AMC Opinion Concerning "Flying Discs"

This memorandum, dated September 23, 1947, from Lieutenant General Nathan F. Twining of the Air Materiel Command (AMC) to the Commanding General of the Army Air Forces, provides an official assessment of the "Flying Discs" phenomenon. Based on studies by T-2 and the Engineering Division, the AMC concludes that the reported phenomena are real, not visionary or fictitious. The objects are described as circular or elliptical, metallic, and capable of extreme maneuverability and high speeds, often appearing as large as man-made aircraft. The report notes that while some incidents might be natural phenomena, the objects' evasive actions suggest they may be controlled either manually, automatically, or remotely. The AMC highlights the absence of physical evidence from crash-recovered exhibits and suggests that the objects could be a domestic high-security project, a foreign development, or a propulsion technology currently outside of U.S. knowledge. Twining recommends that the Army Air Forces establish a formal, prioritized project to study the matter, involving various agencies including the Atomic Energy Commission, NACA, and the RAND project, with regular reporting intervals. The document concludes by stating that the AMC will continue its investigation within its current resources until a specific directive is issued.