Roscoe Hillenkotter Third Director of Central Intelligence and first Director of the Central Intelligence Agency Date of Birth: 08.05.1897 Country: USA

1. Biography of Roscoe Hillenkoetter
2. Early Life and Military Career
3. Director of Central Intelligence
4. Later Career and Controversies

Biography of Roscoe Hillenkoetter

Roscoe Hillenkoetter was the third director of the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) and the first director of the Central Intelligence Agency's predecessor, the Central Intelligence Group, established in accordance with the National Security Act of 1947. He held these positions from May 1, 1947, to October 7, 1950.

Early Life and Military Career

Roscoe Hillenkoetter was born on May 8, 1897, in St. Louis, Missouri. Before joining the Central Intelligence Agency, he served as the commanding officer of the battleship USS Missouri (BB-63). He also served as a naval attaché in France on several tours from 1933 to 1941, and again in 1946 to 1947. Hillenkoetter assumed the duties of the director of naval intelligence for the Commander-in-Chief of the Pacific Fleet, Admiral Chester W. Nimitz, from March 1942 to September 1943. On November 29, 1946, he was promoted to the rank of Rear Admiral.

Director of Central Intelligence

On April 30, 1947, President Harry S. Truman nominated Hillenkoetter for the position of Director of Central Intelligence. The following day, on May 1, he was sworn in and began his duties. After the enactment of the National Security Act of 1947, Hillenkoetter was again sworn in on September 26, 1947. He was reappointed as the director on November 24, 1947, but this time with new responsibilities, including the personal leadership of the CIA. On December 8, 1947, he was confirmed by the Senate.

Later Career and Controversies

Hillenkoetter served as the director of the CIA during the outbreak of the Korean War when North Korea invaded South Korea on June 25, 1950. He was criticized for failing to anticipate the events leading to the war, despite the clear hostilities exhibited by North Korea. As a result, he was forced to leave his position. After his dismissal, he returned to the Navy and commanded the First Cruiser Division of the Pacific Fleet from August 1950 to October 1951. Hillenkoetter was promoted to Vice Admiral on April 9, 1956, and served as the Chief Inspector of the Navy from August 1, 1956.

On August 1, 1957, Hillenkoetter retired from the Navy. During his retirement, he engaged in private entrepreneurship. He was also a member of the National Committee on Aerial Phenomena. In his book "The Flying Saucers Are Real," Donald Keyhoe claimed that Hillenkoetter wanted to publicly disclose evidence of the existence of UFOs. One of Hillenkoetter's most notable statements on this matter was a letter he wrote to Congress in 1960, which was reported by The New York Times. The letter stated that high-ranking Air Force officials were deeply concerned about UFOs but were unable to disclose any information due to its classified nature.

There is also speculation that Hillenkoetter was a member of a highly classified group called "Majestic-12," which was possibly established by President Harry S. Truman on September 24, 1947. This group was believed to be the main organization responsible for monitoring and researching UFOs following the alleged "Roswell Incident," which involved a crashed flying saucer and extraterrestrial being in July 1947.