7:15 p.m.

September 12th, 1952

Flatwoods, WV

Three boys (Neil Nunley - age 14, Eddie May - age 13, and Freddie May - age 14) were playing football in their school’s playground. In the middle of the game, they saw a bright red light flash across the sky, soar low, and land on a distant hilltop; the disc-shaped object was sputtering sparks as it descended. Curious and a bit afraid, the boys ran to the nearby home of Eddie and Freddie. Their mom—Kathleen May, a beautician—listened to the boys but was skeptical of their account; yet, after looking out her door and seeing a pulsating, red light, she believed something odd sat on that hill too. Kathleen sent her sons to get Gene Lemon (age 17, member of the National Guard), who led the group with a small flashlight and his dog. The boys’ friend Neil also accompanied them along with two other boys—Ronnie Shaver and Tommy Hyer (both age 10)—who saw the light from their yards.

The object appeared to land…