Intelligence Review of “Ghost Rocket” Incidents, 1947

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FEATURE SECTION
"GHOST ROCKETS" OVER
SCANDINAVIA
Flying missiles were first reported over southern Sweden in
late May 1946 by the press, which gave the missiles the name
of "Ghost Rockets." In June, the missiles also had been
reported over Finland and Denmark. By July, the number of
sightings over Sweden had greatly increased, and several also
had been reported over Norway. The great majority of these
reports were made by untrained observers and, as would be
expected, varied widely in the description of the actual
missiles as well as, of their course, altitude, and speed.
Descriptions of the Missile
The two most common descriptions of the missiles were
"a ball of fire with a tail" and a "shiny cigar-shaped object."
The reported direction of flight covered all points of the
compass, with a northerly direction being slightly pre­
dominant. Variations in altitude ranged from treetop height
to 160,000 feet, the higher altitudes almost exclusively being
reported from Finland. Speeds reported were from 65 m. p. h.
to ''lightning fast," with the majority described as having
great or very great speed. The missiles generally have been
described in horizontal flight; a few have been reported as
diving into the ground or into lakes, or exploding in the air.
In no case have fragments been found other than bits of
material described as "nonmetallic slag."
One of the few reports available from an individual who
should be more reliable and competent than the average
-8:ECM'f
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