Flatwoods Monster 1952
Boys saw a light crash on a hill. With their mother, they went to investigate. They found a 10-foot creature with a spade-shaped head and glowing face. The smell was overwhelming. They ran. One fainted. The Flatwoods Monster entered American folklore.
On September 12, 1952, witnesses in Flatwoods, West Virginia, encountered something they’d never forget—a 10-foot creature with an ace-of-spades head that hovered above the ground. The noxious smell made them sick, and the experience profoundly changed their lives.
The Light
The events began with the sighting of a bright object that fell from the sky and landed on the hill near the Fisher Farm. A group of boys, including Eddie May, Fred May, Tommy Hyer, Neil Nunley, and Gene Lemon, were the first to observe this extraordinary phenomenon, accompanied by their family dog.
The Group
A group of individuals investigated the reported sighting, comprised of Kathleen May, Eddie May (13), Fred May (12), Tommy Hyer, Neil Nunley, Gene Lemon, and a family dog.
The Climb
The investigation involved a difficult climb up the hillside, undertaken under the cover of darkness with only flashlights. The night was exceptionally dark, and the dog led the way, but soon a strange, pungent smell began to permeate the air, and the eyes of the witnesses started to burn with discomfort.
The Mist
An oppressive and intensely pungent fog, described as metallic in odor, enveloped the area, making it exceedingly difficult to breathe and causing the eyes to water. This atmospheric effect contributed significantly to the unsettling nature of the encounter.
The Creature
What the witnesses described as appearing was a truly startling sight: a creature approximately 10 feet tall, characterized by a head shaped like an ace-of-spades playing card, a glowing orange face, and piercing red eyes. The creature’s body was a distinctive shade of green.
The Body
The physical form of the creature was unusual, as it did not appear to be standing, but rather hovering in the air. The lower section of its body had a pleated appearance, resembling a flowing dress, and there were no visible feet.
The Movement
The creature moved with an unsettling grace, gliding towards the group with a hissing sound, approaching slowly and creating an atmosphere of intense terror. This prompted a panicked flight from the witnesses.
The Retreat
The escape from the creature was characterized by pure panic as the witnesses scrambled down the hill, several of whom fell in their haste. Gene Lemon collapsed, and he was subsequently treated at a local hospital.
Physical Effects
Following the encounter, the witnesses reported a number of physical symptoms, including nausea, vomiting, and throat irritation, which persisted for several hours. A doctor was subsequently called to examine the individuals.
Mrs. May’s Account
Mrs. May consistently provided a detailed and consistent account of the event, having been interviewed multiple times over the years. Her description never changed, and she remained a lifetime witness to the extraordinary happenings of that night.
The Investigation
The event drew the attention of A. Lee Stewart Jr., a newspaper editor, who arrived on the scene on the same night. He documented the incident and found traces of the encounter, contributing to a thorough investigation and ultimately leading to the case being officially documented.
Physical Evidence
At the landing site, investigators discovered several pieces of physical evidence, including skid marks, an oily residue, burned grass, and odd tracks. Notably, the evidence quickly faded, suggesting a rapid departure.
The Air Force
The U.S. Air Force’s Project Blue Book investigated the reports, initially suggesting a possible explanation involving a barn owl and a meteor. However, this theory was quickly dismissed as ridiculous, and ultimately the witnesses’ accounts were rejected, leading to the case being closed.
Why Not Owl
The explanation involving an owl proved inadequate due to the creature’s extraordinary size (10 feet tall), the persistent and pungent smell associated with the event, the reported physical effects experienced by the witnesses, the presence of multiple independent witnesses, and the absence of any owl exhibiting such behaviors.
The Drawing
An iconic image of the Flatwoods Monster was created based on May’s description, depicting the ace-of-spades head, the green body, and the overall appearance of the creature. This rendering has become widely recognized and is now a staple of American folklore.
Flatwoods Today
The town of Flatwoods has embraced the legend, establishing a Monster Museum, featuring chairs designed to resemble the creature, and capitalizing on the notoriety through tourism. The event is now a source of significant community pride.
Similar Sightings
Patterns emerged, suggesting other sightings occurred in the same 1952 timeframe, generally within the same area, and reportedly involving a similar type of creature, leading to the belief that the events were part of a connected “wave.”
The Anniversary
Currently, the town of Flatwoods holds an annual celebration on September 12th, honoring the witnesses who experienced the extraordinary event, preserving the history of the encounter, and organizing a community event.
Significance
The Flatwoods Monster case represents a significant event in UFO history, marked by the testimony of seven witnesses to a 10-foot hovering creature, accompanied by documented physical effects and physical evidence at the landing site.
Legacy
The Flatwoods Monster (/events/flatwoods-monster-west-virginia/) launched West Virginia into UFO history—an encounter so bizarre and well-documented that it earned a permanent place in American folklore.
Sources
- Wikipedia search: “Flatwoods Monster 1952”
- Project Blue Book — National Archives — USAF UFO investigation files, 1947–1969
- CIA UFO/UAP Reading Room — Declassified CIA documents on UAP
- Internet Archive — Cryptozoology texts — Digitised cryptozoology literature
- Chronicling America — Historic US newspapers (1690–1963)