals

The Climb

What happened:

• Walked up hillside
• Strange mist
• Pulsing light
• Dog ran ahead
• Then fled back

The Creature

What they saw:

• 10 feet tall
• Spade-shaped head
• Glowing eyes
• Hood or helmet
• Claw-like hands

The Mist

Physical effect:

• Acrid odor
• Nauseating
• Made witnesses sick
• Burning sensation
• Metallic smell

The Retreat

Immediate reaction:

• Terror
• Fled down hill
• To May home
• Called sheriff
• Clearly traumatized

Physical Symptoms

Witnesses experienced:

• Nausea
• Throat irritation
• Vomiting
• Lasted hours
• Genuine illness

The Investigation

Sheriff Carr:

• Came to site
• Found strange tracks
• Pulsing glow in sky
• Skid marks
• Something happened

Media Coverage

Nationwide attention:

• Newspapers
• Radio
• TV coverage
• Monster mania
• Famous case

The Drawing

Kathleen May:

• Described in detail
• Famous illustration created
• Iconic image
• Spade-head design
• Enduring image

Explanations Proposed

Skeptics suggest:

• Barn owl
• Misidentified
• Meteor plus owl
• Hysteria
• Natural phenomena

The Craft

Also reported:

• Pulsing object
• On hilltop
• Ball of fire
• Hissing sound
• Then dark

Significance

Combined UFO crash and creature encounter with physical effects on multiple witnesses.

Legacy

The Flatwoods Monster became an icon of 1950s UFO culture, with its distinctive appearance appearing in documentaries, games, and media for decades.