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The original was posted on /r/ufos by /u/DetectiveFork on 2026-05-12 14:10:55+00:00.

Original Title: What the Secret Pentagon UFO Files Reveal About World War 2's Foo Fighters -- Behind the scenes, military intelligence was deeply concerned about Allied pilot UFO reports and conducted an in-depth investigation.

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In the final months of combat against Nazi Germany, Allied aviators were hounded by strange lights called Foo Fighters that seemed to follow and toy with them. The Pentagon's recent cache of declassified UFO files shed light on the U.S. military's urgent investigation into this unsettling mystery in 1945.

A purported photo of Foo Fighters during World War 2.

By Kevin J. Guhl

In May 2026, the U.S. Department of War began releasing declassified UFO files to the public. There is a lot of fascinating stuff within, such as UFO photos taken on the moon! But one subject I hoped they would illuminate was the long-standing mystery of Foo Fighters, the strange, glowing objects reported by Allied airmen during World War 2, pre-dating the flying saucer phenomenon. And the files did not disappoint. In this installment of American Strangeness, we dig deeply into what the Secret UFO Files have to say about Foo Fighters...

In December 1944, the U.S. Army Air Force's 415th Night Fighter Squadron was stationed in France, providing air support for the U.S 7th Army and the French 1st Army. Under the cover of darkness, the 415th attacked Axis installations, supplies, communications and troops. In the unit's training and tactical reports for that month, they raised the following unusual concern:

"We have encountered a phenomenon which we cannot explain; crews have been followed by lights that blink on and off changing colors etc. The lights come very close and fly formation with our planes. They are agitating and keep the crews on edge when 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 units."

On Jan. 16, 1945, Lt. Colonel Leavitt Corning, Jr., assistant chief of staff, A-2 (Intelligence) for Headquarters XII Tactical Air Command (ADV) in Europe, sent a secret memo about this matter (titled "Night Phenomenon") to the commanding general of the First Tactical Air Force (Provisional), requesting more information. Major S. V. Boykin replied that there had been no other instances reported and instructed, "Before an investigation can be made it will be necessary to have more complete information, such as colors of the lights, their intensity, size, duration, and at what altitude seen; also if the lights are observed at any specific hours. Do subject lights cross Allied lines and in what direction are they seen to travel? Also, has it been noted on what part of the aircraft are they carried, i.e. wing, tail, prop; and how close do they approach our aircraft?"

In response, Captain F. B. Ringwald, Air Command intelligence officer, forwarded extracts from the 415th's Dec. 1944 - Jan. 1945 Sortie Reports to Corning. They contained several accounts of the "Night Phenomenon." As noted by Ringwald, "Foofighters is the name given these phenomenon by combat crews of this Squadron." ("Foo" was a nonsense word used is "Smokey Stover," a popular comic strip of the day.) And these accounts depicted the sheer volume and weirdness of the encounters being reported by American pilots over the French-German border. Here are the extracts as originally reported in full, so the attributes of the anomalous phenomena can be weighed against the more conventional explanations later suggested:

Night of 14-15 December 1944 - "In vicinity of Erstein (V-9381) flying at 1000 ft. observed large red light at 2000 ft. going East at 18:40 hrs. Travelling at approximately 200 MPH."

Night of 16-17 December 1944 - "20 miles North of Breisach (W-0173) at 800 ft. observed 5 or 6 flashing red and green lights in 'T' shape. Thought they were flak. About 10 minutes later saw the same lights much closer and behind me. We turned port and Starboard and the lights followed. 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 highway. At 6:00 hrs. saw two lights coming towards A/C from the ground. Upon reaching altitude of plane, they leveled off and stayed on my tail for approximately 2 minutes. Lights appeared to be a large orange glow. After staying with A/C for approximately 2 minutes, they would peel off and turn away, fly along level for a few minutes and then go out. They appeared to be under perfect control at all times. Lights were seen somewhere in vicinity of [Haguenau]."

Night of 23-24 December 1944 - "Observed 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 (Q6745) noticed to NE approximately 5 miles a glowing red object shooting straight up. Changed suddenly to plane view of A/C doing a wing over and going into a dive and disappearing."

Night of 26-27 December 1944 - "At 01:45 hrs. saw two yellow streaks of flame flying at same level at approximately 3000 ft. off port side. We also saw red balls of fire that stayed up for 10 seconds approximately 45 miles away. After seeing yellow streaks, made starboard vector lost altitude and streaks disappeared from view.  Called GCI Blunder and asked if any E/A were in vicinity. They answered No. Instructed to return to Angels 10. We felt what was thought to be prop wash; very distinct. Noticed several groups of lights off port while patrolling in vicinity of Q-9050 and R-1556. Lights made distinct lines somewhat like arrows."

Night of 26-27 December 1944 - "While on vector 090 near V-7050 during patrol we observed airborne white lights. They were staggered evenly vertically and we could see from 1 to 4 swing at once. They appeared stationary at 10,000 ft."

Night of 26-27 December 1944 - "Observed light at same altitude while in vicinity of Worms. Observer saw light come within 100 ft. Peeled off and took evasive action but light continued to follow for 5 minutes. Light then pulled up rapidly and went out of sight."

Night of 27-28 December 1944 - "While on North heading in patrol area noticed in vicinity of Q-1378 lights suspended in air moving slowly and would then disappear. Were orange in color. Lights appeared singly and in pairs. Observed these lights four of five times during period."

Another supposed picture of Foo Fighters during World War 2.

Night of 27-28 December 1944 - "Eight miles NE of Luneville at 19:10 hrs. saw three sets of three lights (red and white) 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 went out. Called Churchman to see if there was anything in area. Received 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 while flying at Angels 9 - 10."

Night of 1-2 January 1945 - "Saw Foofighters North of Strasbourg and North of Saverne."

Night of 14-15 January 1945 - "Observed a large orange glow in sky approx. 5 ft. in diameter in vicinity of Ingweiller at 6000 ft. at 20:00 hrs."

Night of 29-30 January 1945 - "At about 00:10 hrs. sighted a Foofighter about half way between Weissembourg and Landau. Foofighter was off to the starboard and rear at Angels 2. Lights were amber and one was 20 - 50 ft. above the other and of about 30 seconds duration. Foofighter was about 1000 ft. away and following. The lights were about a foot in diameter. Lights disappeared when Travel 34 turned into them."

Ringwald noted that in every case in which a pilot called GCI Control (Ground-Controlled Interception, utilizing radar) and asked if there was a "Bogey" aircraft in the area, he received a negative answer.

Colonel C. A. Young of the First Tactical Air Force forwarded these reports from the 415th to the chief intelligence officer, Air Staff for the Supreme Headquarters Allied Expeditionary Force (SHAEF) on Feb. 5, 1945. Young noted that his headquarters had no further information or explanation for the phenomena but stated, "It is believed that further investigation is warranted. Since appropriate technical personnel are not available within the First Tactical Air Force, the matter is forwarded for such further investigation as may be advisable."

On Feb. 11, Air Commodore C. M. Grierson of SHAEF alerted Chief Intelligence Officer Col. Bradley at United States Strategic Air Forces in Europe HQ of the matter. "From the number of reports quoted in the 2nd W/Ind from the 415th Night Fighter Squadron, it would seem that there must be something more than mere imagination behind the matter, and in view of the fact that pilots and crews are becoming slightly worried by them, it is considered that everything possible be done to get to the root of the matter," wrote Grierson.  He revealed that copies of the reports were sent to the British Air Ministry and to a Mr. Robert...

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