The Swedish "Ghost Rocket" Crisis of 1946

ROBERT E. BARTHOLOMEW, ANDERS LILJEGREN AND CLAS SVAHN

Between early May and September 30th, 1946, a widespread panic occurred across Sweden as tens of thousands of citizens reported observations of phantom missiles. This led to the widespread folk theory that remote-controlled German V-rockets confiscated by the Soviets at the close of World War II, were being test-fired as a form of political intimidation, or a prelude to an invasion. Despite the widely publicized views of Swedish and foreign politicians, military officials, newspaper editors and scientists supporting the rocket's reality, and voluminous press reports often treating their existence as factual, no concrete physical evidence was ever found. By the episode's end, Swedish military investigators concluded that most observations were of meteors and related celestial phenomena, and of those unexplained, none were V-rockets. This article describes the episode, locating it as one in a long history of Soviet invasion fears which have preoccupied Swedes for centuries.

Historical Socio-Political Context

The Soviet relationship with northern Europe is characterized by two hundred years of ideological conflict and distrust, exchanges of political rhetoric, spy accusations, border disputes, wars, and invasion fears. From 1899-1914, itinerant Russian workmen traveled the Swedish countryside. They were referred to as "saw-filers" (sagfilare) as they were renown for sharpening various tools, especially saws. During this period, the term became synonymous in Sweden with Russian spies, although their intention of spying was never confirmed. Most were Russian farmers from the Novgorod region who traveled to Sweden in the autumn and remained through the winter. Between 50 and 300 saw-filers came to Sweden each winter to earn good wages. Speculations as to their possible clandestine purpose were particularly intense between 1899-1902 and 1910-1914. Swedish police maintained a close surveillance, and even masqueraded as saw-filers, but they were never caught in the act of spying. Newspaper editors were primarily responsible for portraying saw-filers as possible spies. During the 1930s, mysterious "ghost planes" were reported across northern Sweden. Also popularly known as the "ghost flier" or "flier x," they were typically described as grey monoplanes without identifying insignias or markings. They were sometimes observed or heard during fierce blizzard conditions, occasionally alighting and taking off, always in remote areas. Sightings of the phantom plane were almost exclusively nocturnal, and typically illuminated by a searchlight beam coming from the craft. Despite a pervasive folk belief in flier's existence, no verification of a plane or secret airfield was ever found. The flier possessed quasi-supernatural qualities as period aircraft were incapable of operating under treacherous blizzard conditions for hours at a time, performing the daring maneuvers described by witnesses, and eluding the massive military search that ensued during the heaviest concentration of sightings, between December 1933 and February 1934. Many citizens thought they may have been liquor smugglers avoiding customs, or possibly weapons smugglers. The most prominent and more sinister folk theory held that they were potentially hostile reconnaissance missions of Russian, and to a lesser extent, German or Japanese origin.

Since the early 1980s, there have been thousands of reports of phantom submarines in Swedish territorial waters, popularly assumed to be on Soviet spy missions. The Swedish Government's Submarine Commission was given the task of assessing over 6,000 reports of suspected underwater incursions between 1981-1994. While the report focuses on a few major incidents that were concluded to have involved Soviet vessels, most cases were ambiguous visual sightings that could not be accurately evaluated, including reports of wave movements, marine lights and sounds, and possible divers. The Commission stated that "many different objects and conditions...can be interpreted as being connected to underwater activity," noting that natural explanations had been found for a "great number of reports" (p. 334). It also remarked on the influx of cases in proportion to media publicity. Waves of claims and public discourse about Soviet submarines routinely violating Swedish territory have occurred intermittently throughout this century, becoming particularly intense since 1981, after a Soviet Whiskey Class U137 probably carrying nuclear weapons, caused a sensation when it ran aground during a reconnaissance mission, resulting in an international incident that engendered Swedish political protests and intense media publicity.

Near the end of World War II, German V-rockets devastated parts of the United Kingdom. Occasionally they strayed into Scandinavia raising concerns, but causing no damage. One V-2 fell near Backebo in southeastern Sweden leaving a crater 5 meters wide and 2-3 meters deep. Fears over a repeat of the recent, vivid and highly publicized destruction in England, were rekindled in Sweden during 1946, since Russian forces had occupied Peenemunde, the former center of German rocket science. Soviet troops controlled much of northern Europe during this period, and it was unclear as to how much Scandinavian territory they might claim in the political uncertainty following the war. It is within this context of long-held Russian invasion fears and post-war political ambiguity involving possible Russian claims on Swedish territory, that plausible rumors began circulating as to potentially hostile Russian intentions. There was speculation as early as March 19, that the Soviets would soon begin test-firing rocket bombs. A newswire from the Swedish Newspaper Agency Tidningarnas Telegrambyra appeared in numerous domestic newspapers on March 19, including Sydostra Sveriges Dagblad, Umebladet, and Norra Vasterbotten, serving as a prelude of what was to occur in the spring and summer. It quotes the London Daily Mirror's Berlin correspondent as stating that "German scientists and technicians who work under Russian supervision will shortly release a number of V-2 bombs from secret research stations on the Baltic." Russian xenophobia again resurfaced between April 23-26, 1946, as a series of earth tremors were reported in the Swedish counties of Blekinge, Skane and Kalmar, and in the vicinity of the Danish island of Bornholm in the southern Baltic. One newspaper suggested that they were Russian tests of nuclear weapons. On April 28, the Swedish foreign affairs minister Osten Unden met privately with his Norwegian counterpart Halvard Lange who warned that there was great consternation in American political circles that the Soviets would soon possess atomic weapons. Lange stated "that there was an imminent danger of war" as a group aligned with General Dwight Eisenhower felt that "differences between the US and Soviet had taken on such a nature that the US ought to strike with a preventative war. President Truman, however, was opposed to this. The rumours came from the US."

