ACUFO:

1945, February 17

ITALY, Central Po Valley

[... other case...]

- Mission No. 562, from 8:10 p.m. to 11:10 p.m., GCI Leghorn patrol in La Spezia: “At 8:45 p.m. a sparkling light is observed by the Mosquito Mark XXX at a distance, at least 20 miles, too moved away to intervene. It apparently moves near La Spezia and is seen for 45 seconds. At 9:30 p.m. a flashing reddish-white light is seen at a distance of 6 to 8 miles, still near La Spezia, at an altitude of 10,000 feet and traveling towards the NE. It is chased at the speed of 280MPH for a minute and a half. The light takes an erratic trajectory and goes out. At 9:40 p.m., the same light, or another identical one is observed 10 miles away south of La Spezia, flying first north, then east, at 9,000 ft. The pilot came within 5 miles of it, suspecting the thing to be an Ack Ack trap. At 9:55 p.m., 10 miles south of La Spezia another (or the same) heading towards the town was chased by the pilot. It was 10 or 15 miles north of La Spezia, the speed of the plane, 300 MPH, is insufficient to catch up. Information taken: no ack ack operation in La Spezia. However, at 10:50 p.m., 5 miles south of Pisa, an identical light is seen at a distance of 10 miles. It was chased for about 2 and a half minutes as it traveled north at 10,000 feet, it disappears beyond the mountains.” (source CPT C. S. Miller, A. C., Adjutant. cfr National Archives)

17 February 1945: “Our crews are beginning to report mysterious orange-red lights in the sky near La Spezia and also inland. These "foo fighters" have been pursued, but no one has been able to make contact. G.C.I and intelligence profess to be mystified by these ghostly apparitions. The hypothesis that the foo-fighters are a post-cognac manifestation has been disproved. Even the teetotalers have observed the strange and mysterious foo-fighters which have also been observed in France and in Belgium” (17 Feb.1945, 416thhistorical data. U.S. Army.)

17 February 1945: "At 21:30 saw reddish white light going off and on in spurts about 6 or 8 miles away, near La Spezia at 10,000 ft. going NE. chased it at 280 MPH for 11/2 minutes. It took erratic course and faded out. At 21:40 saw some type of light 10 miles South of La Spezia and it went North and turned East of La Spezia at 9000'. Faded near La Spezia. Pilot came within 5 miles of La Spezia, suspected Ack Ack trap. At 21:55,10 miles south of La Spezia chased another and it went across La Spezia and pilot followed. Faded 10 or 15 miles North of La Spezia. Our aircraft at 300 MPH couldn't catch it. No ack ack at La Spezia. At 22:50, 5 miles south of Pisa, saw same light from distance of 10 miles. Chased it for 2 or 2 1/2 minutes. It took north course, disappeared over Mt this light 10,000'. Light described as glow that alternates between weak and bright. No contacts on Al (radar). Apparently no jamming" (17 Feb.1945. Daily Operations Report, 416th NFS, 12th AF-SCU--01.)

The above sighting was made by George Shultz and Frankie Robinson.

Case 95

February l7 / 18, 1945

Near La Spezia, Italy

A crew with the 416th NFS was conducting a ground control intercept patrol over Leghorn and La Spezia, when within 30 minutes they observed a “blinking light” about 20 miles away near La Spezia, lasting for about 45 seconds. Due to the distance, the pilot was unable to make an accurate observation. About 45 minutes later, the light appeared much closer. This time it was “a reddish white light going off and on in spurts about 6 or 8 miles away, near La Spezia at 10,000 feet, going northeast.” Turning into the light, the pilot gave chase for about 90 seconds, but the light flew an “erratic course” and “faded out” before the mosquito could attack. About ten minutes later, the pilot saw the same type of light flying at 9,000 feet, travelling around ten miles south of La Spezia. Again he chased the light as it turned and headed North, and then, moments later, turned East, before fading out. The pilot stopped pursuing the light when he was within five miles of La Spezia because he felt there might be an anti-aircraft trap.” But within 15 minutes, the light was back, approximately 10 miles South of La Spezia. This time he decided to ignore his reservations about a possible antiaircraft trap and he chased the light anywhere it went at 300 mph racing across La Spezia in a hot pursuit. Much to his surprise, his Mosquito drew no enemy gunfire. Unfortunately, his efforts were fruitless. As he pushed his aircraft harder, the light “faded,” disappearing in the darkness. One hour later, the crew saw “the same light” around 10 miles away. Another game of cat and mouse ensued, as the pilot immediately started the chase. While at 10,000 feet, for over two minutes the pilot tried to catch up to the strange “light,” which he described as a “glow that alternates between weak and bright.” The pilot's efforts failed again. The strange light had eluded his every attempt to engage it in combat. Making the entire evening's event even more mysterious was the fact that the enemy had made no attempt to jam their GCI radar, and the aircraft's radar operator never made contact on his air intercept.

Sources: 416th NFS Daily Operations Report, 18 February, 1945, NARA / Strange Company, Keith Chester, 2007

The P-61 was the most advanced night fighter in the world, including built-in night binoculars. But the majority of aircraft at the 414th as well as the nearby 416th Night Fighter Squadron was made up of Beaufighters and Mosquitos.

THE 416TH NIGHT FIGHTER SQUADRON, had been based in Pisa, Italy, since October, 1944. In January, 1944, a separate detachment of the 416th had been sent to operate from Etain, France, attached to the 425th Night Fighter Squadron. In mid-February the detachment returned from Etain to rejoin the main squadron at Pisa. And it is perhaps partly from those returning pilots that the following was noted in the 416th's report of February 17, 1945...

Our crews are beginning to report mysterious orange-red lights in the sky near La Spezia and also inland. These “foo fighters” have been pursued, but no one has been able to make contact. G.C.I. [ground radar stations] and intelligence profess to be mystified by these ghostly apparitions. The hypothesis that the foo-fighters are a post-cognac manifestation has been disproved. Even the teetotalers have observed the strange and mysterious foo-fighters which have also been observed in France and in Belgium.

But though the mention of French sightings may have come from air crews detached to the 425th, the report from La Spezia had occurred that very day, as noted in the daily Operations Report of the 416th...

At 21:30 saw reddish white light going off and on in spurts about 6 or 8 miles away, near La Spezia at 10,000 ft. going NE. chased it at 280 MPH for 1 1/2 minutes. It took erratic course and faded out. At 21:40 saw some type of light 10 miles South of La Spezia and it went North and turned East of La Spezia at 9000'. faded near La Spezia. Pilot came within 5 miles of La Spezia, suspected Ack Ack trap. At 21:55, 10 miles south of La Spezia chased another and it went across La Spezia and pilot followed. Faded 10 or 15 miles North of La Spezia. Our aircraft at 300 MPH couldn't catch it. No ack ack at La Spezia. At 22:50, 5 miles south of Pisa, saw same light from distance of 10 miles. Chased it for 2 or 2 1/2 minutes. It took north course, disappeared over mt. this light 10,000'. Light described as glow that alternates between weak and bright. No contacts on AI [onboard radar set]. Apparently no jamming.

Feb. 17/18, 1945; La Spezia, Italy

Multiple sightings: (1) blinking light; (2) reddish white light going off and on in spurts, faded out during chase; (3) light, a glow alternating between weak and bright was chased several times, never caught. (Page 138-139 Ref.1)

Date: Feb. 17/18, 1945

Location: La Spezia, Italy

Time:

Summary: Multiple sightings: (1) blinking light; (2) reddish white light going off and on in spurts, faded out during chase; (3) light, a glow alternating between weak and bright was chased several times, never caught.

Source: