SECRET 

HEADQUARTERS  AIR   MATERIAL   COMMAND
 

IN  REPLY   ADDRESS   BOTH COMMUNICATION   AND   ENVELOPE   TO   COMMANDING
GENERAL,    AIR     MATERIAL COMMAND,   A T T E N T I O N FOLLOWING OFFICE SYMBOL:

   TSDIN                                                                                          TSDIN/HMM/ig/6-4100 
   WRIGHT FIELD,  DAYTON, OHIO 

23 September 1947 
 

       SUBJECT:              AMC Opinion Concerning "Flying Discs" 
 

 TO:   Commanding General 
   Army Air Force 
       Washington 25, D.C. 
   ATTENTION:   Brig. General George Schulgen 
                              AC/AS-2 

        1.   As requested by AC/AS-2 there is presented below the considered
        opinion of this command concerning the so-called "Flying Discs."  This
        opinion is based on interrogation report data furnished by AC/AS-2 and
        preliminary studies by personnel of T-2 and Aircraft Laboratory, Engineer-
        ing Division T-3.   This opinion was arrived at in a conference between
        personnel from the Air Institute of Technology, Intelligence T-2, Office,
        Chief of Engineering Division, and the Aircraft, Power Plant and Propeller
        Laboratories of Engineering Division T-3.

        2.   It is the opinion that:

              a.     The phenomenon is something real and not visionary
        or fictitious.

              b.     There are objects probably approximating the shape of a
        disc, of such appreciable size as to appear to be as large as man-made
        aircraft.

              c.     There is a possibility that some of the incidents may be
        caused by natural phenomena, such as meteors.

              d.     The reported operating characteristics such as extreme
        rates of climb, maneuverability (particularly in roll), and motion which
        must be considered evasive when sighted or contacted by friendly air-
        craft and radar, lend belief to the possibility that some of the objects
        are controlled either manually, automatically or remotely.

              e.     The apparent common description is as follows:-

           (1)   Metallic or light reflecting surface.
 

        U-39552 

SECRET 

Basic Ltr fr CG, AMC, WF to CG, AAF, Wash. D.C. subj "AMC Opinion Con-
cerning "Flying Discs"
 
 

     (2)   Absence of trail, except in a few instances where the
            object apparently was operating under high perfor-
            mance conditions.

    (3)   Circular or elliptical in shape, flat on bottom and
            domed on top.

    (4)   Several reports of well kept formation flights varying
            from three to nine objects.

    (5)   Normally no associated sound, except in three instances
            a substantial rumbling roar was noted.

    (6)   Level flight speeds normally above 300 knots are estimated.

              f.    It is possible within the present U.S. knowledge -- pro-
        vided extensive detailed development is inderstaken -- to construct a
        piloted aircraft which has the general description of the object in sub-
        paragraph (e) above which would be capable of an approximate range of
        7000 miles at subsonic speeds.

              g.    Any development in this country along the lines indicated
        would be extremely expensive, time consuming and at the considerable ex-
        pense of current projects and therefore, if directed, should be set up in-
        dependently of existing projects.

              h.    Due consideration must be given the following:-
 

         (1)   The possibillity that these objects are of domestic
                origin - the product of some high security project
                not known to AC/AS-2 or this Command.

        (2)   The lack of physical evidence in the shape of crash
                recovered exhibits which would undeniably prove the
                existence of these subjects.

        (3)   The possibility that some foreign nation has a form
                of propulsion possibly nuclear, which is outside of
                our domestic knowledge.

        3.   It is recommended that:-

              a.     Headquarters, Army Air Forces issue a directive assigning
        a priority, security classification and Code name for a detailed study of
        this matter to include the preparation of complete sets of all available
        and pertinent data which will then be made available to the Army, Navy,
        Atomic Energy Commission, JRDB, the Air Force Scientific Advisory Group,
        NACA, and the RAND and NEPA projects for comments and recommendations,
        with a preliminary report to be forwarded within 15 days of receipt of
        the data and a detailed report thereafter every 30 days as the investi-
 

        SECRET 
 

        -2- 
 

        U-39552 
 
 

Basic Ltr fr CG, AMC, WF to CG, AAF, Wash. D.C. subj "AMC Opinion Con-
cerning "Flying Discs"
 
 

    gation develops. A complete interchange of data should be affected.

        4.     Awaiting a specific directive AMC will continue the investi-
        gation within its current resoources in order to more closely define the
        nature of the phenomenon. Detailed Essential Elements of Information
        will be formulated immediately for transmittal thru channels.

          Twining Signature
 

         N.F. TWINING
        Lieutenant General, U.S.A.
        Commanding