The Genesis of the Episode

Astronomer Louis Winkler correlates the rocket sightings to a rare confluence of astronomical and meteorological events; geomagnetic comets and the occasional disbursement of their orbital streams in conjunction with exceptionally high solar activity, generating spectacular auroras, meteors and cometary spray streaking through the atmosphere. Unusual aerial phenomena was first noted in January of 1946, with reports of meteors and strange glowing clouds. On the morning of January 4, observers across Southern Sweden reported that luminous clouds cast eerie red, green and purple hues on the snowy landscape. At the Revingehed military training field, "army watch-dogs crawled into their kennels," while a horse "lowered his head towards his legs," remaining so for the duration of the 25-minute display. These descriptions of luminous phenomena were interpreted as extraordinary and intense, but auroral in nature. There were also reports of meteors at Fransborg, northwest of Stockholm on January 9, above Ljungdalen in Jamtland later that same afternoon, and a bright fireball with a long glowing tail widely sighted across Dalarna county on January 17. Intermittent reports of fireballs and mysterious auroral activity continued through early May, and were almost exclusively defined as natural phenomena. Various other strange celestial activity was reported between January and May of 1946, including a mirage at Gagnef involving a lake, hill and several buildings in the western sky at 3 pm, a mirage of an aerial cargo ship at Visby on Gotland island, an eerie nocturnal light in Dalarna county, a rainbow-colored halo near the sun at Helsingfors, sun-dogs above Fagerhult that appeared "like two suns had risen, and unusual spheres of electricity (ball lightning) at Vaderobod and Svaneke.

On the evening of May 3, a "mysterious light" was seen over Stockholm and on May 21, a yellowish fireball was observed in Halsingborg. While some residents were "disturbed," there remained little indication of their potential hostile or foreign-power origin. However, by May 24th, earlier reports of celestial phenomena were being interpreted as missiles, starting with the early morning sighting of an object over Landskrona. While night watchmen reported seeing a "fireball with a tail," another observer described it as a "wingless cigar-shaped body" spurting exhaust sparks. While most press reports were skeptical that a missile was sighted, newspapers began using such descriptions as "rocket bomb," "remote-directed bombs," "projectile" "V-bomb," and "V-1-bomb" in describing the incident. Media speculation that some sightings may represent guided missiles provided a familiar and unitary label with which to classify unfamiliar stimuli. As the sightings continued, the Swedish and foreign press increasingly described the rockets as factually existing, and the continuing reports of meteors, luminous phenomena and fireballs, were now often depicted as Soviet weapons. As the domestic reports of ghost rockets declined dramatically in September, during September-October, most Swedish and Scandinavian press reports on this topic, described non-Swedish sightings.

By May 27, following sightings of fireballs and wingless planes near Karlskrona, Halsingborg, Huddinge and Hagalund, the stimulus was suggested as secret foreign experiments with "new remotely controlled bombs." Sporadic observations of aerial objects were observed through early June in such places as Eskilstuna, Gavle, Kroksjo, Trehorningen, and southern Finland, with descriptions vacillating between a meteor or a missile. On May 28, a metallic object emitting engine sounds passed over Kvicksund, crashing into Lake Malaren. In Katrineholm on May 31st an object resembling "a silver glistening rocket" and traveling at a speed greater than "the fastest fighter plane" was observed at 11:43 am. On a road between Uppsala and Rasbo, a driver claimed to chase a wingless, noiseless, metallic object for 5 kilometers. On June 8, an ex-pilot in Eskilstuna reported seeing "a rocket with intermittent exhausts" at 11 pm. On June 9, a spectacular "ghost rocket" leaving a tail streaked across Southern Finland, igniting public debate in Finland as to its origin while further heightening concern in Sweden. Just 3 days earlier, the Swedish Supreme Commander General Helge Jung, warned of the perils of a possible confrontation between the US and Soviets as "the flight tracks between Russian and American bases go close by, and over, our country... We must, therefore, count on that a super power is willing to occupy the whole, or parts of, our country before or after such a big conflict." In the wake of the recent sightings and growing concern over the nature of the mysterious objects, the Swedish Defence Staff dispatched 221 copies of a memo to national and regional staffs and units in the army, navy and air force, requesting them to fill out a detailed questionnaire on sightings of mysterious aerial phenomena. The memo stated that "It cannot be ruled out that these [recent sightings] could be connected to tests, by a foreign power, of types of remotely-piloted weapons." The memo also provided guidance for interviewing civilians who report observations to military personnel.

As intermittent reports of fireballs and missiles continued through the remainder of June and early July, a widespread consensus emerged in Sweden that the Soviets were indeed test-firing V-rockets. On June 16, an engineer with the State Railways stated that he saw a glistening wingless object emitting a sound like "a two-stroke engine" in Bohuslan. On the night of July 1, "a torpedo-shaped object" was observed 3 kilometers south of Tossene at about 3,500 meters and emitting a loud "humming noise" that gradually faded. "The object was fully visible, had small wings and a tube (pipe) on its stern." A "swallow-like object" resembling a V-2 was observed in Malmo, Skane province on July 6 at 2:45 pm by Sydsvenska Dagbladet draughtsman Torsten Frykmar.

