Familiar initialism coined by a U.S. Air Force captain NYT Crossword Clue

By Emre Parlak /

Crossword Answer

1 ? U
2 ? F
3 ? O
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      Hint 1

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      Think of mysterious sightings in the sky that have sparked countless theories and tales.

      Hint 2

      meaning
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      ??? is an abbreviation for 'Unidentified Flying Object,' typically referring to any aerial phenomenon that cannot be immediately identified.

      Hint 3

      explanation
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      The clue refers to the term '???,' which stands for 'Unidentified Flying Object.' This initialism was popularized by the U.S. Air Force in the 1950s, particularly by Captain Edward J. Ruppelt, who was involved in investigating such phenomena.

      Hint 4

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      Subject of a declassified Pentagon document, in brief, Purported sighting recorded by Puritan governor John Winthrop in 1639, What a drone might be mistaken for, Frequent conspiracy subject, Hovering vessel

      Clue Analysis

      The answer to “Familiar initialism coined by a U.S. Air Force captain” in the New York Times puzzle September 28 2025 is UFO. Quite straight and simple! Complete your daily NYT Mini challenge with this solution.

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