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From the High Desert

Thumbnail for November 30, 2015: Flying Humanoids - Ken Gerhard

November 30, 2015: Flying Humanoids - Ken Gerhard

Nov 30, 2015
2h 23m
0:00 / 0:00
Art Bell welcomes cryptozoologist Ken Gerhard for an exploration of flying cryptids reported around the world. Gerhard explains that while mainstream cryptozoology focuses on creatures like Bigfoot, flying humanoid encounters are overlooked despite hundreds of documented sightings. They discuss the Aswang of the Philippines, the Papabawa of Africa, and the chupacabra before turning to the most famous case.

The Mothman of Point Pleasant, West Virginia takes center stage, beginning with the 1966 Scarberry-Mallet sighting of a gray, winged figure with glowing red eyes that chased their car at nearly 100 miles per hour. Gerhard details the year-long flap of sightings preceding the Silver Bridge collapse, alleged men-in-black harassment of witnesses, and the recurring link between flying humanoid appearances and catastrophic events. He also covers the Owlman of Cornwall and unidentified flying humanoids filmed in Mexico.

The conversation broadens to the Patterson-Gimlin Bigfoot film, proving cryptid existence in the CGI era, and Gerhard's History Channel series Missing in Alaska. Callers share their own sightings, including a flying figure over El Paso and a giant bird-like creature near Mammoth Cave, Kentucky. Art highlights a photograph from September 11 appearing to show a massive prehistoric creature over New York.

Key Moments

  1. Transcript

    Aswang enters the flying-humanoid map: Gerhard brings in the Aswang of the Philippines as part of the global flying-humanoid tradition.

  2. Transcript

    Mothman as enigmatic icon: Gerhard calls Mothman one of the most enigmatic figures in the annals of the unexplained.

  3. Transcript

    Mothman chases cars: Gerhard says Mothman was reported chasing cars at speeds approaching 100 miles per hour.

  4. Transcript

    Mothman and Men in Black: Gerhard says people involved in the Mothman story reported harassment by Men in Black and untimely ends.

  5. Transcript

    Silver Bridge collapse: Gerhard connects the Mothman flap to the tragic Silver Bridge collapse in December 1967.

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