UFO Overview
Unidentified flying objects (UFOs) have appeared everywhere over West Virginia. Before 1952’s Flatwoods Monster encounter, aliens and flying saucers were not as commonly thought of or attributed to strange happenings in the skies. Though most UFO reports date after 1952, lights and strange shadows have been seen in the air for much, much longer; now, there are names for them—aliens.
Chevron and Crescent Crafts
Round and angular “C” or “V” shaped crafts are infrequently reported in West Virginia, though these sightings share a few similar characteristics. Chevron crafts are usually accompanied by loud, booming sounds that shake the ground and surrounding buildings like a minor, brief earthquake. Those that see them note their very large shape in addition to the craft being white or silver, dotted with several flashing lights on the bottom or side of the object, and moving at a very slow pace before vanishing into thin air. Some of these UFOs are also seen alongside storm fronts or lightning, specifically coinciding with the occurrence of blue lightning at night. Most often, they appear in the sky as dark, shadowy silhouettes with bright lights on the corners or edges.
Some believe that these spaceships are resource gathering crafts or ones passing through, traveling elsewhere.
Reportedly seen in: Athens, Beckley, Bluefield, Bowden, Ceredo, Elkins, Eskdale, Fayetteville, Goldtown, Huntington, Lenore, Lewisburg, Mineral Wells, Morgantown, Oak Hill, Ripley, Seneca Rocks, St. Marys
Cigar, Cylinder, and Box Crafts
Cigar or box crafts are the fourth most seen UFO in West Virginia. They are described as silent, very slow-moving, shiny, silver or white objects that hover up to 1000 ft in the air; some have circular or bar-shaped lights that display a variety of pulsating or steady colors: red, orange, yellow, and white. They are seen both during the day and at night, sometimes moving horizontally or vertically in straight lines. Large types of these UFOs have been seen dispersing or dividing into several smaller cigar, diamond, or egg-shaped crafts; these break- offs are believed to be surveillance crafts, individual extraterrestrials landing on Earth, or small resource gathering crafts. The Grinning Men and Vegetable Men are said to fly vertical box and cigar UFOs. These types of aircraft are also associated with time jumping; occasionally, when these vehicles fly over residents, they experience a fast-forwarding or pause in time— gaining or losing between a few minutes to a few hours. Some believe that these crafts transport large numbers of lifeforms or quantities of objects/materials; they also believe that their craft’s planet-hopping technology teleports those nearby backward and forwards in time, while also dazing them.
Reportedly seen in: most of West Virginia
Cross Crafts
Cross crafts are the second rarest UFOs seen in West Virginia; they are shaped like ‘t’s and vary in size. They are white objects with red and/or white bright, flashing lights that sometimes seem to reflect the sky, almost making it invisible. They are described as being mostly quiet ships that stay still in the sky before vanishing. They are most often seen on holidays, during or immediately before/after eclipses, or on sunny clear days in quiet places of solitude. At times, they have been seen before minor disasters; this causes some to believe that they are involved in the causation of such calamities like bridge collapses.
Some believe that these UFOs are alien surveillance crafts, gathering information on human activity.
Reportedly seen in: Barboursville, Charleston, Huntington, Seneca Rocks, Rivesville
Diamond Crafts
Diamond-shaped UFOs are infrequently seen UFOs that often display colorful lights; capable of moving quickly or slowly and able to perform impressive aerial maneuvers, these ships are most active early in the morning. Green, blue, orange, and red sparkling, flashing, or unblinking lights have been attributed to diamond UFOs. Unlike diagonal crafts, which break off of triangular UFOs, these types are very large and often seem to emanate light from within. Like cigar and box crafts, diamonds are associated with time jumping, though encounters result in lost time. When these ships appear in rural or wilderness settings, they can sometimes be seen releasing a thick, laser-like light from the bottom of the ship that reaches the ground; this light is believed to be related to abductions and/or research/material gathering. Beams reportedly come from windows that open and close like an eye.
Some believe that these crafts transport important individuals or harbor computers that gather detailed information on the Earth, its environment, activity, and inhabitants; others view them as biological research ships that abduct lifeforms for study or other unknown purposes.
Seen in: Buckhannon, Chapmanville, Charleston, Fayetteville, Lewisburg, Martinsburg, Normantown
Egg, Fireball, Tear, and Orb-Like Crafts and Groups
Circular or oval-shaped UFOs are the most common type of ship seen in the West Virginian skies; they appear statewide almost exclusively at night, with almost all areas having at least one sighting. These crafts can appear solo, in pairs, trios, or in groups of 4 - 20. They are also often described as shining bright as a star from an internal glow or from numerous lights that line the craft’s exterior/entire body. Lights may blink, rotate, flash between two or more colors, have horizontal light stripes or circular windows, and leave behind colorful tails; colors reported include: green, white, blue, orange, red, amber, and gray. These UFOs have erratic and vastly unique, individual flight patterns and behaviors. Crafts have been seen flying in rotating or circular motions while in pairs, flying in groups while moving in a swaying motion, going forward in floaty straight lines, zigzagging paths, routes full of pauses, jumps, and starts, preforming falls, barrel rolls, levitations, and sometimes simple vertical or horizontal movements. Speed may also differ greatly from craft to craft — some move extremely slow, others the speed of an average plane, and few traversing much faster; however, all of these aircraft display an incredible ability to navigate and change direction. Size can range between that of an adult human to that of a commercial airplane; generated sounds depend on the craft’s size and can range between complete silence to the roaring of jet engines. On rare occasions, these orb-like UFOs can be seen merging, creating a larger orb or splitting into two smaller crafts. Most of these aircraft hover above witnesses at 85 - 1000 ft, disappearing into the distance or instantly out of sight. This type can usually be found above high voltage power lines, near military bases, following rivers, mountain ranges, or in dense woodlands on nights with a full moon. About one-third of sightings are accompanied by foggy conditions; the Flatwoods Monster has been reported to fly tear or egg-shaped crafts. Several of these UFOs generate high-pitched, electrical noises, which can scare nearby canines. These ships have been highly reported to follow cars and hikers.
Many believe that these crafts are flown by individual extraterrestrials for unique, individual purposes or under the command of alien governments or groups; they are known as UFOs with the most impressive flying maneuverability and speed. On some occasions, these UFOs are misidentified as ghosts or other paranormal entities that have similar, glowing forms.
Reportedly seen in: all of West Virginia
Flat and Round, Disc Crafts
Disc UFOs are often seen at low altitudes during the day or at night and are the third most common UFO seen in West Virginia. Their movements seem to be erratic and of average speed, though they are dexterous for their great size. These hovering discs are always described as being gigantic and made of a silver or reddish-brown, metallic material with several lights and windows located in the middle or on the bottom. The lights are often colored, sometimes are described as pulsating, with these hues being reported: blue, red, orange, and white; windows are described as being made of silver, gold, or black metal. Most often, disc UFOs are seen alone, though there have been reports of groups of 6 - 20 (or more) seen for brief durations of time before vanishing. Reports recount that decorative lines have been seen on the aircraft’s bottom, as well as hieroglyphic-like markings and intricate patterns. Though the crafts are largely silent, when they pass over inhabited regions they shake the ground and buildings they hover above—sometimes generating a low, reverberating hum that can be heard and felt. Discs glide smoothly and slowly through the sky, always in a straight line and about 100 - 500 ft above the ground. They often disappear exactly as they materialize—instantly, without a sound—though others morph into a dark shadow that gradually disappears. This type of UFO is often seen above cities, rural communities, and mountain ranges. Those that hide with camouflaged exteriors often cause electronics to malfunction and loud, static noises to emanate from the sky. They are most well known for their association with abduction, teleportation, and skyquakes; those that see discs sometimes report being taken up into a beam of light and waking up in an abandoned place far from where they last remember being. Most interestingly, discs in West Virginia often appear in graveyards after someone has been freshly buried; investigators speculate that the deceased’s bodies are abducted for study or that alien technology is being recovered from the forms.
Though no creature has ever been seen entering, leaving, or within the aircraft, many believe that extraterrestrials use these ships to monitor specific regions, gather research, and conduct experiments. Recordings and photographs of discs reveal nothing but clear or cloudy skies paired with a motion-blurred effect.
Reportedly seen in: most of West Virginia
Top and Cone Crafts
Top and cone crafts are the rarest UFO sightings in West Virginia. When seen, viewers report four or more lights on the object that may flash hues of any color or blink black. The aircraft appear to be made of a dark gray or reddish metal that has a matte finish. The UFOs fly close to the ground in a spinning motion, often in straight horizontal, vertical, or diagonal lines. Often, they fly so close to the Earth that the leaves on trees get burned or low-lying vegetation singed. Unlike other crafts, cones and tops are not silent but produce a deep, thrumming sound like that of a hummingbird. They are associated with time jumping, as well as being causes of headaches, migraines, and temporary paralyzation.
Due to their intense, spinning motions, many do not believe that these UFOs harbor lifeforms, but are computers themselves, used for monitoring of information gathering.
Reportedly seen in: Huntington, Stonewood, Stringtown
Tri-Light, Diagonal Light Groups, and Triangular Crafts
Small, angular UFOs or large, triangular aircraft are the second most reported UFO in West Virginia. When these types of craft fly near, they cause dogs to act strangely—eliciting fear, pain, or aggression. Diagonal ships often break off of triangular UFOs, and are much smaller; these crafts are silent, able to fly incredibly fast, move in pairs, trios, or large groups, and often take zigzagging or swooping paths.
Diagonal ships are often a shiny black or darkly colored metal with one or two attached lights and/or tails in these colors: white, green, or blue; they are frequently mistaken for strange stars or comets.
Triangular UFOs are giant, levitating crafts that are silver, gold, or dark in color with flashing, color-changing, or sometimes dim lights located on the tips or edges in these hues: blue, white, orange, and red. They often seem to move in slow motion. These aircraft fly at extremely high altitudes on nights with a full or half-moon; they tend to appear in groups of three or less, most often only accompanied by their smaller, diagonal counterparts.
Many view these ships as signs of upcoming invasion; others see triangular UFOs as transporters for diamond crafts that may have business on Earth.
Reportedly seen in: all of West Virginia
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