At 2:30 pm on July 9th, a spectacular luminous object that was later identified as a bolide, entered the atmosphere and was witnessed across the Swedish eastern coast, marking the beginning of massive, widespread missile reports, and intensifying press coverage of various subsequent sightings through September. The bolide was widely interpreted as a possible "radio bomb," with a Sundsvall newspaper describing it as a radio-guided projectile. By July 10th, the Defense Staff exhorted the public to report any mysterious aerial sights or sounds to their nearest troop unit, demonstrating concern, and the potential seriousness of the situation. The military's public involvement and high-profile inspections of numerous "crash" sites that began at this time, reinforced a plausible belief that the Soviets were test-firing V-rockets. Military officials conducted field investigations of at least 28 cases, and 30 "ghost bomb" fragments were obtained and examined by the military from about 100 "crash sites." While the existence of even a single rocket was never verified, interviews and press descriptions of these "crashes" reinforced the prevailing definition of the situation. By early August, the chief of Sweden's air defense division, Major Nils Ahlgren reported that while investigations into the sightings had uncovered no definitive evidence, he was convinced that some were rocket experiments.

Once the rockets' existence was widely accepted, various past and concurrent events and circumstances that would have ordinarily been viewed as mundane were redefined relative to the newly ascribed meaning. Two separate fires with no obvious immediate cause were attributed to flying bombs. On a farmstead in Somlingbacken, Jamtland, Mrs. Maria Vastfeldt heard a loud noise prior to a henhouse being consumed by flames. A subsequent investigation determined the cause as a blasting cap and nitrolite cartridge. A concurrent fire of undetermined origin in the Svartvik sulfite factory's timber store located 10 kilometers south of Sundsvall, was also attributed to a "ghost bomb fall," despite police finding no specific evidence to support the theory. The Institute of Criminology Research subsequently identified the probable cause as an overheated bearing in an engine transmission. On Sunday afternoon August 11, a barn in a mid-Norrland village collapsed without apparent cause. The incident was "connected to the appearance of the ghost rockets" which were seen the same day. A police inquiry later concluded that a tornado was responsible. In Jamtland, the mysterious death of 3 cows belonging to farmer Andera Edsasen was attributed to a rocket projectile containing poisonous material. In mid-July when an infestation of metal fly caterpillar occurred in the southern Swedish provinces of Skane, Blekinge and Oland, one citizen wrote to the Defense Staff theorizing a connection with ghost bombs, arguing that they were designed to drop caterpillar eggs. There were also rumours of leaflets falling from flying bombs. The crash of a Swedish B-18 bomber at Valdshult on Monday August 12 at 10 am prompted intense speculation of a space rocket collision since witnesses noted that it suddenly plunged almost vertically to the ground, but an inquiry commission later dismissed the theory. On August 12 at 3 pm, 8 concerned citizens telephoned the offices of the Varmlands Folkblad exclaiming that several small, luminous ghost bombs were traveling north over Karlstad just a few hundred metres above the ground. An inquiry determined that "the ghost projectiles were soap bubbles made by a little boy who sat on a sofa...with a newly bought bubble apparatus and a can of soap-water."

Throughout the episode, various prosaic ground markings and objects located near recent sightings, were intensely scrutinized for their potential association with the rockets. In central Sweden a "pit in the ground" was examined by defense personnel as a possible "ghost bomb mark." The discovery of a deposit of slag and coal-like material was assumed to have fallen from the sky and an investigation was demanded. One typical "projectile find" in the vicinity of a "crash" site was identified as a steam valve spindle. On August 5th, a farmer in southern Sweden told of discovering a "missile" embedded up to 30 cm into the ground in a remote area of Blekinge. Authorities later identified it as a dislodged airplane antenna.

Throughout the episode, skeptical opinions were common from investigating newspaper editors, defense people and interviewed scientists. On July 25, Defense Staff officials noted that many reports were the result of overactive imaginations, warning that sightings were becoming "something of a psychosis." One authority noted that "clouds, stars and even boat engines" were presently precipitating reports. A spurt of localized sightings over Stockholm was suggested to have been caused by fireworks accompanying the city's "frenzied crab-eating parties." A "mysterious projectile" that exploded on the night of July 13 in Bjorklinge, was the subject of police and military investigations and identified as fireworks. One "ghost bomb" sighting in northern Stockholm suburbs was dismissed after a municipal worker found a radiosonde balloon in the vicinity, while observations of a luminous object over Ulvsundasjon and Stocksund were caused by the same type of balloon from the Bromma weather station. An uproar occurred in Nyhem on the evening of August 20, when residents were convinced that a ghost rocket was being tested after observing "a dark object which, with moderate speed, steep-dived towards the upper part of the village," soon exploding in a flash of light. The next morning the mystery was solved when the remains of a magpie were found "which had met its fate in the high voltage lines." On September 16th, Swedish Nobel Prize-winning nuclear physicist Manne Siegbahn (1886-1978) dismissed the rocket speculation, noting the absence of "clear evidence that any guided missiles have been flying over Sweden," suggesting "hysteria" as a factor. The head of the Rosersberg artillery school, Colonel Sven Ramstrom asserted the view that the "bombs" were simply meteorites and advocated a reduction in "the bomb psychosis." In late July, several newspaper editors expressed this opinion, describing them with such terms as "rocket psychosis" and "war psychosis." Even a bulletin issued by the commanding officer of Sweden's Air Defense Department on August 7th, used the term "rocket psychosis." It is evident from the content of these accounts, that such descriptions were not intended to suggest that witnesses were mentally disturbed, but were acting irrationally and exhibiting overactive imaginations.

