Foo-Fighter Documents Provided by Barry Greenwood

09-September-1998 The text of several official documents mentioning Foo-Fighters and Foo-Fighter-like phenomena are presented here.

These documents were located, and provided to CUFON, by Barry Greenwood, veteran researcher, for many years the Editor of the widely celebrated bulletin Just Cause, co-author of the breakthrough Clear Intent, and now the Editor of the U.F.O. Historical Review which debuted in June, 1998. Barry can be reached by mail at: UHR, Box 176, Stoneham MA 02180, USA. The UHR is available by subscription at the above address at the rates of: (in the US) $15.00 per year, and $20.00 (US) per year outside of the USA. Each issue of the UHR will contain interesting items like the Foo-Fighter documents presented here, and insightful comment by Mr. Greenwood.

Foo-Fighters are often mentioned in the UFO literature as being among the first modern era sightings of unidentified aerial objects, predating as they do the widely known civilian Arnold sighting of June, 1947. Seldom however, is documentary evidence of the reality and nature of these sightings presented to support mention of the Foo-Fighters. While the documents presented herein by no means represent all such material, they are a dramatic insight into the UFOs of the Second World War, and come from both the European and Pacific regions.

Small portions of the document copies the text of which is presented here were illegible, usually part of a word, a single word, and in one case, most of one line of text. These illegible portions are noted with question marks ( ? )

Where security markings are crossed out or blacked out, this is indicated by square brackets [ ]

Where handwritten material exists in the body of a document, that material is enclosed in 'curly brackets' { }

Page breaks within a document or between pages of a collection of documents which belong together are also noted inside curly brackets' { }

1. Intruder Mission - 1800-1945 hours. East of Rhine between Freiburg &
Rastatt, sighted no convoys - scattered trucks. Strafed at R-2510 at
1845 hours and damaged 1 M/T.

2. Intruder Mission - 1700-2000 hours. Neustadt, Karlsruhe and Manheim.
    Dropped leaflets and Landau at 1830. At 1840 sighted convoy going north
    at R-3082, strafed and damaged 8 M/T; while strafing, some of shots
    veered off at Neustadt M/Y and caused a tremendous explosion and fire,
    believed it a tank car. Fire could be seen for 15 miles. At 1845 hours,
    sighted another convoy going east at R-3095 - damaged 5 M/T. At 1850,
    fired at lights at R-7090 causing explosion and five separate fires;
    thought to be Branch Ordnance Depot at Heidelburg. About 1900 near river
    at Bruschal, strafed but had to leave due to accurate 10 gun, 40mm flak
    at R-6856. 3 minutes later, sighted 3 vehicles going south at R-4131,
    strafed them, destroyed 1 and damaged 2 M/T. About 1910, between Rastatt
    and Bishwiller, encountered lights at 3000 ft., two sets of them, turned
    into them, one went out and the other went straight up 2-3000 ft,
    then went out. Turned back to base and looked back and saw lights in
    their original position again. Large explosion near Luneville, thought
    it one of our P-47s that crashed.

3. 2245-2305 - Scramble. Nothing to report. Returned early due rough
engine and radio trouble..

CLAIMS

1. 2040-2330 - P-61 PATROL - AREA SW OF PT. O, AT O-4000, 13,000 FT.
NTR.

2. 2045-0005 - P-61 PATROL - AREA OF ULM.
NTR.

3. 2300-0105 - P-61 PATROL - AREA OF AUGSBURG.
At 2335 hours, vectored onto bogies but G.C.I. lost contact with bogies.
Flew through overcast but could not pinpoint bogies.

4. 2305-0210 - BEAUFIGHTER PATROL - PT. O, AT O-4000, AND WEST.
Vectored onto two bogies, but both proved friendly.

5. 0105-0320 - P-61 PATROL - WISENBURG-LUDWIGSBURG AREA.
At Rhine River, R-9593, observed 4 lights arranged in a square. Lights
went out as plane approached.

6. 0300-0520 - P-61 PATROL - AUGSBURG-WURZBURG AREA.
    In the vicinity of Wurzburg, while flying at 14,000 feet, warning light
    came on of bogie to rear. G.C.I. station Corned Beef, said that bogie was
    below. Orbited area but could get no contact.

CLAIMS : Nil

LOSSES : Nil

REPRODUCED AT THE NATIONAL ARCHIVES

MISSION REPORT

UNIT REPORTING : 415th Night Fighter Squadron

INTRUDER MISSIONS : 4 Missions 4 Sorties DATE: Dec. 17/18

REPORT:

1. 1725-1920 - Karlsruhe - Mannheim area. 10/10 clouds at 7500 ft,visibility
   1 mile. vectored onto bogie by Churchman at 1855 hours - headon
   interception, assed each other and lost contact. Flak: Moderate, heavy at
   R-4980, R-3968, R-3146; scant, light at R-1363; 1 rocket at R-5699.
   No traffic sighted.

