Donald Edward Keyhoe (June 20, 1897 – November 29, 1988) was an American Marine Corps naval aviator, writer of aviation articles and stories in various publications, and tour manager for aviation pioneer Charles Lindbergh. In the 1950s, Keyhoe became a prominent UFO researcher and writer. He argued that the U.S. government should conduct research into UFO matters and should publicly release all its UFO files.
Keyhoe was born in Ottumwa, Iowa, and after receiving his B.S. degree from the United States Naval Academy in 1919, he began his career as a second lieutenant in the United States Marine Corps. However, an arm injury from an airplane crash in 1922 led him to resign from the Marines in 1923. He then ventured into writing and became a successful author. During World War II, he returned to active duty in a Naval Aviation Training Division before retiring with the rank of major.
Early Life and Education
Donald Edward Keyhoe was born on June 20, 1897, in Ottumwa, Iowa. He pursued his higher education at the United States Naval Academy, from where he received his B.S. degree in 1919. After graduating, he was commissioned as a second lieutenant in the United States Marine Corps. His career as a naval aviator was cut short in 1922 when he sustained an arm injury during an airplane crash in Guam. This injury led him to a prolonged recovery period, during which he began writing as a hobby. Due to the persistent issues caused by his injury, Keyhoe decided to resign from the Marines in 1923.
Career
Donald Keyhoe’s career was multifaceted, spanning military service, aviation, writing, and UFO research:
- Military and Aviation Career: After obtaining his B.S. degree from the United States Naval Academy in 1919, Keyhoe was commissioned as a second lieutenant in the United States Marine Corps. However, an airplane crash in Guam in 1922 injured his arm, which eventually led him to resign from the Marines in 1923. Despite this setback, Keyhoe’s association with aviation didn’t end. In 1927, he managed a coast-to-coast tour for aviation pioneer Charles Lindbergh.
- Writing Career: Keyhoe’s injury-induced convalescence led him to take up writing as a hobby. This hobby soon turned into a profession. His experience with Lindbergh led to his first book in 1928 titled “Flying With Lindbergh.” The book’s success paved the way for Keyhoe to become a freelance writer. He wrote articles and fictional stories, mostly related to aviation, which were published in various magazines and publications. He also wrote for pulp magazines in the 1920s and 1930s, contributing stories to publications like “Weird Tales.”
- UFO Research: In the 1950s, Keyhoe’s interest shifted towards unidentified flying objects (UFOs). He became a prominent UFO researcher and writer, advocating for the U.S. government to conduct thorough research into UFO matters and to publicly release all its UFO files. His article “Flying Saucers Are Real” was published in the January 1950 issue of “True” magazine, generating significant public interest. He expanded on this article to write a book titled “The Flying Saucers Are Real” in 1950. Keyhoe wrote several more books on the subject, making significant contributions to the UFO discourse.
- NICAP and Advocacy: In 1956, Keyhoe co-founded the National Investigations Committee on Aerial Phenomena (NICAP), aiming to investigate UFO sightings and advocate for transparency from the government on the subject. Under his leadership, NICAP pressed for Congressional hearings on UFOs and gained significant attention from the media and the public.
Controversy
Donald Keyhoe’s involvement in the UFO community and his claims about the existence and nature of UFOs led to several controversies:
- Government Suppression: Keyhoe believed that the U.S. government was suppressing the truth about UFOs. He argued that the government was aware of the extraterrestrial nature of UFOs but chose to downplay or dismiss public reports to prevent panic.
- The Flying Saucer Conspiracy: In his 1955 book “The Flying Saucer Conspiracy,” Keyhoe accused the U.S. government of engaging in a conspiracy to cover up knowledge of flying saucers. He introduced the idea of a “silence group” orchestrating this cover-up. This shift in belief from flying saucers to a government cover-up became a dominant theme in UFO discourse.
- Television Censorship: On January 22, 1958, Keyhoe appeared on a CBS live television show, the Armstrong Circle Theatre, to discuss UFOs. During the broadcast, when Keyhoe began to speak about a U.S. Congressional committee evaluating evidence on UFOs, CBS abruptly cut the audio, leading to allegations of censorship. Keyhoe later appeared on The Mike Wallace Interview on ABC to discuss the censorship incident, placing the blame on the Air Force rather than CBS.
- NICAP Leadership and Decline: Keyhoe co-founded the National Investigations Committee on Aerial Phenomena (NICAP) in 1956. However, by the late 1960s, NICAP’s membership had significantly decreased, and Keyhoe faced criticism for his handling of the organization’s finances and operations. Accusations of financial mismanagement and an authoritarian leadership style led to Keyhoe’s forced retirement from NICAP in December 1969.
- UFO Books and Public Perception: Keyhoe’s books on UFOs, while popular, were also met with skepticism by some. Critics pointed out that many of his claims were sensationalized, and some believed that his background in pulp fiction writing influenced his approach to the UFO phenomenon.
Impact on Ufology
Donald Keyhoe’s influence on the field of Ufology is undeniable. As an early proponent of the idea that UFOs were extraterrestrial in origin, he played a pivotal role in shaping public perception and discourse on the subject. His books, particularly “The Flying Saucers Are Real” and “The Flying Saucer Conspiracy,” were among the first to suggest that the U.S. government was actively suppressing information about UFOs, introducing the idea of a deep-seated government conspiracy that has since become a mainstay in UFO lore.
Keyhoe’s background as a Marine Corps naval aviator and his connections within the military and government lent credibility to his claims. His insistence on a systematic, evidence-based approach to UFO investigations set a standard for future researchers. His leadership in the National Investigations Committee on Aerial Phenomena (NICAP) further solidified his position as a central figure in Ufology. Under his guidance, NICAP became one of the most influential civilian UFO research groups in the U.S., advocating for transparency and pushing for official investigations into UFO sightings.
However, Keyhoe’s impact was not without controversy. His confrontations with governmental agencies and media censorship incidents, such as the infamous CBS broadcast interruption, highlighted the tensions between UFO researchers and official channels. While some criticized him for sensationalism, there’s no doubt that his work brought the UFO phenomenon to the forefront of public consciousness
FAQ
Conclusion
Donald Keyhoe was a multifaceted individual whose career spanned military service, aviation, writing, and UFO research. As a former Marine Corps naval aviator, he brought a unique perspective to the UFO discourse. Keyhoe was among the first to assert that UFOs were extraterrestrial in origin and that the U.S. government was suppressing evidence about them. His writings, particularly his influential books on UFOs, played a pivotal role in shaping public perception on the subject. Through his leadership in the National Investigations Committee on Aerial Phenomena (NICAP), he advocated for transparency and official investigations into UFO sightings. While his claims were often met with skepticism and controversy, Keyhoe’s dedication to uncovering the truth about UFOs made him a central figure in Ufology and left an indelible mark on the field.