Political accusations about the rockets' origins were traded between Swedish and Soviet authorities. The Soviet journal Novoie Vremia (New Times) denounced the test-firing claims as anti-Soviet "slander which is poisoning the international atmosphere." The same publication quoted by a Swedish source, characterized the allegations as "Swedish lies" precipitated by mass panic. When the Defense Staff issued its Ausust 6 communique vindicating foreign-power involvement in the "rocket" sightings, Ny Dag, a communist newspaper published in Stockholm, chided the "meddlesome" Swedish press for blaming the Russians, making analogies to Pinocchio in noting that "the nose is lengthened...among the Swedish newspaper family." One editor commented that the Russians were using Sweden "as a shooting range and as a guinea pig at trials with new weapons." In some circles it was speculated that the missiles were being guided over Sweden as a tactic of intimidation to either "scare us somehow," or as a Soviet response to the well-publicized atomic detonations on Pacific atolls at this time.

Many authorities discussed their most dreaded fear; that the Soviet's newly captured missile technology which they widely assumed was being test-fired, would soon bear atomic weapons. Political writer Marquis Childs warned in The New York Post, that the rocket intrusions were an omen of how the next war would be fought. "If the arms race ends in a new and more terrible war, Sweden's advanced civilization will be torn asunder along with nearly any other... It is this which makes the use of Sweden as a suitable military laboratory so serious." The Svenska Dagbladet's New York editor, Per Persson concurred with this assessment, and the peril of Sweden: "If these projectiles carried explosive charges of atomic bomb character and if they were directed against industrial centers...Sweden would be destroyed and the war would be over." The Swedish magazine Se described the rocket episode as "a premonition of 'push-button war.'" A press editor confidently asserted: "Now we know what it's all about--trial shootings. And Sweden is the target, or a part of it." One press columnist suggested that the United States should drop "atom bombs on Moscow, before...the ghost rockets become palpable." Some commentators expressed this atomic fear in poems.

Active American assistance supplied to Sweden during the ghost bomb crisis, reflected their concern over the Soviet's long-range missile deployment capacity given the widespread conviction that they would soon develop atomic weaponry. American aerial warfare expert General James Doolittle flew to Sweden, discussing the sightings with Swedish Air Force commanders on August 21st, the same day it was reported that Swedish officials had approached Great Britain about buying radar equipment to track the "rockets," as British radar experts reportedly visited Sweden to provide first-hand evaluations of radar investigations. Curiously, a British intelligence report ("Investigation of missile activity in Scandinavia," dated September 9) bears no evidence if such a visit. Most of the data in this report is from Norway, and nothing is said about radar sightings or analysis thereof. The radar cases that have been documented in the Defense Staff Archives, are not impressive and could be judged as such by competent Swedish Air Force personnel. Meanwhile phantom rockets were occasionally sighted during the episode in other Scandinavian countries, and to a lesser extent in Europe, but none matched the Swedish reports in terms of volume and social reaction.

In terms of foreign reactions, the London Daily Mail's journalist, Alexander Clifford who flew to Sweden to report on the crisis, remarked that the Swedes were acutely "aware of their position as the 'filling in the sandwich' between East and West, and they are a very good and tasty filling too." A British editorial accusing the Russians of testing German missiles, warned that the projectile's estimated range of 600 miles was the approximate distance from Peenemunde to London. The Berlin correspondent for the New York Herald Tribune alleged that the Russian war industry in the German occupation zone included 1,000 German specialists overseen by Russian officers and were manufacturing V-4 rocket bombs. A German socialist unity party official claimed that Soviet occupying forces were using secret underground German rocket workshops and captured scientists to conduct aerial experiments.

End of the Episode

On October 10th, the Defense Staff announced the results of its four-month investigation. It concluded that 80 percent of approximately 1,000 reports were attributable to "celestial phenomena," and of the remainder that were unexplainable, there was no conclusive evidence that any were V-type rockets or other objects of foreign-government origin. It read in part:

The majority of sightings with certainty result from celestial phenomena... [which] often occur but usually do not attract any special attention. Since the interest of the general public was awoken...[they] started to take a closer note of them...therefore the large number of reports.

Some sightings cannot, however, be explained but this should not be attributed to some sort of object of a different kind. Not enough information is in hand...to be able to draw firm conclusions with any certainty concerning their nature, origin and appearance.

....Through a collaboration with astronomers it was clear that the two 'peaks' in July and August probably were caused by meteors or meteorites.

Even at an early date measures were taken through which the military authorities tried to maintain a certain watch over the aerial territory, seeking to clarify the origin of the phenomena. ...[Radar tracking] proved impossible to establish...what kind of object it was.

...[Of the many alleged crashes]...remains mainly consist of coke or slag-like formations... In no case has anything come forth that can be considered as if the material came from any kind of space projectile. In certain lakes very thorough investigations have been made because of supposed crashes. So far, however, no find has turned up which can be presumed to originate from a V-type weapon.

