Piedmont Missouri UFO Flap

The Piedmont UFO flap of 1973 transformed a quiet Missouri town into a focal point of UFO activity. For weeks, hundreds of residents reported strange lights and objects in the sky. The sightings were so frequent and credible that CBS News broadcast from the town and the Air Force’s former UFO consultant came to investigate personally. What visited Piedmont remains unexplained.

February-March 1973

The flap began in early 1973:

Location: Piedmont, a small town of about 2,000 in the Ozark Mountains of southeastern Missouri.

Start: Sightings began in late January and intensified in February.

Duration: The most intense activity lasted approximately six weeks.

Witnesses: Hundreds of residents reported sightings.

The First Sightings

The wave began quietly:

Initial Reports: Several residents reported unusual lights in the night sky.

Repetition: The lights returned night after night.

Patterns: The objects often appeared over the same areas.

Attention: As word spread, more people began watching the skies.

What They Saw

The reports shared common features:

Lights: Bright, colored lights - often orange, red, or white.

Movement: Objects that moved erratically, hovered, and made impossible maneuvers.

Silence: The objects were typically silent or made only faint sounds.

Multiple Objects: Sometimes several objects appeared together.

Duration: Sightings could last from minutes to hours.

Police Reports

Law enforcement became involved:

Officers as Witnesses: Multiple police officers reported seeing the objects.

Radio Reports: Officers radioed descriptions while watching the objects.

Credibility: Police witnesses added significant credibility to the reports.

Documentation: Some reports were officially documented.

The Basketball Game Sighting

One dramatic sighting involved an entire crowd:

The Event: After a basketball game, spectators leaving the gym saw objects in the sky.

Mass Witness: Dozens of people watched together.

Description: Multiple bright lights performing unusual maneuvers.

Documentation: The event was widely reported and discussed.

Dr. J. Allen Hynek

The famous UFO researcher came to investigate:

Background: Hynek had been the U.S. Air Force’s scientific consultant on UFOs.

Visit: He traveled to Piedmont to interview witnesses and observe.

Assessment: He found the witnesses credible and the case significant.

Documentation: His investigation added scientific credibility to the case.

CBS News Coverage

The national media took notice:

Broadcast: CBS News aired a segment on the Piedmont sightings.

Reporter: A CBS crew spent time in town interviewing witnesses.

National Attention: The broadcast brought the small town to national awareness.

Documentation: The professional media coverage preserved the story.

Types of Objects

Witnesses reported various phenomena:

Lights: Simple bright lights in the sky.

Structured Craft: Some reported seeing defined shapes - discs, cigars, triangles.

Close Encounters: A few witnesses reported objects at close range.

Ground Effects: Some reported effects on car engines and electronics.

The Terrain

The Ozark location may be significant:

Mountains: The Ozark terrain is rugged and sparsely populated.

Mining History: The area has a history of lead and iron mining.

Caves: Numerous caves exist in the region.

Magnetic Anomalies: Some researchers have noted unusual magnetic readings.

Duration and Patterns

The flap showed interesting patterns:

Nightly: Objects often appeared at the same times.

Favorite Locations: Certain areas seemed to attract more activity.

Gradual Decline: After peaking, the sightings gradually decreased.

Occasional Returns: Sporadic sightings continued afterward.

Witness Credibility

The witnesses were notably credible:

Diversity: Witnesses included police, teachers, business owners, farmers.

Multiple Witnesses: Many sightings involved groups of people.

Reluctance: Many witnesses were initially reluctant to report.

Consistency: Different witnesses described similar phenomena.

Scientific Interest

The case attracted researchers:

Hynek’s Team: Multiple researchers visited.

Data Collection: Systematic efforts were made to document sightings.

Photography: Some witnesses attempted to photograph the objects.

Analysis: The case was studied as an example of a “flap” phenomenon.

Possible Explanations

Various theories have been proposed:

Military Activity: Some suggested secret military exercises. No evidence supported this.

Weather Phenomena: Ball lightning or atmospheric effects. The consistency argues against this.

Mass Hysteria: Social contagion. The police and researcher witnesses argue against this.

Unknown Phenomenon: Something genuinely unexplained visited Piedmont.

Community Response

Piedmont adapted to its sudden fame:

Tourism: Curious visitors came to watch for UFOs.

Community Bonding: The shared experience united the town.

Skeptics and Believers: Like anywhere, residents were divided on explanations.

Memory: The 1973 flap remains part of local history.

The Ozark Connection

The broader region has a UFO history:

Recurring Activity: The Ozarks have produced numerous UFO reports over decades.

Spook Light: The famous Hornet Spook Light is not far away.

Pattern: Some researchers see the Ozarks as a persistent area of activity.

Geology: Theories link the geology to unexplained phenomena.

Legacy

The Piedmont flap matters because:

• Hundreds of credible witnesses over an extended period
• Police officers among the witnesses
• Investigation by J. Allen Hynek
• National media coverage
• One of the most documented UFO flaps in American history

Whatever appeared over the Ozark Mountains in early 1973 was seen by enough people, enough times, and investigated by enough professionals to remain one of the most significant UFO flaps ever documented.

Sources

• Dr. J. Allen Hynek investigation
• CBS News footage
• Police reports
• Witness testimonies
• Local newspaper coverage