SUB*- IJigfit Phonaneia. 7 :- First Tactical ir Force ' ’.w .) A 0 37; US AKTe 1. it refere co to rcor .r: for..-frac, too XU til Tactical. Air Coionanil Trough your ■ [onlouartern on ^ subject of night phenenenn (foofighter), and furler to tide Ifcadquartero* letter of even reference dadoi 11 Fabruoiy, a i-eply has nor- been received from the Air ibniptry vaio coy that TJccnbor Comutod. brew s have for sorae time boon, reporting d.dlar pijotonnt'A. 2. The Air ' inintry'vicv/ la that a f aw of the alleged aircraft may have been ' o,262's and for n rest flak rochets are [suggested as the rent lively, c. planation, 3. It is -egretted that, no further-, cr .-io tv definite, information can be given. for the 'eputy Supm © Co: .ander, C.' , Air Co:w br,re’ A.C. of -2. 2354 -J ms “7-------------------A/Cradr. Grierson A.C. of S. A-2 Air Staff S.H.A.' I Air M inistry, D.D.I.2 Date : 13th M arch, 1945 Ref : 111/45/DDI2. 945 BAL DS O F FIRE The papers dealing w ith the above subject w hich you en­ closed ivith your memo 3HAEF Air/ TS.37153/A2 dated 11th February, have been carefully examined and discussed w ith the various other Departments concerned. Bomber Command crew s have for some time been reporting simi­ lar phenonema. A few of the alleged aircraft may have been M e. 262 and for the rest, flak rockets are suggested as the most likely explanation. The w hole affair is still something of a mystery and the evidence is very sketchy and varied so that no definite and satisfactory explanation can yet be given, 2355 . H opkins G roup C opta" SUPR S . i U^ r^.RT^S AL L IED SXPdDITIO .iAPY FO -O J (FO R AR?) O ffice of the Assistant Chi Jf of Staff S-^-5F R3F : SEA F/AIR/S.371&3/A-2 14 diarch 194b \URJSCTi Request for Photographs. TO i. HQ . 1ST US. TAC. A.F. Attention AC of S. A-2. Refer nae your letter dated 12 M arch asking that photos be furnished as mentioned in our Si nal '.1.380 dated 4 larch, this office has since been informed by EQ . IX TAC. That the pictures of "L ong cylindrical objects" claimed by the 107th . »R. Squadron pilot proved’vo bo unsuccessful. For the deputy Supreme Commander’ T.G. AM SS. L t-Col. AC. A-? ^5003. 2356 '/ 4338 Sigtt.il fl No. oM i Groups GR SIGNALS OFFICE -5 MAR 1945 SIGELS . ^IMRTERS REPEATED ;n - >r’s Number AI ^ Date 5 ’'TC' 1^-5. I (W rite horizontally) Tt^ AX 222 4TH W C[I(.)S VT^TTTe hs rs ian'Y t ki. 10 . AVAiL . 3L 11___ BO M B TRIHW 3ERKE 15 ) ^:' / i o> Capture SEND IN GY PHER Signature. j ^T-C^-d—Jk / :endin CY PHER *(1) By ANY S-ml M ethod ♦(2) NO T by W ireless Signature ~ 2359 1 'ate-Time Croup 05 /^ A. )riginatdr’s Instructions Degree of Priority _____i_ rncRTAiTRank C'.StriLc out m ethods which do not aM dy. Below this line t$ for Sipi*h use only ) tiW9 WL 49367/0J7J4 497.000 Pods J/44 MP 51-8»8 FC^ AIR M INISTRY W HITEHAL L TO S.H.A.E.F. (FO RW ARD) FO R AIR CO M M O DO RE O R “W te * 5M AR1^4§ ABIE KRAY W O W O W O FO URTH M ARCH REFERENCE M IKESUGARW IL L IA2' SIX DATED SECO M D JANUARY O NENIHEFO URFIVE FRO M VCAS TO AIR M ARSHAL RO BB STRESSING IM PO RTANCE O F IL CO VERIFG BUL K STO CKS O F CARM AN BO M B TO RE L O ES FRO M TRIEPEIPrERKE M O ISHEIM AIL REPL Y JIG M IKE RO GER SL ANT ' TW O TW O DATED SECO ND JAI NARY BUL K DEL IVERIES HAVE HO T REPEAT NO T ITE BEGU: FL DEBASE INVESTIGATE AS STO CKS ARE REQ UIRED URGENTL Y DISTRIBUTION’ AC fi ON .NFO R. FRIO ITY IM PO RTANT 2369 iM pr^^^A ^t r_ REFERENCE Y O UR M ESSAGE AI.320 DATED 041745A: PHO TO S O F L O NG CY L INDRICAL O BJECTS TAKEN BY 67TH TAC/R PIL O TS 011030 VICINITY F-5710 W ERE UNSUCC­ ESSFUL , FUL L W RITTEN REPO RT W IL L FO L L O W . Q UESADA BT 051102A DRP AR AFF R ......05/1132 KS AR - 2361 4346 ignal O ffice File No. O ffice Date Stamp R.A F. Ferm 96. O U t IAEo vc thu FRO M AIR STAFF