It is notable numerous reports of mysterious aerial objects were recorded over Sweden during 1947, the year after the rocket crisis had passed, with most observations being described as "flying saucers" reflecting heavy Swedish press coverage of the massive flying disk sightings in the United States during that summer. There were also numerous reports of objects interpreted as meteors, but just a few scattered ghost rocket sightings.

The Swedish ghost rocket episode of 1946 is the most prominent in its lengthy history of security scares involving the Soviet Union as the primary alleged antagonist. Over the past century, there have been several major exaggerated domestic security concerns. From the saw-filers, to the ghost flier, to phantom rockets and mystery submarines. We have no reason to doubt that future episodes will continue--instigated by social and political fears and a relatively small number of perhaps legitimate espionage attempts. Only the form will change to reflect the changing political and technological circumstances.

Concluding Remarks/Summary

Robert Bartholomew is a sociologist at James Cook University, Townsville 4811, Queensland, Australia (e-mail: art-reb2@jcu.edu.au); Anders Liljegren is the Director of Archives for UFO Research, P.O. Box 11027, S-600 11 Norrkoping, Sweden (e-mail: afu@ufo.se); Clas Svahn is a journalist with Sweden's largest morning newspaper, Dagens Nyheter, c/o Stenbockens vag 21, S-175 60 Jarfalla, Sweden (e-mail: clas.svahn@online.idg.se).

While a small percentage of overall "rocket" observations were reported across Scandinavia and the rest of Europe, the overwhelming majority of cases emanated from Sweden.

Vayrynen, R. Conflicts in Finnish-Soviet Relations: Three Comparative Case Studies. Tampere: Tampere University, 1972; Orvik, N. Europe's Northern Cap and the Soviet Union. New York: AMS, 1973.

National Encyclopedia [of Sweden] volume 18:11. Bokforlaget Bra Bocker: Hoganas, 1995; "Saw filers and ghost fliers," an editorial in the right-wing Norrbottens-Kuriren, January 20, 1934.

Lindberg, F. Var Sagfilarna Ryska Spioner? [Were the Saw Filers Russian Spies?] Horde ni, 1953:341-347; Lindberg, F. Den Svenska Utrikespolitikens Historia [History of Swedish Foreign Policy]. P.A. Norstedt & Soner, Stockholm, 1958:117-119, 123-124, 282-283.

Ibid.

Ibid.

"The mysterious light still haunts. Airplanes seen in Norway and in the north. What's the truth? Liquor traders attend their customers in a modern way?" Vasterbottens Folkblad, December 27, 1933:1; "Liquor by air from a depot outside Norway. The mysterious airplane in the mountains receives its explanation..." Svenska Dagbladet, December 28, 1933:6; "The giant airplane goes with liquor over Norrland. A regular smuggler's line between Vasa and Mo in northern Norway," Stockholm-Tidningen, December 28, 1933:1; "Liquor smugglers use the air for their own purposes..." Vasterbottens Folkblad, December 28, 1933:1; "Finnish customs convinced that smugglers fly the Atlantic - the Gulf of Bothnia. Transport cost would be almost three crowns per litre through the air," Norrlandska Social-Demokraten, December 28, 1933:1.

"Weapons smuggling by the mysterious flights? The Guverte plateau a possible depot..." Nya Dagligt Allehanda, December 31, 1933:1.

"The 'sawfilers' of the air guilty of the disorder by mountains and coasts?" Vasterbottens Folkblad, January 10, 1934:1; "The ghost fliers of Norrland Soviet-Russian military experts!..." Nya Dagligt Allehanda, January 10, 1934:1; "Soviet machines that haunt us..." Umebladet, January 11, 1934:1; "Systematic military espionage is the mission of the ghost flier in Norrland..." Aftonbladet, January 13, 1934:1; "Soviet machines that cross over Swedish areas? The Boden fort a taboo for strangers. Both Swedish and Norwegian government take on special measures," Umebladet, January 15, 1934:1; "The flying X's Soviet-Russian planes in spite of denials..." Norrbottens-Kuriren, January 16, 1934:4; "The night fliers Soviet-Russian..." Umebladet, January 18, 1934:1; "The ghost flier over Kemi was a Russian. Finnish authorities confirm..." Norrbottens-Kuriren, January 27, 1934:15; "The ghost fliers...Base and depot in the vicinity of Boris Gleb..." Aftonbladet, January 27, 1934:18; "Do Finnish authorities have a solution? Mysterious light on the ice outside Kemi. Is the flier of Russian nationality?" Svenska Dagbladet, January 28, 1934:3, 6; "Is weapons transport the ghost flier's main purpose...Russian base, thinks Finnish expert," Svenska Dagbladet, January 30, 1934; "Do the Russians want to intimidate Scandinavia? The ghost raids Russian war plans, says Finnish air expert," Aftonbladet, January 30, 1934:1; "Base of the ghost flier..." Nya Dagligt Allehanda, February 12, 1934:8; "The secretary of defense, 'the ghost fliers' and the mysterious radio signals..." Nya Dagligt Allehanda, April 17, 1934.

"The fliers German front pilots," Stockholms-Tidningen, December 29, 1933:20; "The hauntings arranged to motivate the demand for new bombers. Has the Nazi junker works and air administration arranged the matter together..." Ny Dag [communist daily], January 17, 1934:1; "New theory on the ghost. German rockets..." Hufvudstadsbladet [Helsinki, Finland], February 9, 1934:3; "Crossmarked airplane seen at low level over Jokkmokk...Only German machines carry crossmarks," Social-Demokraten, March 16, 1937.

