<PAGE>   1
                       SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

                            Washington, D.C.  20549

                                  FORM 10-K/A

                ANNUAL REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF
                      THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

For the fiscal year                                              Commission file
ended June 29, 1997                                               number 1-5761 
--------------------                                             ---------------

                                 LABARGE, INC.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
              (Exact name of registrants specified in its charter)

Delaware                                                              73-0574586
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
(State or other jurisdiction of                              (I.R.S.  Employer
incorporation or organization)                               Identification No.)

9900-A Clayton Road,   St. Louis,   Missouri                           63124
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
(Address of principal executive offices)                             (Zip Code)

Registrant's telephone number, including area code:  314-997-0800

Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Act:

                                             Name of each exchange
     Title of each class                      on which registered   
     -------------------                    --------------------------

     Common Stock, $.01 par value           American Stock Exchange, Inc.
     ----------------------------           -----------------------------

Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(g) of the Act:

                                      None
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                (Title of Class)

         Indicate by check mark whether the registrant (1) has filed all
reports required to be filed by Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange
Act of 1934 during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the
registrant was required to file such reports), and (2) has been subject to such
filing requirements for the past 90 days.     Yes  X    No 
                                                  ----     -----

         As of August 29, 1997, 15,658,230 shares of common stock of the
registrant were outstanding; the aggregate market value of the shares of common
stock of the registrant held by non-affiliates was approximately $88,077,544,
based upon the closing price of the common stock on the American Stock
Exchange, Inc. on August 29, 1997.

                      DOCUMENTS INCORPORATED BY REFERENCE
  Certain portions of the Company's definitive proxy materials to be filed
within 120 days after the Company's fiscal year are incorporated in
Part III herein.
<PAGE>   2
                                   SIGNATURES





        Pursuant to the requirements of Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities
Exchange Act of 1934, the Registrant has duly caused this Report to be signed
on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized.




Dated:    September 22, 1997  
       ---------------------------




                                          LaBarge, Inc.
                                          
                                          By   /s/ William J. Maender
                                             ---------------------------
                                               William J. Maender
                                               Vice President - Finance
                                               (Chief Financial and
                                                Accounting Officer)
                                                                   
<PAGE>   3

                               POWER OF ATTORNEY

      KNOW ALL MEN BY THESE PRESENTS, that each person whose signature appears 
below constitutes and appoints Craig E. LaBarge and William J. Maender
and each of them, and substitution and resubstitution, for him and in his name,
place and stead, in any and all capacities, to sign this Report, any and all
amendments to this Report, and to file the same, with all exhibits thereto, and
other documents in connection therewith, with the Securities and Exchange
Commission, granting unto said attorneys-in-fact and agents, and each of them,
full power and authority to do and perform each and every act and thing
requisite and necessary to be done, as fully to all intents and purposes as he
might or could do in person, hereby ratifying and confirming all that said
attorneys-in-fact and agents or either of them, or their or his substitute or
substitutes, may lawfully do or cause to be done by virtue hereof.

                Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1934,
this Report as been signed below by the following persons on behalf of the
Registrant and in the capacities and on the dates indicated.


<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
       Signature                          Title                                           Date
       ---------                          -----                                           ----
                              
<S>                              <C>                                                <C>                              
 s/Pierre L. LaBarge, Jr./s   
------------------------------
Pierre L. LaBarge, Jr.            Chairman Emeritus and Director                         8/12/97    
                                                                                     ---------------
                              
 s/Craig E. LaBarge/s                                                                    8/12/97    
------------------------------                                                       ---------------
Craig E. LaBarge                  President (Chief Executive Officer) and
                                  Director                               
  s/William J. Maender/s                                                                 8/12/97    
------------------------------                                                       ---------------
William J. Maender                Vice President-Finance (Chief Financial
                                  and Accounting Officer) and Secretary  

  s/Gus G. Casten/s                                                                      8/12/97    
------------------------------                                                       ---------------
Gus G. Casten                     Director
                                          
  s/Richard P. Conerly/s                                                                 8/12/97    
------------------------------                                                       ---------------
Richard P. Conerly                Director
                                          
  s/R. Hal Dean/s                                                                        8/12/97    
------------------------------                                                       ---------------
R. Hal Dean                       Director
                                          
  s/J. C. Kuhn, Jr./s                                                                    8/12/97    
------------------------------                                                       ---------------
J. C. Kuhn, Jr.                   Director
                                          
  s/ Edward J. Nestor, Jr./s                                                             8/12/97    
------------------------------                                                       ---------------
Edward J. Nestor, Jr.             Director
                                          
  s/James P. Shanahan, Jr./s                                                             8/12/97    
------------------------------                                                       ---------------
James P. Shanahan, Jr.            Director
                                          
  s/Jack E. Thomas, Jr./s                                                                8/12/97    
------------------------------                                                       ---------------
Jack E. Thomas, Jr.               Director

</TABLE>
                                          

                                     -13-