The Foo Fighters

During World War II, both Allied and Axis pilots reported mysterious glowing objects that followed their aircraft during missions. Called “foo fighters” by American pilots, these unexplained lights were seen by hundreds of trained observers on both sides of the conflict.

The Term

“Foo Fighter”:

• American pilot slang
• From “Smokey Stover” comic
• “Where there’s foo, there’s fire”
• Became standard term
• Still used today

First Major Report

November 23, 1944:

• US 415th Night Fighter Squadron
• Over Rhine Valley
• Glowing orange balls
• Following aircraft
• No explanation

What Pilots Saw

Common descriptions:

• Glowing orbs
• Orange, red, or white
• Following aircraft
• Keeping pace
• Non-aggressive

Pilot Reactions

Aircrews:

• Initially alarmed
• Suspected weapons
• Tried to shake them
• Could not
• Reported to intelligence

Both Sides

Remarkably:

• Allies saw them
• Axis saw them
• Each thought enemy weapon
• Neither had them
• Mutual mystery

German Sightings

Luftwaffe pilots:

• Also reported lights
• Called them various names
• Suspected Allied weapon
• Investigated
• Found nothing

The Reports

Official documentation:

• Mission reports
• Intelligence briefings
• Multiple squadrons
• Different theaters
• Consistent descriptions

Behavior

The objects:

• Followed aircraft
• Matched maneuvers
• Maintained distance
• Then departed
• Never attacked

Intelligence Investigation

Military examined:

• Ball lightning theory
• Enemy weapons
• Psychological effects
• St. Elmo’s fire
• None fit

Robertson Panel Note

Later US government:

• Referenced foo fighters
• In UFO discussions
• Acknowledged mystery
• No solution found
• Historical precedent

Post-War

After war ended:

• No secret weapons found
• Neither side had them
• Mystery remained
• Precursor to UFO era
• Historical significance

Theories

Various explanations:

• Ball lightning
• Electrical phenomena
• Combat stress
• Secret weapons
• None satisfactory

Witness Credibility

Fighter pilots were:

• Highly trained observers
• Combat experienced
• Multiple confirmations
• Official reports
• Not dismissed

Connection to Later UFOs

Some researchers note:

• Similar to modern UAP
• Same behavior
• Same mystery
• Historical continuity
• Pattern recognized

Significance

Foo fighters significant for:

• Military witnesses
• Both sides reporting
• Official documentation
• Pre-modern UFO era
• Combat conditions

Legacy

The foo fighters of World War II represent a well-documented aerial mystery witnessed by trained military personnel on both sides of the conflict. Their similarity to modern UFO reports suggests the phenomenon predates the flying saucer era.