"The ghost flier a Japanese machine..." Umebladet, January 23, 1934:3; "The Japanese warship near Lofoten?..." Umebladet, January 24, 1934:1; "The ghost flights now directed from the White Sea coasts?..." Vasterbottens-Kuriren, January 25, 1934; "Japanese help cruiser confirmed off the coast of northern Norway, Norrbottens-Kuriren, January 31, 1934:7.

Statens Offentliga Utredningar [Official Swedish Committee Reports]. Forsvarsdepartementet [Ministry of Defense], 1995:135; Ubatsfragan 1981-1994 [The Submarine Question, 1981-1994]. Report from the Submarine Commission: Stockholm.

For a discussion on the submarine debate in the Swedish media, refer to: Leitenberg, M. Soviet Submarine Operations in Swedish Waters 1980-1986. Published with The Center for Strategic and International Studies, Washington DC. Praeger: New York, 1987; Hasselbohm, A. Ubatshotet. En Kritisk Granskning av Harsfjardenincidenten och Ubatsskyddskommissionens Rapport. Prisma: Stockholm, 1984; Agrell, Q. Bakom Ubatskrisen. Militar Verksamhet, Krigsplanlaggning och Diplomati i Ostersjoomradet. Liber: Stockholm, 1986; von Hofsten, H. I Kamp mot Overheten. T. Fischer & Co.: Stockholm, 1993.

It was never conclusively proven that the vessel carried nuclear weapons, although analysts from the Research Institute of National Defense found traces suggestive of nuclear activity.

Sundelius, B (ed.) Foreign Policies of Northern Europe. Boulder, CO: Westview, 1982.

"Nuclear tests or settling on the bottom of the Baltic?" Helsingborgs Dagblad, April 27, 1946.

Moller, Y. Osten Unden: A Biography. Norstedts: Stockholm, 1986:291.

"A new aurora - the most beautiful for ages," Sydostra Sveriges Dagblad, March 29, 1946; "The magnetic storm the most powerful ever," Sydostra Sveriges Dagblad, March 30, 1946.

Winkler, L. Catalogue of UFO-Like Data Before 1947. Mt. Ranier, MD: Fund for UFO Research, 1984:4, states that "The uniqueness of the ghost rocket activity is emphasized by additional and accompanying phenomena. Scandinavian newspapers gave accounts of spectacular auroras occurring over Helsinki on Feb 26 and Stockholm on July 26. The preliminary aurora correlates well with the spray date of Encke on February 25, whereas the July 26 aurora corresponds to the onset of the main ghost rocket activity."

"Luminous morning clouds frightened horses and dogs," newswire report from the Swedish Newspaper Agency Tidningarnas Telegrambyra appearing in various domestic newspapers on January 8. The atypical nature of the phenomena was noted by weather observers in Horby and Uppsala according to the 1946 edition of The Swedish Weather Bureau Yearbook.

Letter from Defense Staff Archives from Alice Ahlsen, Fransborg, Barkarby, July 11, 1946.

The Swedish Weather Bureau Yearbook (1946), op. cit.

Borlange Tidning, January 18, 19, 24, 26, and February 2, 1946; Dala-Demokraten, January 19, 1946; Saters Tidning, January 19, 1946.

There were also numerous reports of meteoric and auroral activity between February and early May, 1946. Among the most prominent was a fireball in Vasterbotten county, parts of Vasternorrland and Norrbotten, and in Western Finland on February 17, and a possible train of meteors on February 21 in the counties of Vasterbotten, Vasternorrland, Kopparberg, Gavleborg, Uppsala, Ostergotland and Skaraborg, while an unprecedented aurora borealis was reported for several days in late March. For descriptions of these and other reports, refer to: Norra Vasterbotten, February 19-21; Vasterbottens-Kuriren, February 21-23; Ornskoldsviks-Posten, February 18; Hufvudstadsbladet, Helsinki, Finland, February 22, 24, 26, 28, and March 3, 7, 10; Borlange Tidning, February 22; Sundsvalls Tidning, February 23; Falu-Kuriren, February 22; Smalands Dagblad, February 22; Mora Tidning, February 25; "Northern lights continue," Norra Vasterbotten, March 26; "Fireball flew over the town yesterday," Sundsvalls Tidning, April 25.

Mora Tidning, January 14.

"Ship among the clouds," Sydostra Sveriges Dagblad, May 27, 1946.

Saters Tidning, January 15, 1946; Mora Tidning, January 18, 1946.

Hufvudstadsbladet, February 22, 1946.

The Swedish Weather Bureau Yearbook (1946).

Smalands Dagblad, April 6, 1946.

"Ball lightning knocked down pedestrians in the streets," Sydostra Sveriges Dagblad, May 4, 1946.

"Does a mysterious light betoken clearer May weather?" Morgon-Tidningen, May 4, 1946:1.

"Mysterious fireball also observed in Halsingborg," Helsingborgs Dagblad, May 29, 1946.

Vallee, J. Anatomy of a Phenomenon: UFOs in Space. New York: Ballantine, 1965:43.

