Nathan F. Twining
Wrote the famous 1948 "Twining Memo", which stated that the UAP phenomenon "is something real and not visionary or fictitious."
General Nathan F. Twining was a highly-decorated officer in the United States Air Force, serving from 1916 to 1953. During his career, he held numerous high-level positions, including Chief of Staff of the Air Force and Commander-in-Chief of the Alaskan Command.
Twining is perhaps best known for his involvement in the US military's investigations into Unidentified Flying Objects (UFOs) in the late 1940s and early 1950s. In 1947, he was the Commanding General of the Air Material Command, which was responsible for conducting scientific studies of UFOs. That same year, Twining wrote a now-famous memo to the Commanding General of the Army Air Forces, in which he stated that "the phenomenon reported is something real and not visionary or fictitious." He went on to suggest that further investigation was warranted and that a "detailed and coordinated program" be established to study UFOs. Twining continued to take an active interest in UFOs throughout his career, even after he retired from the Air Force. He was a member of the scientific advisory panel of the civilian research group, the National Investigations Committee on Aerial Phenomena (NICAP), and he contributed to several reports on UFO sightings. Despite Twining's involvement in the investigation of UFOs, he remained skeptical of the idea that they were extraterrestrial in origin. In a letter to a colleague in 1955, he stated that "we have no proof at this time that these objects are from outer space." He also cautioned against jumping to conclusions and called for further study and investigation of the phenomenon. Today, Nathan F. Twining is remembered as a respected military leader and pioneer in the study of UFOs. His contributions to the investigation of these mysterious aerial phenomena helped to establish a scientific and methodical approach to the study of UFOs, and his legacy continues to inspire researchers and enthusiasts alike.
