Within Alabama UFOs
What Happened During the 1973 Falkville 'Metal Man' Sighting?
Investigate the strange humanoid figure photographed in Falkville and its place in Alabama UFO lore.
On this page
- Anonymous report and police investigation
- Photographic evidence and skepticism
- Impact on local UFO reputation
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Introduction
The 1973 Falkville “Metal Man” sighting and photographic claims is one of the most peculiar UFO‑adjacent stories to emerge from Alabama’s long history of anomalous reports. It centres on a rural encounter in the small town of Falkville, Morgan County, where a local police chief claimed to have seen and photographed a strange metallic humanoid figure after responding to a reported unidentified flying object (UFO). The case is best known not for widespread official documentation but for its status as a contested local legend — a story that blended witness testimony, claimed photo evidence, and sceptical reinterpretation into a small but persistent piece of UFO lore in the state.[Wikipedia]
What Happened on the Night of 17 October 1973?
According to accounts circulating in UFO archives and local retellings, the event began just after 10 p.m. on 17 October 1973, when then‑26‑year‑old Jeff Greenhaw, the chief of police in Falkville, Alabama, received a call from an anonymous woman reporting strange lights and a possible UFO landing in a field outside town.[Wikipedia] Greenhaw, off duty at the time, drove to the scene — anticipating perhaps a misreported mundane situation — but found no obvious airborne craft upon arrival. As he drove along a narrow gravel road near Jenkins Field, his headlights reportedly picked up something unusual in the darkness.[Wikipedia]
Greenhaw described the object as a humanoid entity about six feet tall, clad from head to toe in highly reflective, metallic material that caught the light like polished metal or “mercury on nickel” and seemed to lack a distinct separation between head and neck. He claimed it bore an antenna‑like protrusion and moved in an odd, jerky fashion reminiscent of mechanical motion.[PARANORMAL CATALOG]paranormalcatalog.netPARANORMAL CATALOGThe Falkville Metal ManFebruary 3, 2023… Faced with this strange figure, Greenhaw later said he attempted to speak, then took out his Polaroid camera and snapped four photos before the figure suddenly turned and fled into the darkness — allegedly at speeds far exceeding normal human capability. Greenhaw pursued it in his patrol vehicle, reportedly reaching around 35 mph, but lost sight of it after crashing his truck in the field.[The Cullman Tribune]cullmantribune.comdo you believe in the metal manThe Cullman TribuneDo you believe in the Metal Man?10 Jul 2021 — On an October night in 1973, the young Falkville Chief of Police, Jeff G…
The Photographic Evidence and Initial Reports
The four Polaroid images Greenhaw claimed to have taken form the core of the case’s supposed evidence. According to discussions in UFO enthusiast circles, the first image shows mostly darkness and a flash of silver, while the subsequent frames appear to show a metallic humanoid form reflecting the camera’s flash. These claimed photos have circulated in fringe sources and figure prominently in retellings of the encounter.[Cryptopia]cryptopia.usFALKVILLE METAL MAN (ALABAMA, USA) | CryptopiaCryptopiaFALKVILLE METAL MAN (ALABAMA, USA) | Cryptopia - Exploring The Hidden WorldMarch 3, 2010…
Greenhaw kept the original photographs for several years, but he later reported that in 1983 someone broke into his home and stole the pictures along with a service revolver and a shotgun — a burglary that he claimed was unusual because the only items taken were those associated with the 1973 incident. After that, he largely withdrew from public life.[The Cullman Tribune]cullmantribune.comdo you believe in the metal manThe Cullman TribuneDo you believe in the Metal Man?10 Jul 2021 — On an October night in 1973, the young Falkville Chief of Police, Jeff G…
The story spread beyond local memory through UFO folklore sites, and the images were said to have been sent to analysts such as Walt Andrus of the Mutual UFO Network (MUFON) for review. Some fringe accounts assert the negatives revealed “UFO‑like” figures that were not immediately obvious in the prints, though no detailed, peer‑reviewed publication of these findings is available.[Cryptopia]cryptopia.usFALKVILLE METAL MAN (ALABAMA, USA) | CryptopiaCryptopiaFALKVILLE METAL MAN (ALABAMA, USA) | Cryptopia - Exploring The Hidden WorldMarch 3, 2010…
Scepticism, Alternative Explanations, and Aftermath
Immediately and over the decades since, sceptics have largely dismissed the Metal Man incident as hoax, misinterpretation or local prank. Multiple elements of the narrative invite critical scrutiny: the description of a figure that could be emulated with reflective materials available in the 1970s; the fact that no official police records or local newspaper reports from the period corroborate the sighting in authoritative detail; and the absence of the original photographic negatives for independent forensic analysis.[Wikipedia]
Common sceptical theories include:
