MJ-12 Documents Mailed to Shandera and Moore
An undeveloped roll of 35mm film arrives anonymously in Jamie Shandera's mailbox in North Hollywood, postmarked Albuquerque. When developed, it contains photographs of an alleged 1952 briefing document from DCI Roscoe Hillenkoetter to President-elect Eisenhower about 'Operation Majestic 12' — a secret committee managing the UFO problem. Lists 12 members including Vannevar Bush, James Forrestal, and others. Also contains a purported memo from Truman to Forrestal authorizing the group. Moore and Shandera sit on the documents for over two years before going public. The authenticity debate over MJ-12 documents will dominate UFO research for decades.
[Dolan Vol.2 enrichment]: Dolan provides extensive detail on the MJ-12 documents: a manila envelope with Albuquerque postmark dated December 8 arrives at the home of TV producer Jaime Shandera in Burbank, California on December 11, 1984. Inside are two more envelopes and a roll of undeveloped 35mm film. When developed, seven pages appear: a cover sheet stamped 'Top Secret/Majic Eyes Only' entitled 'Briefing Document: Operation Majestic 12 Prepared for President-Elect Dwight Eisenhower' dated November 18, 1952. The document lists 12 original members including the 'shocker' of debunker Dr. Donald Menzel. It describes the Roswell recovery and a second crash on December 6, 1950 at El Indio-Guerrero on the Texas-Mexico border. Dolan notes the envelope was postmarked from Albuquerque — where Richard Doty worked. The documents, whether authentic or disinformation, were 'not cheap or simple' and did 'immense damage to document research' according to Barry Greenwood.
Background
On December 11, 1984, an envelope with no return address arrived at television producer Jaime Shandera’s home in Burbank, California; it had been postmarked in Albuquerque on December 8. Inside were two further envelopes and an undeveloped roll of 35mm film. Once developed, it contained seven pages, including a document stamped “Top Secret/Majic Eyes Only,” titled “Briefing Document: Operation Majestic 12 Prepared for President-Elect Dwight Eisenhower,” dated November 18, 1952, and a memorandum attributed to Truman dated September 24, 1947. The papers purported to describe a secret MJ-12 body answerable to the president and responsible for UFO crash recoveries and related information. They initially appeared possibly genuine, but also contained discrepancies compared with documents circulated earlier. Their authenticity remained disputed: a later majority of researchers regarded them as hoax or disinformation, while a minority considered them valid. The mailing and claimed contents are documented, but the documents’ authenticity remains unresolved; the Albuquerque postmark prompted speculation about Richard Doty, who denied sending them.