S.H.A.E.F. FO RW ARD. ro Ui. of I’S T TAG A.F. H.Q . IXTH TACAIR M INISTRY . USSTAF/ And T.A ^ MESSAGE FOR^ M es s age Head ing REPEATED NINTH AIR FO RCE. /^ •j '->'-.r’s Numt>cr .AI. Date 4 M ARCH 1945 j (W rite horizontally) J FO L L O W ING RECEIVED FRO M H.Q . NINTH S TAC AIR CO W ARD DATED 1 M ARCH Q UO TE PIL O TS REPO RT FO L L O W ING. AN AL UM INUM 10 CO L O URED CY L INDER SHAPED O BJECT CCM M A ABO UT 12 FEET L O NG 15 AImT) 1 FO O T IN DIAM ETER W AS O BSERVED FL O ATING IN.THE AIR AT 20 9,000 FEET (jIT APPEARED TO BE SUSPENDED VERTICAL L Y 25 W ITH SM AL L FINS ARD A NAST PRO JECTING FRO M THE L O W ER 30 END (.) THE O BJECT W AS ATTACKED AID PARTIAL L Y DEFL ATED 35 CO M M A A RED IM -E RESUL TED W ITHO UT SM O KE (J THE CY L INDER 40 DID HO T_______ DISINTEGRATE D FH0T0 TAKEN BY 107 SQ . 45 O F 67 TAC/R GRO UP AT 011030 HO URS VIC F-5710 ‘ UNQ UO TE (.) 50 Daw -Time Group-^nd in CY PHER'(G By ANY Siena) M ethod M aybe sent AS W RITTEN ♦(!) By ANY Signal M ethod ’(2) NO T by W ireless *(3) But if liable to Interceptor or Capture SEND in CY PHER ♦(2) KO T by W ireless O riginator’s Instructions Signature Signature... _________________________ _ i tt ank______________________________ (•.Strike out m ethods which do nor apply. Below this hoc is fo r Signals use only ) Rank 774809 WL 49887/03 734 497,000 Pods 3/44 MP 51 833$ . R.A.F.erm 9€. ^^ A S^r^iG^C f” C3 i ,\1 (^pw J O ffice File M o ^ IN No. of O ffice Date Stamp Groups M es s age GR O UT Head ing (Auov< m u Une is lor Signals use only) SRO M PAGE 2 - REPEATED Date-Tune Group ■_) : -"■Ac's Naml« Date A M ARCH | (W rite horizontally) 5 PHO TO S TO AIR 1ZKISTRY CO M M A USSTAF AI© A.C.I.U. 10 AL SO FUL L W RITTEN REPO RT BY PIL O TS CO NCERNED 15 (.) ANY — _ -FURTHER __JIiSTAJI£ES__ AL SO TO . BE 20 REP O RTED X4____ 25 30 35 40 L 4G 48 45 50 ;nd in CY PHER *(t) Py ANY Signa! ‘M ethod M ay be sent AS W RITTEN •(!) By ANY Signal M etho# *(3) NO T by W ifeys Signature Ran!: System Signatur 714899 Wt. 49887/03734 497,000 Pads J/44 MP5I-8JH •O by W ireless C41745A O riginator's Instructions Degree of Priority SECRET- IM M EDIATEnk . _ ....._ . _____-, _._ r our m ethods which do not apply. Below (bis line is for Signals use only ) Tim e in Reader Sender Sy»tem out Tune out Reader Sender SyMcm out Tim e out Reader Sender \ 4 VU ' A* — ■ JEU* TO O CHS-:7A DIARCH SECRETSHAEF STAFF M ESSAGE CONTROL INCOMING MESSAGE TO R 0121GO A M ARCH mhm 012115A M ARCH 0 £ E 1 1 0 a 2 T X 2MAR1945 FRCV! ; HQ IX TAG SIGNED Q UESADA I'/lS^ :GG SHAEF M AIN ATTN A-2, CO NINTH AF ADV ATTN / “2 REf NO : NO NE, 1 M ARCH 1945 Pilots repcot the follow ing. An aluminum colored cylinder shaped object, about 12 ft long and 1 ft in diameter w as observed floating; in 4 ie air at 9,000 ft. It appeared to be suspended vertically w ith smell fins and a mast projecting from the low er end. The. object w as attached and partially deflated, a red flame resulted, w ithout smoke. The cylinder did not disintegrated Photo taken by 107 SQ of 67 TAC/R Group at 011030 SM C IN 310 1 M AR 45 220Q A AGD/uml REF NO : NO NE SECRET COPY NO THE M AKING OF AN EXACT COPY OF THIS M ESSAGE IS FORBIDDEN ^ILj :;- A.D. I. (k), Air M inistry, To:- A/Cdr. Grierson, S.H.A.E.F.M ain, (Air Div.).Copy to C.1,0. 2nd T.A.F Dateir 17th February 1945* SHAEFMA PI FEB 1945 Reference your SHAEF AU/S.J7153/A.2 dated 14th February 1945 w ith the attached CX report, this probably refers to "Flak Bombe" mentioned in A.D.I.(k) Report No.562/1944, paragraphs 128 and 129 S.DJtFelkin W ing Commander SDF/GJ 2365 4350 HEP: SHA? ? .; - / a 37153/A-2. SUH ^<-^4^^, '^-' L EAVITT CO RNING, JR., L t. Colonel, G. S. C., A/C of S, A-2. 