"Mystery in the sky in Skane: 'Wingless, cigar-shaped body' amazes Landskrona inhabitants," Morgon-Tidningen, May 28, 1946:12. A sighting at about the same time by a Danish border guard near the parish of Rudbbl described a rapidly moving "bright light, followed by a tail." See "The Danes see a mysterious fireball too," Morgon-Tidningen, May 29, 1946:7.

"Night workers took shelter from the rocket bomb in Landskrona," Aftonbladet, May 25, 1946; "Rocket bomb or what?" Strange aerial body over Landskrona.," Landskrona-Posten, May 25, 1946.

" Remote-directed bombs haunt both here and there," Morgon-Tidningen, May 27, 1946; "Ghost flier or remote-controlled bombs?" Aftontidningen, May 27, 1946.

"Fire-spewing 'log'--meteor or projectile?" Expressen, May 25, 1946.

"The V-bomb over Landskrona a piece of fireworks?" Goteborgs-Tidningen, May 25, 1946.

"The wingless airplane could be a V-bomb," Dagens Nyheter, May 26, 1946.

For a sighting in Greece during this period, see "Rocket bomb over Saloniki," Nationen [Oslo, Norway], September 6, 1946; for reports in Denmark: "Unknown airplanes or ghost rockets over Denmark," Nationen, September 12, 1946; "Ghost rocket explodes over Sjalland," Stockholms-Tidningen, September 15, 1946; for The Netherlands: "Flying fireballs over the Netherlands," Stockholms-Tidningen, September 15, 1946; "Ghost bombs over Holland," Helsingborgs Dagblad, September 29, 1946. For sightings in other regions, see: "Ghost bomb over Italy," Helsingborgs Dagblad, September 23, 1946; "Mysterious fireballs over northern Africa," Stockholms-Tidningen, September 21, 1946; "Strange heavenly sights over Portugal," Sydostra Sveriges Dagblad, September 19, 1946.

"The meteor over Karlskrona--remote directed experiment bomb," May 27, 1946, Sydostra Sveriges Dagblad, May 27, 1946; "New mysterious 'fireball' over naval yard. Experiment with secret weapon?" Expressen, May 27, 1946; "Mysterious sky appearance also in Stockholm," Morgan-Tidningen, May 28, 1946:12.

"Sky phenomenon in Eskilstuna," Morgon-Tidningen, June 13, 1946:5; "Flaming red meteor in southern Finland," Morgon-Tidningen, June 22, 1946:6; "Mysterious plane over Gavle. Long grey object disappears in smoke cloud," Svenska Dagbladet, July 2, 1946:3; "Mysterious object crossed through the sky over Flurkmark," Vasterbottens-Kuriren, June 5, 1946 and police reports from investigation in Trehorningen, September 20 in Defense Staff files; Kroksjo information taken from Defense Staff files, War Archives, Stockholm.

Defense Staff files.

"A 'silver cigar' flies as rapidly as a fighter plane," Morgon-Tidningen, June 1, 1946:11.

"Ghost rocket hunted by car in Roslagen," Aftonbladet, May 28, 1946; Defense Staff files.

"V-bomb seen over Hugelsta on Whitsun Eve," Eskilstuna-Kuriren, June 11, 1946; Dagens Nyheter, June 11, 1946; Svenska Dagbladet, June 12, 1946; Notes in Defense Staff files.

"Ghost rocket also over our country. Sightings in several places," Hufvudstadsbladet, June 11, 1946; Helsingin Sanomat, June 11, 1946; "Ghost rocket an ordinary meteor," Dagens Nyheter, June 12, 1946; "Flying bomb or meteor, one asks in Finland," Helsingborgs Dagblad, June 12, 1946; Tidningarnas Telegrambyra newswire reports on June 10-11, 1946; reports number 68/3:43/1946, 69/3:43/1946 and 82/3:55/1946 from the military attache from the Defense Staff files.

Sydostra Sveriges Dagblad, June 7, 1946.

Memo entitled "Headquarters, Defence Staff Department L (Air Defence) nr 7:49. June 12, 1946. Reports concerning light phenomena." The memo was issued "On order of the Supreme Commander," and signed by T. Bonde (acting chief of the Defence Staff) and co-signed by Nils Ahlgren (head of the Air Defense department of the Defense Staff).

Letter in Defence Staff files, from S.H. Liljhage, Chief of Staff of the Western Airbase, Gothenburg, describing a telephone report to the local base by engineer Berglund.

Report filled in on July 5, 1946 at 6 pm to the research officer on duty at the Defence Staff from the duty officer at the 117 infantry regiment at Uddevalla filed in the Defence Staff archives.

Report to the Malmo regional defense area staff to the Defence Staff on July 11, 1946.

Astronomer Yngve Ohman of the Stockholm Observatory studied the sightings and concluded that the most likely explanation was a bolide.

"Meteor or radio bomb," Svenska Dagbladet, July 10, 1946:3.

"A radio-controlled projectile over Medepad yesterday," Sundsvalls Tidning, July 10, 1946; "Rocket projectiles have taken over the ghost flier's role. Vaxholm and Sundsvall saw mysterious space rockets," Morgon-Tidningen, July 10, 1946:1; "The rocket-projectile crashed on Bjorkon," Sundsvalls Tidning, July 11, 1946; "The light phenomena continue. No solution yet to the findings at Nolvikssand," Sundsvalls Tidning, July 12, 1946

"Enigmatical paper find from 'ghost bomb.' Dalarma-Varmland also has had visits," Morgon-Tidningen, July 11, 1946:1; "The military has a bomb fragment," Svenska Dagbladet, July 11, 1946:9.