2. 2035-2235 - Breisach - Rastatt area. No clouds, visibility 8 miles. Flak:
   Intense, heavy at S-0821; moderate, heavy at R-3946. 3 searchlights
   Durlach - Pforzheim. Observed small raid on Stuttgart, Saw no activity
   Breisach bridge ar 2110 hours. Nickling mission Buhl - Lichtenau -
   Neufreistett - west of Baden Baden - Rastatt. Destroyed 1 M/T and damaged
   5 M/T at R-6520 headed east. Destroyed 5 M/T and damaged 8 M/T at W-3480
   headed east. Destroyed 2 M/T and damaged 3 M/T at W-2162 headed east.

3. 2205-2400 - Breisach area. 0/10 clouds at 13,000 ft. Visibility 1-2
   miles.. Flak: Intense light (Acc) Breisach. 5 searchlights Freiburg. 2
   searchlights Basel. Observed 5 or 6 red and green lights in T form, seemed
   to be following A/C for short time, about 20 miles north of Breisach.
   Strafed Breisach bridge - no results observed. Destroyed 1 M/T 1 mile
   south-east of Breisach. Damaged 2 M/T at W-1048.

4. 0350-0540 (Scramble) -- Contacted Baggage, turned over to Churchman. Had
contact with bogie over Saarbourg at 0430 hours - lost contact. Patrolled
with churchman and Ignite without further incident.

WAR DIARY 415TH NIGHT FIGHTER SQUADRON

JANUARY 1945

OCREY AIR BASE, FRANCE

1   Gastronomically we started the New Year off right with a turkey
    dinner. Some couldn't enjoy it because they were still suffering
    from a severe attack of cognacitus of the previous night. Oper-
    ationally we started the New Year off with both tragedy and success.
    While on an intruder mission, Capt. Jones and Lt. Sussman were fired
    upon by a B-17. Jones told the controller that he had received fire
    which shot out one engine, tail surfaces and wounded Lt. Sussman. The
    pilot tried to bring the A/C to an emergency field because Lt. Sussman
    couldn't bail out. Capt. Jones' last words to the controller before he
    and and his observer spun in were "I guess we've had it." Lt. 'Intruder'
    Schleuter encountered and destroyed one Ju-88.

2 Bridge continues in popularity among the officers.

3   The medics report that the health of the squadron is very satisfactory
    This condition, they say, usually accompanies outdoor living conditions -
    even duringa severe winter like this one.

4   At a brief ceremony in our movie tent Gen. Barcus made the presentation
    of medals won by members of this unit. The D.F.C. went to Maj. Augspur-
    ger, Lt. Schleuter, Lt. Myers, Capt. Horne, Lt. Wanda, and Lt. Urich. t
    The Soldiers medal was presented to S/Sgt Harry Hutchinson and Pvt.
    William J. Pershing.

6   Sgt Garber has furnished us with a good antidote for these long, cold
    nights. It is a warm, winterized pyramidal gaming room. Each night,
    enthusiasts of games of skill like poker gather for a friendly bout.

8   A memorial service was held at the 50th Group Chapel for capt. Jones and
    Lt. Sussman. After some special music the chaplain gave a short talk.
    The service was ended by Sgt Gersten who played taps on a bugle.

9 Lts. Marshall and Rocklin have commenced to interview all members of the
415 to determine what they wish to study after V-E day.

10 At the morning formation Line Chief M/Sgt Kenneth Beedon said good-bye
and thanks to the body assembled. He leaves in a few days for a month
furlough in Chicago.

11 Mailman Garren reports that over 250 bags of packages have been received
since Christamas.

12 Enough good cognac (the brandy of Napoleon) has been procured to allow
each E.M. to buy one bottle. The officers bar is making only a modest
profit on the deal.

13 Beau #69 got out of control upon landing and headed for a weapons carrier
    and a group of men working near it. It took the top off the W/C and would
    have done the same to Hugh Donnell if he hadn't put his rear in high
    power and taken violent evasive action on his stilt-like legs.

14 To-day was the first moderate, Spring-like day We've had since
mid-December.

15 One of the nissen shaped, wire mesh frame, tar paper covered huts has
been completed on the line and will have to be occupied by Operations,
Intelligence, Parachutes and Armament.

16 The officers have started to take turns going to England on one week
furloughs.

18 Recreation at the officer level is provided for by dances at the XII
T.A.C. officers Club in Thiers and the 64th Wing Officers Club. A few
have also danced with the angles of Mercy at the 2nd Gen. Hosp. in Nancy.

20 Another tar paper hut is abuilding in the tent area. It will be used
for a movie theatre.

21 A quartet of G.I.'s entertained us for a half hour before movie time
    with beautiful renditions of several negro spirituals. The Red Cross
    girls (God bless them) served coffee and sinkers before the show..
    Eleven inches of light snow fell last night and yesterday.

22 Lt. Davis shot a wild boar.. By the time he had tracked it down foxes
and crows had devoured a large part of it. More snow to-day.

24 A recording of an interview with Lt. 'Intruder' Schleuter was broadcast
on the "Combat Diary" program of the B.B.C. at 08:00 hours this morning.

25 Obie Bennett is proving himself the hunter of the outfit. So far his
bag of game has included rabbits, squirrels and wild boar.

26 The second hut was completed on the line. It houses Engineering and
Tech. Supply offices, crew chiefs' alert (card) room and a lot of Tech
Supply stores.

27 The first movie was held in our new theatre. The floor is stepped twice
to improve the audiences' view. It is a tremendous improvement over the
saggy tent.

29 Butch Garber, the carpenter has produced another of his works of art.
It's a six-holer with graduation in seat size to accommodate everyone
from petit Ronchetti to Hefty Dalton.

30 Major Bob Johnson, 24, of the 81st Fighter Bomber Squadron spoke for a
    half hour before the picture, describing in cryptic language, the work
    and tactics of his outfit. Foo-Fighters were at it again last night. This
    is The Operations report: "Halfway between Wissembourg and Landau sighted
    amber lights at 2000 feet. One light was 20 to 50 feet above the other
    and of about 30 seconds duration. Lights were about a foot in diameter,
    1000 ft. away and following Beau. Lights disappeared when Beau turned
    into them."

Squadron Historian.

COPY

[ S E C R E T ]

HEADQUARTERS 42ND BOMB WING
A-2 Section APO 650

SPECIAL FLAK REPORT FOR SEPTEMBER-OCTOBER 1944

I. General An important part of flak intelligence is the systematic an-
alysis of flak defences in the target area to assist in the determination
of axes of attack and break. In order to determine the effect of such an-
alysis on flak losses, damage, and bombing results, it is necessary to com-
pare results based upon flak analysis with results not based upon flak an-
alysis in a large number of cases. The above comparison is used in this flak
report covering the operations of the 42nd Bombardment Wing during the months
of September and October 1944, and conclusions have been presented where they
were believed justified by a substantial number of cases involved. The meth-
od of flak analysis used by the 42nd Bomb Wing is based on a technique essen-
tially similar to the Eighth Air Force system, using the standard flak com-
putor for 10,000 feet altitude.

During the two (2)-month period from 1 September through 31 October,
3621 sorties were flown by the 42nd Bomb Wing, with a loss of 9 and damage
to 383 aircraft due to flak. These figures represent 0.25 percent a/c lost
and 10.6 percent a/c damaged of all a/c credited with sorties. Slightly
more than half of the 3621 sorties, or 1868 a/c were fired upon by flak. The
majority of these were in the target areas, although there were some instan-
ces enroute. Slightly less than half, or 1753 a/c, were in formations against
which not a single shot was fired. The loss of 9 a/c was 0.48 percent, and
the damage to 383 a/c represented 20.5 percent of the 1868 fired upon during
this two (2)-month period.

These 1868 sorties may be divided further into two (2) categories:
Those a/c in formations attacking targets when the axis and break used were
based upon flak analysis, and those attacking targets when the axis and break
used were not based upon flak analysis. Appendix I and II list each mission
experiencing flak in one of these two categories. Instances where the axis
of attack and break were not based upon flak analysis were due primarily to a
lack of information at the time of the mission planning, although there were
a few Instances when other operational factors prevented the use of a
recommended axis and break.

A summary of the two (2)-months operations against flak defended
targets indicates 42 percent more damage to formations flying an axis and break not based upon flak analysis..

VI. Relation of Flak Experience to Success of Missions Against Bridges:
The last four columns in Appendix I and II are headed "D, DA B, and M". "D"
stands for destroyed, meaning that the bridge was knocked down. "DA" stands for damaged, meaning that the bridge was hit, not knocked down, but damaged.
"B" is the abbreviation for blocked. This means that the was missed and is
undamaged but that the approach or line at either end of the bridge has been
cut or blocked. "M" means that the target was completely missed. The
following are the totals for the months of September and October, arranged to
compare results on bridge targets when the attack experienced flak during the
bombing run with results when attacks were free from flak on the bombing run.

TOTAL

100

TOTAL

100

The effect of flak upon results shows up in the comparisons of bridges destroyed And bridges missed. Only one bridge out of 48 (2%) was destroyed when flak was experienced on the bomb run as opposed to 12 out of 58 (21%) destroyed when the bomb runs were flak free. 28 percent were completely missed when flak was experienced on the bomb run in contrast to 3 percent on flak free targets.

The one bridge destroyed when flak was experienced on the bomb run was at Ostiglia, the mission of 26 September, attacked by three formations. The 17th bomb Group lost 3 A/C and had 17 damaged by flak. Their attack missed the target, blocking the approaches. The 319th Bomb Group had 1 A/C destroyed and 12 holed by flak. They hit and damaged the bridge. The 320th Bomb Group lost no A/C over the target although 24 A/C were damaged, but they destroyed the bridge. The correlation between A/C losses and results of bombing in this isolated instance might be considered a coincidence if it were not in agreement with the general trend demonstrated by the results of the two month's experience as a whole. A comparison of intensities and accuracies of flak experienced with bombing results did not reveal any trend of significance.

VII. Smoke Screens: Smoke pots were reported at Mori on 3 October, and at Rovereto 12-13 October. On 3 October smoke screens were observed at Rovereto Fuel dump, at Verona A/D, and between Ala and Avio. No smoke screens were encountered in the period covered by this report in any target area attacked.

VIII. Miscellaneous Phenomena: On 18 October, several bursts of possible rocket flak were reported from Sestri Levanti. They were large red bursts, 500 feet above the formation. Also on 18 October, a shower of silver objects about the size of silver dollars was reported in the vicinity of Alfonsine. These objects were seen floating at 10,500 feet and descending very slowly.

Major General John A. Samford
Director of Intelligence
Headquarters USAF
Washington 25, D C.

Dear General Samford:

In view of recent news stories of lights seen

Over Japan the attached account may be of interest.

The original is in the files of the Archives of the

USAF Historical Division, Air University.

Sincerely yours,

1 Incl                   ALBERT F. SIMPSON
                        Chief, USAF Historical
                          Division

DATE: 2 MAY 1945 (GCT).

OBSERVATIONS: The crew of plane #616 over FALA ISLAND, TRUK ATOLL, at 021802Z observed 2 airborne objects at their 11,000 foot altitude changing from a cherry red to an orange, and to a white light which would die out and then become cherry red again. These objects were out on either wing and not within range of caliber .50 machine guns. Both followed the B-24 through all types of evasive action. A B-24 took a course for GUAM and one of the pursuers dropped off at 021900Z after accompanying the B-24 for an hour. The other continued to follow, never approaching closer than 1000 yards and speeding up when the B-24 went thru the clouds to emerge on the other side ahead of the B-24. In daylight it was seen to be bright silver in color. As the B-24 let down at GUAM, the pursuer took a course of 330 degrees at 15, 000 feet to 20,000 feet altitude at 022130Z. ONe B-24 encountered eight intense flames light green in color, one of which burst and hung at 5,000 feet at 021013Z. There was no trail or warning until the actual burst. A B-24 reported 9 to 10 red tracer type trails of fire up to 5,000 feet. They came in pairs and one pair came within 50 to 100 yards of the tail of the B-24 at 021010Z. Source of each pair was at a different location.

{[} Source: Seventh Bomber Command Mission Reports, 742.332 - 8 February-
16 May 1945 {]}

SUBJECT: MISSION REPORT DATE: 19 APRIL 1945.

DETACHMENT 6TH NIGHT FIGHTER SQUADRON AAF, MISSION 4-3.

1. a. One (1) P-61
b. None (unknown)

2. a. None
b. None

3. Scrambled while on G. C. I..

4. Lt. Moore, Pilot; Lt. Jennings, R/O
    Scrambled: 2235
    Takeoff : 2123 on mission with Patrick Control.
    Landed   : 2306

Lizard Control called and scrambled us to Kahuku at A/10,000 feet. 15 miles away from Kahuku Lizard called again, changing our altitude to 6,000 feet. 5 miles away from Kahuku, we called Midnight Control. They ordered us on a 360 degree vector from Kahuku, telling us target was 30 miles away, North of Kahuku. We followed same vector on in, until Control told us that Target was at range of 6 to 7 miles, in an orbit, and ordered us to take over.