3rd Ind. D-Y -l HEADQ UARTERS, FIRST TACTICAL AIR FO RCE (PRO V), APO $74, U S Array, 5 February 1945. TO : Chief Intelligence O fficer, Air Staff SHAEF, APO 757* 1. Forw arded for your information. 2. This headquarters has no further information or explanation in connection w ith these phenomena. 5* It is believed that further investigation is w arranted. Since appropriate technical personnel are not available w ithin the First Tactical Air Force, the matter is forw arded for such further investigation as may be advisable. 1 Incl. #1 - 1st & 2nd W /lnd, 25 Jan 45 and 50 Jan 45. SECRET 4393 2404 SECRET SECRET ®TH: CG, XII TAO g Initial /y- ?Date; 16^Jan 1945 HEADQ UARTERS XII TACTICAL AIR CO M M AND (ADV) O ffice of the A/C of S, A-2 D-C-l APO 374, US Army, 16 January 1945. SUBJECT: Night Phenomenon. TO : Commanding General, First Tactical Air Force (Prov), APO 374, US Army. Attn: A/C of S, A-2. 1. The follow ing is quoted from training and tactical information supplied by the 415th Night Fighter Squadron for the month of December 1944; °W e have encountered a phenomenon w hich w e cannot explain; crew s have been follow ed by lights that blink on and off changing colors etc. The lights come very close and fly formation w ith our planes. They are agitating and keep the crew s on edge w hen they encounter them, mainly because they cannot explain them. It is requested further information be furnished on this subject, such as similar experiences of other night units0. Z) 2. Further information is requested. ^ / / L EAVITT CO RNING, JR., L t. Colonel, G. S. C., A/C of S, A-2. 1st Ind D-B-l HEADQ UARTERS, FIRST TACTICAL AIR FO RCE (PRO V), AC of S A-2, APO 574, US Army, 20 January 1945 TO : AC of S A-2, XII Tactical Air Command, APO 574, US Army 1. There have been no instances reported as above. 2. Before an investigation can be made it w ill be necessary to have more complete information, such as colors of the lights, their intensity, size, duration, and at w hat altitudes seen; also if the lights are observed at any specific hours. Do subject lights cross Allied lines and in w hat direction are they seen to travel? Also, has it been noted on w hat part of the aircraft are they carried, i.e. w ing, tail, prop; and how close do they approach our aircraft? For the Assistant Chief of Staff A-2: - 2405 -i- - 4595 SECRET M ajor AC Executive O fficer 1st w /xnd, D-W -2 HEADQ UARTERS XII TACTICAL AIR CO M M AND, APO #S74, U.S, Army, 23 January 1945 TO : 5-2, 415 Night Fighter Squadron. Forw arded for compliance w ith paragraph 2 of 1st Ind L EAVITT CO RN INC, JR., L t# Colonel, G* S» C# A/C of S, A-2. 2nd. W /lnd. 415th. NIGHT FIGHTER SQ UADRO N, APO #374, U. S. Army, 30 January 1945. TO : AC of S A-2 XII Tactical Air Command, APO 374, U. S. Army. 1. In compliance w ith paragraph 2 of 1st. Ind., the follow ing extracts from the Sortie Reports of various pilots w ho have encountered the Night Phenomenon are submitted for your information. Night of 14-15 December 1944 - ”In vicinity of Errtein (V-9381) flying at 1000 ft. observed large red light at 2000 ft. going East at 18:40 hrs. Travelling at approximately 200 M PHW Night of 16-17 December 1944 - *20 miles North of Breisach (W -0173) at 800 ft. observed 5 or 6 flashing red rnd green lights in ”T H shame. Thought they w ore flak. About 10 minutes later saw the same lights much closer and behind me. W e turned port and Starboard and the lights follow ed. They closed in to about 8 O’clock and 1000 ft. and remained in that position for several minutes and then disappeared.” Night of 22-23 December 1944 - ”Patrolling at Angels 10 from Sarrebourg to Strasbourg North and South of highw ay. At 06;00 hrs. saw tw o lights coming tow ards A/c from the ground. Upon reaching altitude of plane, they leveled off nd stayed on my tail for approximately 2 minutes. L igate appeared