Donald Keyhoe

Donald Keyhoe (1897-1988) was an American writer and former Marine Major who was one of the pioneers of Ufology.

Keyhoe was born in 1897 and served in the US Marine Corps during World War I and II. He was also a prolific author of fiction and nonfiction, especially on aviation and military topics. He became interested in UFOs in 1949, when he was assigned by True magazine to write an article on the phenomenon.

Keyhoe's investigation led him to interview military officials, pilots, engineers, and scientists who had witnessed or studied UFOs. He also obtained official reports and documents from the Air Force and other sources. He concluded that UFOs were real, physical objects that could not be explained by conventional means. He also believed that they were interplanetary spacecraft visiting Earth from other worlds.

Keyhoe's article, titled "The Flying Saucers Are Real", was published in January 1950 and caused a sensation. It sold millions of copies and sparked a wave of public interest and curiosity about UFOs. It also provoked a negative reaction from the Air Force, which denied Keyhoe's claims and accused him of spreading misinformation and sensationalism.

Keyhoe expanded his article into a book of the same name, which was published in May 1950. It became a bestseller and established Keyhoe as a leading authority and advocate of ufology. He went on to write five more books on UFOs, as well as numerous articles for magazines and newspapers. He also appeared on radio and television shows to discuss his views and findings.

Keyhoe's main argument was that UFOs were a matter of national security and scientific inquiry, and that the US government should conduct a thorough and transparent investigation into them. He also claimed that the government was hiding the truth about UFOs from the public, and that there was a conspiracy to cover up their existence and origin. He called for the release of all UFO files and evidence, and for the cooperation of international agencies and organizations in solving the UFO mystery.

Keyhoe's books and articles influenced many people who became interested or involved in ufology, either as researchers, witnesses, or enthusiasts. He also founded or joined several civilian groups that aimed to collect, analyze, and disseminate UFO information, such as the National Investigations Committee on Aerial Phenomena (NICAP) and the Mutual UFO Network (MUFON). He was widely regarded as the leader and pioneer of ufology in the 1950s and 1960s.

Keyhoe died in 1988 at the age of 91. His legacy lives on in his writings, which are still widely read and cited by ufologists and UFO fans. His ideas and theories have also inspired many works of fiction, such as movies, TV shows, comics, and novels. He is remembered as one of the most influential figures in the history of ufology.

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