- Costume or Prank: Critics note that the described metallic material resembles aluminium foil or a reflective fire‑proximity suit, both of which were available in the era and capable of producing the visual effect described, especially in low light.[Wikipedia]
- Human Source: Some narratives suggest the “entity” may have been a local person in a suit, perhaps even as a prank on the police chief, with the subsequent wild chase misremembered or exaggerated over time.[Wikipedia]
- Lack of Verifiable Evidence: Without access to the original photos and with scant contemporaneous documentation outside folklore and UFO‑enthusiast websites, the claim remains anecdotal rather than evidential.[Wikipedia]
Even within UFO circles, the encounter has never reached the prominence of cases backed by stronger documentation or investigative follow‑up. Many in the sceptical community treat it alongside other alleged encounters from the period — colourful, culturally interesting, but not demonstrably unexplained.[Wikipedia]
Impact on Local UFO Reputation
Within Alabama’s UFO lore, the Falkville Metal Man occupies a niche as a locally notorious but highly disputed episode. It lacks the official record of military or aviation testimony seen in stronger cases like the nearby 1948 Chiles‑Whitted sighting, but it persists in UFO subculture because of its vivid imagery and the involvement of a law‑enforcement figure.[Wikipedia]
The story’s endurance illustrates how UFO narratives can take root in small communities, especially when intertwined with compelling elements like claimed photographic evidence and personal cost to the witness. In Falkville’s case, the tale of the Metal Man has become part of the town’s fringe heritage — less a matter of documented mystery and more a local legend debated between believers and sceptics.[The Cullman Tribune]cullmantribune.comdo you believe in the metal manThe Cullman TribuneDo you believe in the Metal Man?10 Jul 2021 — On an October night in 1973, the young Falkville Chief of Police, Jeff G…
What This Case Tells Us
For readers interested in UFO history specifically within Alabama, the Falkville incident represents an example of:
- How sighting reports can get shaped by personal testimony and community storytelling rather than by verifiable records.
- The way photographic claims from the 1970s are interpreted differently by enthusiasts and critical observers.
- The broader pattern of UFO lore spreading through print, broadcast and internet communities even when primary sources are scarce or lost.
Unlike cases that entered official investigation channels, the Metal Man sighting remains unverified and unresolved, with its primary “evidence” (the original photos) missing and its narrative filtered through every level of speculative retelling. Whether viewed as a hoax, misinterpretation, or something unexplained, it remains a curious footnote in Alabama’s catalogue of UFO‑related anecdotes.[The Cullman Tribune]cullmantribune.comdo you believe in the metal manThe Cullman TribuneDo you believe in the Metal Man?10 Jul 2021 — On an October night in 1973, the young Falkville Chief of Police, Jeff G…
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Endnotes
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Source: Wikipedia
Title: Falkville, Alabama
Link: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Falkville%2C_Alabama -
Source: Wikipedia
Title: Homme de métal de Falkville
Link: https://fr.wikipedia.org/wiki/Homme_de_m%C3%A9tal_de_Falkville -
Source: paranormalcatalog.net
Title: PARANORMAL CATALOGThe Falkville Metal Man
Link: https://www.paranormalcatalog.net/ufos/the-falkville-metal-manSource snippet
February 3, 2023...
Published: February 3, 2023
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Source: cryptopia.us
Title: FALKVILLE METAL MAN (ALABAMA, USA) | Cryptopia
Link: https://www.cryptopia.us/site/2010/03/metal-man-of-falkville-alabama-usa/Source snippet
CryptopiaFALKVILLE METAL MAN (ALABAMA, USA) | Cryptopia - Exploring The Hidden WorldMarch 3, 2010...
Published: March 3, 2010
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Source: cullmantribune.com
Title: do you believe in the metal man
Link: https://www.cullmantribune.com/2021/07/10/do-you-believe-in-the-metal-man/Source snippet
The Cullman TribuneDo you believe in the Metal Man?10 Jul 2021 — On an October night in 1973, the young Falkville Chief of Police, Jeff G...
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Source: mythicalencyclopedia.com
Title: Metal Man
Link: https://mythicalencyclopedia.com/metal-man/Source snippet
The first sighting of the Metal Man was reported in Falkville, Alabama, in 1973. The creature was d...
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Source: planet-today.com
Title: The Falkville Metal Man
Link: https://www.planet-today.com/2018/10/the-falkville-metal-man.htmlSource snippet
Police chief Jeff Greenhaw received a call around 10:00pm that would change his life forever. It was a wom...
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Source: paranormal-strange.fandom.com
Title: Falkville Metal Man
Link: https://paranormal-strange.fandom.com/wiki/Falkville_Metal_ManSource snippet
Metal Man | Paranormal Strange Wiki | FandomOctober 17, 1973 — FALKVILLE METAL MAN Sign In to Save Save Edit * History * Purge * Talk (0)...