to bo a large orange ^low . After staying w ith a/c for approximately 2 minutes, they w ould, peel off end turn aw ay, fly along level for a few minutes and then go out. They appeared to be under perfect control at all times. L ights w ere seen somew here in vicinity of Fagenau.” S E 0 R B-T- 2406 4C 96 S^-C-R-E-T 2 nd. V//lnd., 415th. Night Fighter Squadron 30 January 1945 con’t. Night of 23-24 December 1944 - ’’O bserved reddish colored flames at considerable distance and at approximately 10,000 ft,” Night of 23-24 December 1944 - ’’Approximately 10 miles South of Point X ($67^5) noticed to NE approximately 5 miles a glow ing red object shooting straight up. Changed suddenly to plane view of A/C doing a w ing over and going into a dive and disappearing.” Night of 26-27 December 1944 - ”At 01:45 hrs. saw tw o yellow streaks of flame flying at same level at approximately 3000 ft. off port side. W e also saw red balls of fire that stayed up for 10 seconds approximately 45 miles aw ay. After seeing yellow streaks, made starboard vector lost altitude and streaks disappeared from view . Called GCI Blunder and asked if any E/A w ere in vicinity. They answ ered No. Instructed to return to Angels 10. W e filt w hat w as thought to be prop w ash; very distinct. Noticed several groups of lights off port w hile patrolling in vicinity of Q -9050 and R-1556 L ights made distinct lines somew hat like arrow s.” Night of 26-27 December 1944 - ’’W hile on vector 090 near V-7050 during patrol w e observed airborne w hite lights. They w ere staggered evenly vertically and w e could see from 1 to-4 sw ing at once. They appeared stationary at 10,000 ft.” Nig t of 26-27 December 1944 - ’’O bserved light at same altitude w hile in vicinity of W orms O bserver saw light come w ithin 100 ft. Peeled off and took evasive action but light continued to follow for 5 minutes. L ight then pulled up rapidly and w ent out of sight.” X N ght of 27-28 December 1944 - ’’W hile on North heading in patrol area noticed in vicinity of Q -1378 lights suspended ih air moving slow ly and w ould then disappear. W ere orange in color*. L ights appeared singly and in pairs. O bserved these lights four or five times during period.” Night of 27-28 December 1944 - ’’Eight miles NE of L uneville at 19:10 hrs. saw three sets of three lights (red and w hite) one on starboard and one on port from 1000 ft. to 2000 ft. to rear and closing in at Angels 10. Pulled up to Angels 8 and lights w ent out. Called Churchman to see if there w as anything in area, deceived a negative reply.” Night of 30-31 December 1944 - ’’Saw a group of lights flying through the air 30 or 40 miles East of base w hile flying at Angels 9 - 10.” Night of 1-2 January 1945 - ”Sav^Toofighters North of Strasbourg and North of Saverne”. N^ght of 14-15 January 1945 - ’’O bserved a large orange glow in sky approx. 5 ft. in diameter in vicinity of Ingw eiller at 6000 ft. at 20:00 hrs.” 2407 S-E-C-H-E-T 4297 0-E-O ”R"E-? 2nd. b/lnd. , 415th. Night Fighter Squadron, 30 January 1945 Con’t. Night of 29-30 January 1945 - 11 At about 00:10 hrs. sighted a Foo fighter about half w ay betw een W eissembourg and L andau. Foofighter w as off to the starboard and rear at Angels 2. L ights w ere amber and one w as 20 - 50 ft. above the other and of about 30 seconds duration. Foofighter w as about 1000 ft. aw ay and follow ing. The lights w ere about a foot in diameter. L ights disappeared w hen Travel 34 turned into them." 2. In every case w here pilot called GCI Control and asked if there w as a fogey a/C in the area he received a negative answ er. T. B. RINGW AL D, Captain, A. 0., Intelligence O fficer * Foofighters is the name given these phenomenon by combat crew s of this Squadron. t=S=«=S=5-T 2408