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Foo Fighters (WWII)
Allied pilots reported glowing orbs that paced their aircraft during WWII. They assumed they were German weapons—but German pilots reported the same thing. The balls of light followed planes, performed impossible maneuvers, but never attacked. What were they?
1944 - 1945
Europe and Pacific
1000+ witnesses
Foo Fighters were reported by all sides in WWII.
The Sightings
1944-1945:
- Allied pilots
- German pilots
- Japanese pilots
- Over all theaters
- Consistent reports
The Name
Origin:
- From Smokey Stover comic
- “Where there’s foo, there’s fire”
- Pilot slang
- Stuck as term
- Now means UFO
The Description
What pilots saw:
- Glowing spheres
- Red, orange, white
- Followed aircraft
- Matched maneuvers
- Never attacked
The Mystery
Strange behavior:
- Impossible speeds
- Sudden stops
- Formation flying
- No radar return
- Non-hostile
Official Investigation
Military response:
- Each side blamed other
- Germans investigated
- Americans investigated
- No explanation found
- Not weapons
Theories
What were they:
- Ball lightning?
- St. Elmo’s fire?
- Secret weapons?
- Unknown phenomena?
- Still debated