During the height of World War II, as Allied and Axis forces clashed in the skies, reports emerged of something wholly unexpected: glowing orbs of light darting through the air with impossible agility. These objects, described as fiery spheres or luminous cigars, defied the known laws of physics. They followed fighter planes, matched their movements, and often vanished without a trace. Known as “Foo Fighters,” these phenomena remain one of the war’s most enduring mysteries—an enigma that continues to captivate imaginations.
The Foo Fighters are more than just a historical curiosity; they hold a more profound significance. My grandmother, Ocean Thompson, was born in 1902 and had three sons who served in World War II. Her half-brother, William, was a pilot during the war. Among the many tales that William shared, there was one that truly captivated her.
In the spring of 1964, when I was a young girl, my sister Louise and I sat with our grandmother as she shared a memory that has stayed with me ever since. With a glint in her eye, she told us about a UFO encounter she had experienced years earlier. She described a mysterious object that hovered just a few feet above her head, filling the air with an otherworldly presence. She spoke with wonder and conviction as if the memory was as vivid to her then as the day it had happened.
Then she leaned in closer and told us about her brother William’s wartime experience with the Foo Fighters. While flying across Europe, she explained how William had encountered glowing orbs that danced around his aircraft, moving with an intelligence he couldn’t explain. These orbs, she said, seemed curious but harmless, as if observing the chaos of war from an incomprehensible vantage point.
Years later, I believe there was more to what Grandma shared that day. Looking back, I think she was trying to tell us something more profound—that the craft she saw not only hovered above her but had taken her on board. The way she spoke, her tone, and her pauses all hinted at something unspoken, something she wasn’t sure how to articulate.
And here it is, almost 80 years past the end of World War II, and I recount my ongoing experiences with UFOs and aliens that continue to this day. As I reflect on what Grandma told us, I wonder how many generations of our family have been contactees. Is this a legacy passed down quietly through time? Are we chosen?
The term “Foo Fighters” has its roots in the humor of wartime camaraderie. In November 1944, Donald J. Meiers, a U.S. 415th Night Fighter Squadron radar operator, returned from a mission during which a glowing red orb had pursued his plane. Frustrated by the encounter, Meiers slammed a copy of the comic strip Smokey Stover onto the table. Borrowing from its playful, nonsensical use of the word “foo,” he exclaimed, “It’s another one of those fuckin’ foo fighters!” The name, sanitized for official reports, stuck and became a catchall for the unexplained lights haunting Allied airmen.
Sightings of Foo Fighters began as early as 1942, with Royal Air Force pilots describing strange lights tailing their aircraft over Europe. By 1944, these encounters had grown more frequent and perplexing. Pilots reported fiery orbs in red, orange, green, or white, which performed seemingly intelligent maneuvers: hovering in place, darting away at incredible speeds, or mirroring the movements of Allied planes.
For my great-uncle William, the Foo Fighters were not just strange anomalies; they were something he could never forget. He spoke of their speed, grace, and uncanny ability to expect his movements. They seemed playful, yet their presence was unnerving—a reminder that even during humanity’s most destructive war, the skies held mysteries no one could explain.
As the Foo Fighters grew more prominent, they became a subject of official inquiry. In December 1944, the Supreme Headquarters Allied Expeditionary Force issued a press release, speculating that the lights could be a new German weapon. This theory gained traction in the press, with outlets like The New York Times and Time Magazine publishing stories about the phenomenon. Despite their apparent ability to outmaneuver Allied aircraft, the Foo Fighters never exhibited hostility, leading some to dismiss them as harmless curiosities.
To the pilots, however, they were far from trivial. The lights were strange like Christmas decorations gone wild. Yet they were impossible to engage—efforts to outmaneuver or shoot them down proved futile. The Foo Fighters seemed almost playful, their presence more confounding than threatening.
Explanations for Foo Fighters ranged from the mundane to the extraordinary. Some scientists suggested natural phenomena, such as St. Elmo’s fire—a type of static electricity that can glow—or ball lightning, a rare and poorly understood weather occurrence. However, these theories struggled to account for the Foo Fighters’ behavior, particularly their apparent intelligence and ability to follow planes.
Others speculated the lights resulted from pilot disorientation or stress, a hypothesis supported by a U.S. Navy study on vertigo during night missions. Yet this explanation also fell short, given the consistent reports across multiple theaters of war.
One of the more intriguing theories came from aviation writer Renato Vesco, who proposed that the Foo Fighters were secret Nazi weapons called Feuerballs. These devices, he claimed, used electromagnetic energy to interfere with Allied planes. Though intriguing, many experts dismissed Vesco’s theory because it lacked concrete evidence.
In the years following the war, UFO enthusiasts proposed an even more audacious explanation: that the Foo Fighters were extraterrestrial. Their behavior—intelligent, curious, and unthreatening—paralleled modern reports of UFOs. This theory, while speculative, has kept the mystery alive in popular culture.
The tales of the Foo Fighters stir memories of my grandmother and her brother William, each with their own extraordinary stories. William spoke of a pilot’s firsthand encounters during wartime, while my grandmother shared the unforgettable moment a UFO hovered directly above her. When I add my extraterrestrial experiences into the mix, it all feels like fragments of a more mysterious puzzle. Together, these accounts merge personal history with the enduring mystery of unexplained phenomena, suggesting a deeper connection to the ET contact phenomenon than the surface stories Ocean and William let on.
The Foo Fighters of World War II have left an indelible mark on history and culture. Their name, immortalized by the rock band Foo Fighters, evokes a sense of wonder and curiosity. They represent an exciting reminder that even in humanity’s darkest hours, the skies held mysteries that transcended the conflicts of men.
Were these glowing orbs secret weapons, atmospheric anomalies, or other visitors? The truth remains elusive, but for those who encountered them—pilots like my great-uncle William and witnesses like my grandmother—they were a reminder that the universe is far more mysterious than we might ever imagine. For my family, this mystery persisted beyond World War II.
I feel sad as I reflect I could never fully grasp the entirety of Grandma’s encounters with aliens. It saddens me even more to know that she passed away not long after our conversation on July 4, 1964, merely a few months following her confession to her grandchildren. I can’t help but wonder if she ever shared her experiences with anyone else. Despite this, I am incredibly grateful because Grandma permitted me to believe in my encounters. She acknowledged and validated my experiences, giving my life a sense of purpose and value; otherwise, I would have thought I had lost my sanity.
Although I never had the chance to meet my mother’s mother and grandmother in person during their lifetime, they have often visited me in spirit after their deaths. Surprisingly, I have received no signs or messages from Grandma Thompson despite having known her for ten years before she passed away. I firmly believe she is watching over me from the other side as one of my guiding angels.
I missed growing up without a powerful matriarch from that generation in my family. I would have benefitted from having an alien experiencer ally.
