Documents / Report
This memo, dated 16 January 1945, went from Headquarters XII Tactical Air Command, A-2 section, to the First Tactical Air Force (Prov). It quotes the 415th Night Fighter Squadron's December 1944 report that crews were followed by blinking, color-changing lights that came close, flew formation with their planes and unsettled them, and it asks for more information. In an endorsement dated 20 January 1945, First Tactical Air Force says no similar instances were reported and asks for details on color, size, altitude, timing and behavior.
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# HEADQUARTERS XII TACTICAL AIR COMMAND (ADV) Office of the A/C of S, A-2 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 following is quoted from training and tactical information supplied by the 415th Night Fighter Squadron for the month of December 1944: "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". 2. Further information is requested. LEAVITT CORNING, JR., Lt. Colonel, G. S. C., A/C of S, A-2. 1st Ind D-B-1 HEADQUARTERS, FIRST TACTICAL AIR FORCE (PROV), AO of S A-2, APO 374, US Army, 20 January 1945 TO: AO of S A-2, XII Tactical Air Command, APO 374, US Army 1. There have been no instances reported as above. 2. 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 altitudes 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? For the Assistant Chief of Staff A-2: 4.95 S.V.Boykin S V BOYKIN Major AC Executive Officer
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