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Person

Nathan F. Twining

USAF general; signed the 1947 memo on “flying discs”

1947–1948 · Historical figures (1933–2007) · Official

A lieutenant general commanding the Air Materiel Command, on September 23, 1947 he sent General George F. Schulgen the memo “AMC Opinion Concerning 'Flying Discs'”, according to which the reported phenomenon was real and not imaginary; in 1948 he launched Project SAUCER/SIGN. The memo is an authentic document. The MJ-12 documents name him as a member of the alleged committee, and a 1954 “Cutler/Twining memo,” found at the National Archives in 1985, is considered fake because Cutler was abroad at the time; the FBI considered the MJ-12 document completely false.

Key claims
  • In the September 23, 1947 memo the Air Materiel Command, which he headed, concluded that the reported phenomenon was real and not a product of imagination.
Controversies
  • He is named as a member of MJ-12 in documents considered fake; the 1954 “Cutler/Twining memo” is refuted because Cutler was out of the country.
Today
Not cited by name in the sources collected; the first volume of AARO's historical report (March 2024) examines the SAUCER/SIGN projects he launched.

Documented authority

It measures how documented and verifiable what the person claims is, not their honesty. Each criterion is scored from 0 to 2.

Credentials 2/2
Lieutenant general commanding the Air Materiel Command: documented role.
Direct access not applicable
The memo expresses an official opinion based on the reports, not personal observations.
Evidence provided not applicable
Not applicable: the memo is itself the document.
Claims track record not applicable
Not applicable: the only known claim, an official opinion from 1947.
Conflicts of interest not applicable
Not applicable: opinion expressed in an official capacity.

Sources

  1. Nathan F. Twining, English Wikipedia (other)
  2. Wojciechowski, “General Nathan F. Twining and the Flying Disc Problem of 1947,” Skeptical Inquirer 44 (2020) (analysis, skeptical)
  3. CIA, Haines, “CIA's Role in the Study of UFOs, 1947–90” (archived copy) (primary source)
  4. Project Sign, English Wikipedia (other)
  5. Majestic 12, English Wikipedia (other)

On this site

Documents 1

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