Foo fighters — 415th Night Fighter Squadron
UNRESOLVED
Crews of the U.S. 415th Night Fighter Squadron repeatedly reported glowing balls of light that followed their Beaufighters over the Rhine. They called them "foo fighters"; similar reports came from Allied and Axis crews in Europe and the Pacific.
Explanation
Proposed explanations include St. Elmo’s fire, ball lightning, flares and misidentified aircraft; none fits all reports.
What was seen
Shape: Balls of orange or red light pacing aircraft
Witnesses: USAAF night-fighter crews
Duration: Recurring, late 1944 – 1945
Browse
- France
- 1940s
- Unresolved
- Military encounters
- Official government documents
- Military witnesses
- Pilot and aircrew witnesses
- Lights and fireballs
- Spheres and orbs