Majestic 12

Majestic 12

Majestic 12, also known as MJ-12, is a purported secret committee of scientists, military leaders, and government officials, allegedly formed in 1947 by an executive order by U.S. President Harry S. Truman. The purpose of this group was to investigate and manage the recovery and investigation of alien spacecraft. The existence of Majestic 12 is a popular subject in UFO conspiracy theories.

History

The origins of Majestic 12 are rooted in the aftermath of the Roswell UFO incident in July 1947, when an unidentified flying object reportedly crashed near Roswell, New Mexico. According to conspiracy theorists, the U.S. government recovered the craft and its occupants, leading to the formation of Majestic 12 to oversee the investigation and cover-up of the incident.

The first public mention of Majestic 12 came in 1984 when a series of documents, known as the "MJ-12 documents," were anonymously mailed to a UFO researcher. These documents included a memo allegedly written by President Truman authorizing the formation of the group, as well as briefing papers for President-elect Dwight D. Eisenhower.

Alleged Members

The MJ-12 documents list the following individuals as members of Majestic 12:

• Vannevar Bush - A prominent American engineer and inventor, known for his work on analog computing and his role in the development of the atomic bomb.
• James Forrestal - The first United States Secretary of Defense.
• Roscoe H. Hillenkoetter - The first Director of the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA).
• Nathan Twining - A United States Air Force General and Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff.
• Hoyt Vandenberg - A United States Air Force General and the second Director of Central Intelligence.
• Sidney Souers - A United States Navy Rear Admiral and the first Director of Central Intelligence.
• Donald Menzel - An American astronomer and astrophysicist.
• Robert M. Montague - A United States Army Lieutenant General.
• Lloyd Berkner - An American physicist and engineer.
• Detlev Bronk - An American scientist and educator.
• Jerome Hunsaker - An American aeronautical engineer.
• Gordon Gray - A United States government official and advisor.

Controversy and Skepticism

The authenticity of the MJ-12 documents has been widely disputed. Skeptics argue that the documents are a hoax, citing inconsistencies in the typeface, formatting, and historical inaccuracies. The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) conducted an investigation and concluded that the documents were "completely bogus."

Despite the skepticism, Majestic 12 remains a popular topic in UFO lore and has been referenced in various books, television shows, and films.

Also see

• Roswell UFO incident
• Project Blue Book
• Area 51
• UFO conspiracy theories
• Extraterrestrial life