Our first Radar contact was 12 miles out of Kahuku and proved to be Target on course of 170 degrees...Heading South toward the island. We maintained Radar contact for distance of 5 miles, then lost contact. Midnight Control vectored us on target again, lowering our altitude to mattress at 2,500 feet. We contacted target again at 2 miles range, and maintained contact til within approximately 3,000 feet. Target was still below us, under the clouds, (we were in the clouds, over Kahuku) we called Control saying we had lost contact. They gave us a 170 degree vector, telling us to climb over the mountains ahead. Lizard Control then called, saying target had been claimed by Molokai. We returned to base.

5. a. 8/10 heavy cloud coverage between 2500 and 3500 feet. Visibility
unlimited.
b. Good.

6. None

7. Ammo: None
Gas : 350 gals.

8. None.

1 Our tent area is in a piney wood. Besides their esthetic
value, the trees also shield us from the wind.

2   A wind storm came in during the night and played havoc
    with the tents we'd just set up, blowing down three on the
    line, two in the area and tearing others.

6 The planes arrived. Until today they have been weather
bound at Dijon.

7   We turned one of our blankets in to Squadron supply and
    received a sleeping bag in return - a very good deal in this
    frigid climate.

8. The second echelon is arriving in driblets as we are finding
it difficult to procure trucks or C-47's or good weather
when we do get skytrains.

10 Line Chief T/Sgt Peedon is having his troubles here. This
    is the first time our aircraft have been frozen up.
    Water is freezing in the gas and air lines. We are using
    more tires here than ever before. The steel mesh taxi strip
    cuts them up severely. Sometimes tires have been worn out
    by taxiing before they have seen a single landing. Because
    of the cramped parking space it is necessary to tow the A/C
    into stands with the electrac.

12 When on Pass the boys are finding Nancy an interesting
metropolis with nothing off limits, a good Red Cross and
a huge, heated indoor swimming pool.

14 Ol' Man Winter has finally laid General Mud, blanketing him
with an inch of snow.

15 The following is an excerpt from the operations report:
    "Saw a brilliant red light at 2000 feet going E at 200 MPH
    in the vicinity of Erstein. Due to AI failure could not pick
    up contact but followed it by sight until it went out. Could
    not get close enough to identify object before it went out."

17 We are keeping warm by burning used beau oil or coal in our
oil-can stoves.

18 I quote from the operations report: "In Rastatt area sighted
    five or six red and green lights in a 'T' shape which followed
    A/C thru turns and closed to 1000 feet. Lights followed for
    several miles then went out. Our pilots have named these
    mysterious ? which they encounter over Germany at
    night "Foo-Fighters."

War Diary Page 2 December 1944

20 Lts. Schleuter, Gould, Meyers ?ardu, and Sgt. Vanderbeer
jeeped to Strausbourg to see Ignite, their sector controller
for liaison purpose. The trip was deemed a success.

22 Lt Thomas and F/O Painter bailed out of 39 when both engines
failed in quick succession. The crew landed safely while the
A/C crashed.

23 More Foo-Fighters were in the air last night. The Ops.
    Report says: "In vicinity of Hagenau Saw 2 lights coming
    Toward A/C from ground. After reaching the altitude of the
    A/C they leveled off and flew on the tail of Beau for 2 minutes
    And they peeled up and turned away. 8th mission - sighted
    2 orange lights. One light sighted at 10,000 the other
    climbed until it disappeared.

24 The officer's bar had its usual gala opening. The Foo-
    Fighters were active again according to the pilots report:-
    "Observed a glowing red object shooting straight up. It
    changed suddenly to a plan view of an A/C doing a wing-over
    and going into a dive and disappearing."

25 We had a turkey dinner to-day.

26 Sgts Cypert, Coffey and Peterson went to Etain to work on
one of our beaus which is frozen up at that airport.

27 Claudia had four whelps, out of Foolish. Lt. Giblin shot
down a Ju-88.

28 We have only seven operational aircraft now as replacements
    are snow-bound at Setif, North Africa. The Ops. Report says:
    "1st patrol saw 2 sets of 3 red and white lights. One
    appeared on port side, the other on starboard at 1,000 to
    2,000 feet to rear and closing in. Beau peeled off and lights
    went out, nothing on GCI ? at the time." And then again:
    Observed lights suspended in air, moving slowly in no general
    Direction and then disappeared. Lights were orange, and
    Appeared singly and in pairs. These lights were observed 4
    Or 5 times throughout the period."

29 T/Sgt. Cypert and his crew returned, their mission completed.

30 " Lt. Schleuter and his A/C ? ? ? destroyed
one? ? ? ?