Having long been fascinated with the Foo Fighters during World War II, I finally decided to dig up some articles on the issue.
In this particular article, the Foo Fighters are described as a Nazi weapon.
Nazis Newest Trick, Fire Balls, Follow or Precede Planes
A United States Night Fighter Base, France, January 2, 1945 — American fighter pilots engaged in flying night intruder missions over Germany reports the Nazis have come up with a new “secret weapon” – mysterious “balls of fire” which race along beside their planes for miles like will-o’-the-wisps.
Yank pilots have dubbed them “foo fighters,” and at first thought they might explode, but so far there is no indication that any planes have been damaged by them.
Some pilots have expressed belief that the “foo fighter” was designed strictly as a psychological weapon. Intelligence reports seem to indicate it is radio-controlled from the ground and can keep pace with planes flying 300 miles per hour.
Lt. Donald Meiers, Chicago, said there are three types of “foo fighters” – red balls of fire that fly along at wing tip; a vertical row of three balls of fire which fly in front of the planes, and a group of about 15 lights which follow the plane at a distance, flickering on and off.
“A ‘foo fighter’ picked me up recently at 700 feet and chased me 20 miles down the Rhine Valley,” Lt. Meiers said. “I turned to starboard and two balls of fire turned with me. I turned to the port side and they turned with me. We were going 260 miles an hour and the balls were keeping right up with us.
“On another occasion when a ‘foo fighter’ picked us up, I dove at 360 miles per hour. It kept right off our wing tips for awhile and then zoomed up into the sky.
“When I first saw the things off my wing tips I had the horrible thought that a German on the ground was ready to press a button and explode them. But they don’t explode or attack us. They just seem to follow us like will-o’-the-wisps.”
Source: Evening star. (Washington, D.C.), 02 Jan. 1945.
