AMC Opinion Concerning 'Flying Discs'

This memorandum, dated September 23, 1947, from Lieutenant General N. F. Twining of the Air Materiel Command (AMC) to the Commanding General of the Army Air Forces, provides the official AMC opinion regarding the 'Flying Discs' phenomenon. The assessment was based on data provided by AC/AS-2 and studies conducted by various engineering and intelligence divisions at Wright Field. The AMC concluded that the reported phenomena were real rather than visionary or fictitious. The objects were described as metallic or light-reflecting, circular or elliptical in shape, and flat on the bottom with a domed top. They were noted for extreme maneuverability, high rates of climb, and speeds exceeding 300 knots, often appearing in formations of three to nine. While most reports indicated no sound, some instances of a rumbling roar were recorded. The AMC suggested that while some sightings might be attributed to natural phenomena like meteors, the evasive behavior observed by radar and aircraft suggested the objects might be controlled manually, automatically, or remotely. The document acknowledged that it was technically possible to construct a piloted aircraft with these characteristics, though it would be expensive and time-consuming. General Twining recommended that the Army Air Forces issue a directive to establish a high-priority, classified study of the matter, involving the Army, Navy, Atomic Energy Commission, and other scientific bodies. He emphasized the need for a complete interchange of data and suggested that the investigation should consider the possibility of domestic secret projects, foreign nuclear propulsion, or the lack of physical evidence such as recovered crash debris. Pending a formal directive, the AMC committed to continuing its own investigation to better define the nature of the phenomenon.