Published: October 17, 1973
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Source: unsolvedmysteries.fandom.com
Title: Alabama Metal Man
Link: https://unsolvedmysteries.fandom.com/wiki/Alabama_Metal_ManSource snippet
Metal Man | Unsolved Mysteries Wiki | FandomOctober 17, 1973 — ALABAMA METAL MAN Sign In to Save Save Edit * Edit source * History * Purg...
Published: October 17, 1973
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Source: obscurban-legend.fandom.com
Title: Falkville Metal Man
Link: https://obscurban-legend.fandom.com/wiki/Falkville_Metal_ManSource snippet
Metal Man | ObscUrban Legend Wikia | FandomFALKVILLE METAL MAN Sign In to Save Save Edit * History * Purge * Talk (0) iframe Falkville Me...
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Source: cryptidz.fandom.com
Link: https://cryptidz.fandom.com/wiki/Metal_ManSource snippet
Man | Cryptid Wiki | FandomMETAL MAN Sign In to Save Save Edit * History * Purge * Talk (0) iframe In Falkville, Alabama, on October 17...
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Source: pdsh.fandom.com
Title: Falkville Metal Man
Link: https://pdsh.fandom.com/wiki/Falkville_Metal_ManSource snippet
Metal Man | Public Domain Super Heroes | FandomFALKVILLE METAL MAN Sign In to Save Save Edit * History * Purge * Talk (0) iframe Falkvill...
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Source: metacast.app
Link: https://metacast.app/podcast/mostly-true-alien-stories/jM1Brt2V/the-falkville-metal-man—alabama-s-strangest-alien-encounter/ppwB9dkVSource snippet
The Falkville Metal Man - Alabama's Strangest Alien...16 Apr 2025 — No, everybody that examined the photos and Q, including MUFON, the m...
Additional References
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Source: facebook.com
Title: These images were taken by police chief Jeff Greenhaw
Link: https://www.facebook.com/CryptozoologyFacts/posts/these-images-were-taken-by-police-chief-jeff-greenhaw-the-entity-has-been-called/901873058615537/Source snippet
10 Apr 2024 — A hoax? A prank? Or something else? The "Metal Man" pics became iconic imagery for a time in the mid-70s, appearing in nume...
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Source: facebook.com
Title: These images were taken by police chief Jeff Greenhaw
Link: https://www.facebook.com/CryptozoologyFacts/posts/these-images-were-taken-by-police-chief-jeff-greenhaw-the-entity-has-been-called/1357301373072701/Source snippet
The “Metal Man of Falkville” became Alabama's own X-Files mystery. Some said it was an alien, others a prank, but the photos still creep...
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Source: instagram.com
Link: https://www.instagram.com/reel/DQbPh8SEQZr/Source snippet
UFO legends — a silvery humanoid sprinting into the night...Read more...
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Source: instagram.com
Title: Now known as the Alabama Metal Man or the Falkville Metal Man.Read more
Link: https://www.instagram.com/p/C_irL-GOlYy/Source snippet
Located in Falkville, Alabama in the autumn of 1973 there...Located in Falkville, Alabama in the autumn of 1973 there was once rumored t...
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Source: pararational.com
Title: The Legendary Falkville Metal Man Encounter
Link: https://www.pararational.com/falkville-metal-man/Source snippet
ParaRationalImage: falkville metal man THE LEGENDARY FALKVILLE METAL MAN ENCOUNTER * Aliens POLICE CHIEF JEFF GREENHAW OF FALKVILLE, AL W...
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Source: shadowfrequencypodcast.com
Title: the night falkville met the metal man
Link: https://www.shadowfrequencypodcast.com/blog/the-night-falkville-met-the-metal-man/Source snippet
25, 2025 THE NIGHT FALKVILLE MET THE METAL MAN Image: The Night Falkville Met the Metal Man 🌌 THE NIGHT FALKVILLE MET THE METAL MAN By Ju...
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Source: reddit.com
Link: https://www.reddit.com/r/futurama/comments/npf8at/in_1973_and_alabama_police_officer_responded_to/Source snippet
In 1973 Jeff Greenhaw, then 26-year old chief of police of Falkville, Alabama, was responding to a ufo landing...Read more...
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Source: youtube.com
Title: Metal Man of Alabama
Link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9EDCm-mRAVASource snippet
"Jeff Greenhaw & The Falkville Metal Man" (The Goods from the Woods Episode #351)...
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Source: ia600600.us.archive.org
Title: UFOs The Definitive Casebook LQ2
Link: https://ia600600.us.archive.org/10/items/ufos-the-definitive-casebook-lq-2/UFOs_The_Definitive_Casebook_LQ2.pdfSource snippet
DEFINITIVE CASEBOOKThe Publishers would like to thank the following organizations and individuals for their kind permission to reproduce...
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Source: open.spotify.com
Link: https://open.spotify.com/episode/0iM3U7GTIAzFDP4bURg9xISource snippet
spotify.com#18: Falkville Metal Man - The Cryptonaut PodcastIn October of 1973 the police chief of Falkville, Alabama Jeff Greenhaw inves...
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