Roscoe H. Hillenkoetter Facts for Kids

Quick facts for kids Roscoe H. Hillenkoetter


Director of Central Intelligence
In office May 1, 1947 – October 7, 1950
President	Harry Truman
Deputy	Edwin K. Wright
Preceded by	Hoyt Vandenberg
Succeeded by	Walter B. Smith

Personal details
Born	Roscoe Henry Hillenkoetter (1897-05-08)May 8, 1897 St. Louis, Missouri, U.S.
Died	June 18, 1982(1982-06-18) (aged 85) New York City, New York, U.S.
Resting place	Arlington National Cemetery
Spouse	Jane Clark
Education	United States Naval Academy (BS)
Military service
Allegiance	United States
Branch/service	United States Navy
Rank	Vice Admiral
Commands	Commanding Officer, USS Missouri Commander, 1st Cruiser Division Commander, 3rd Naval District
Battles/wars	World War II Korean War

Roscoe Henry Hillenkoetter (born May 8, 1897 – died June 18, 1982) was an important figure in United States intelligence. He was the third director of the Central Intelligence Group (CIG) after World War II. He also became the first director of the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) when it was created in 1947. He led these groups from May 1947 to October 1950. After he retired from the United States Navy, he was part of a group that studied UFOs called NICAP.

Early Life and Military Service
- Serving in World War I and Naval Intelligence
- Post-War Commands
Leading the CIA
- Early Challenges and the Soviet Atomic Bomb
- The Korean War and Leadership Change
Return to Navy Duty
Involvement with UFOs
Later Life and Legacy
- Portrayal in Media
Awards and Recognition
Images for kids
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Early Life and Military Service

Roscoe Hillenkoetter was born in St. Louis, Missouri, on May 8, 1897. He went to the United States Naval Academy in Annapolis, Maryland, and finished his studies in 1919.

Serving in World War I and Naval Intelligence

He served with the Atlantic Fleet during World War I. In 1933, he joined the Office of Naval Intelligence. This is where he worked on gathering information for the Navy. He served in different intelligence roles, including helping the Navy in France, Spain, and Portugal.

During the Spanish Civil War, he helped Americans leave the country safely. When Germany invaded France, Hillenkoetter worked with the underground movement there. He was also an officer on the USS West Virginia (BB-48) and was hurt during the attack on Pearl Harbor. After that, he was in charge of intelligence for Chester W. Nimitz's Pacific Fleet staff until 1943.

Post-War Commands

After the war, Hillenkoetter commanded the battleship USS Missouri in 1946. He then returned to Paris as a naval attaché. Soon after, in May 1947, he became the head of the Central Intelligence Group (CIG).

Leading the CIA

President Harry S. Truman asked Hillenkoetter to become the Director of Central Intelligence (DCI). This meant he would lead the new Central Intelligence Agency (CIA), which was created in December 1947.

Early Challenges and the Soviet Atomic Bomb

At first, the U.S. State Department guided the CIA's secret operations. Hillenkoetter wondered if the same agency could handle both secret missions and intelligence analysis well.

As DCI, Hillenkoetter had to report to Congress. One big challenge was when the CIA did not predict the Soviet Union's first atomic bomb test in August 1949. Before the test, the CIA had estimated that the Soviets would not have a bomb until at least mid-1950.

Congress was very surprised and upset that the CIA missed this important event. Hillenkoetter explained that the CIA knew the Soviets were working on a bomb. However, they didn't know exactly when they started building it. This made it hard to predict the exact test date. Even though the public didn't know about this failure, it hurt the CIA's reputation in Washington.

The Korean War and Leadership Change

The U.S. government also did not have any warning before North Korea invaded South Korea in June 1950. Just two days before the invasion, Hillenkoetter told Congress that the CIA had good sources in Korea. This suggested they would know if an invasion was coming.

After the invasion, the news media wondered if Hillenkoetter would be replaced. He was not very close with President Truman. Hillenkoetter tried to explain the CIA's role to Congress. He said it was not the CIA's job to analyze all intelligence, but to pass it on to leaders. Many at the CIA were embarrassed by the news reports. By August, it was confirmed that General Walter Bedell Smith would take over as DCI.

Return to Navy Duty

After leaving the CIA, Admiral Hillenkoetter went back to serving in the Navy. He commanded a group of cruisers in the Pacific Fleet from 1950 to 1951 during the Korean War.

He then commanded the Third Naval District in New York City from 1952 to 1956. He was promoted to the rank of vice admiral in 1956. His last job was as the Inspector General of the Navy. He retired from the Navy on May 1, 1957.

Involvement with UFOs

After retiring, Hillenkoetter joined the National Investigations Committee On Aerial Phenomena (NICAP). This group was formed in 1956 to investigate UFOs. He was on NICAP's board from about 1957 to 1962.

His friend and NICAP director, Donald E. Keyhoe, said that Hillenkoetter wanted the government to share what it knew about UFOs. Hillenkoetter famously said in 1960, "Behind the scenes, high-ranking Air Force officers are soberly concerned about UFOs. But through official secrecy and ridicule, many citizens are led to believe the unknown flying objects are nonsense."