We report the observation of midinfrared super radiant pulses emitted from molecular gases pumped by a narrow-band, continuously tunable infrared optical parametric oscillator. Molecules pumped either into a vibrational combination band or a vibrational overtone state decay by means of super radiant emission to a lower vibrationally excited state. Emission was observed inN2Oat 4.5 and 8 &mgr;m, and inC2H2at 13.6 &mgr;m and 15.7 &mgr;m. Pulse energies as high as 0.5 mJ and pulse widths as short as 7 ns make this an excellent technique for the production of intense midinfrared light. ©1997 American Institute of Physics.