Based on a large number of former secret documents from defense staff archives examined by Anders Liljegren and Clas Svahn. In numerous other cases, local police were ordered to conduct investigations.

Liljegren, A., and Svahn, C. "Ghost rockets and phantom aircraft." In Spencer, J, Evans, H, (eds.). Phenomenon: Forty Years of Flying Saucers. New York: Avon, 1989:53-60.

For descriptions of "ghost bomb" crashes in which "missile" fragments were initially believed to have been found, refer to: "The space projectile..." Sundsvalls Tidning, July 13, 1946; "The Njurunda findings not meteorite stones declares research institute," Sundsvalls Tidning, July 14, 1946:1; "Distinct and good reports about bomb and light phenomena..." Goteborgs Handels-och Sjofarts Tidning, July 13, 1946:22; "Space projectile in Nederkalix," Svenska Dagbladet, July 19, 1946:3; "Two rockets down in lake Mjosa? Seen by several people..." Aftenposten [Oslo], July 19, 1946; "Rocket bomb falls in Mjosa," Svenska Dagbladet, July 20, 1946:9; "Ghost rocket down in Norrbotten lake. 2 meter long projectile - huge pillar of water," Norrbottens-Kuriren, July 20, 1946; "Ghost projectile delved for in Norrland lake," Svenska Dagbladet, July 21, 1946:3; "Another space projectile down in Norrbotten lake," Norrbottens-Kuriren, July 22, 1946; "Projectile crash also in Njutanger," Sundsvalls Tidning, July 23, 1946; "Lake bottom in the 'bomb lake' searched through," Morgon-Tidningen, July 23, 1946:5; "The bomb disappeared into the water and the Swedes will now empty the lake," Arbeiderbladet [Oslo], July 30, 1946; "Mysterious object has been found in Bleklinge," Sydostra Sveriges Dagblad, August 5:1; "Mysterious fireball over Stockholm, crash seen," Dagens Nyheter, August 10:1; "Cyclist nearly struck by fist-sized 'ghost rocket,'" Morgon-Tidningen, August 10, 1946:10; "Danes Find metal piece of a ghost bomb," Morgon-Tidningen, August 22, 1946:1.

"300 reports so far of luminous phenomena in the air. No definite results yet," Svenska Dagbladet, August 7, 1946:4; "A projectile steers back southward?" Svenska Dagbladet, August 8, 1946:7.

Tidningarnas Telegrambyra newswire of July 27, 1946; "Ghost rocket in the hen house?" Stockholms-Tidningen, July 28, 1946; "Space projectile causes a fire?" Svenska Dagbladet, July 28, 1946:5.

"MT continues to say there have been many fires...in the dry weather, some probably started by arson. Sparks not ghost bomb, the true cause...a blasting cap," Morgon-Tidningen, August 1, 1946:3.

"Ghost rocket caused the Svartvik fire?" Sundsvalls Tidning, July 31, 1946; "Ghost bomb was not the cause of the Svartvik fire." Svenska Dagbladet, August 1, 1946:1.

"Over-heating thought to have caused the Svartvik fire," Sundsvalls Tidning, August 16, 1946.

"Ghost rocket crashed a barn in a Norrland village," Goteborgs-Tidningen, August 12, 1946.

"A tornado demolished the barn," Stockholms-Tidningen, August 13, 1946.

"Poisonous material from rocket bombs? " Morgon-Tidningen , August 13, 1946:7.

Letter from Jan Flinta, Stockholm, August 9, 1946 to the Defence Staff; Varmlands Folkblad, July 19, 1946; Sundsvalls Tidning, July 20, 1946; Nya Wermlands-Tidningen, August 1, 1946.

"Did the accident plane collide with a returning ghost rocket?" Expressen, August 13, 1946.

Space rocket not the cause for the Valdshult accident," Jonkopings-Posten, July 15, 1946; "Investigation of the B18 accident: the pilot lost control," Expressen, August 16, 1946; "Fatal accident: the bomber crash not because of space rocket," Morgon Tidningen, August 16, 1946:11.

"Ghost bomb theory fell apart like a soap-bubble," Varmlands Folkblad, August 13, 1946; Expressen, August 13, 1946.

"Pit in the ground a ghost bomb mark?" Svenska Dagbladet, August 3, 1946:3.

"Mysterious projectile falls from the air," Svenska Dagbladet, August 9, 1946:3.

"The 'projectile' is a steam valve part. Experts agree," Svenska Dagbladet, August 16, 1946:3; "Ghost bomb screw a steam valve," Morgon-Tidningen, August 16, 1946:7.

"Ghost phenomenon hidden in a moss in a Blekinge wood," Dagens Nyheter, August 4, 1946.

"Airplane antenna taken for a ghost bomb," Morgon-Tidningen, August 6, 1946:7;"The mysterious find was an airplane antenna," Sydostra Sveriges Dagblad, August 6, 1946.

"Clouds, stars and engines: ghost flights starting to become a psychosis, air defence thinks," Expressen, July 25, 1946.

"Ghost phenomenon was crab party rocket?" Morgon-Tidningen, August 9, 1946:8.

"Space projectile was boys' fireworks," Morgon-Tidningen, July 21, 1946; "'Radio bomb' exploded," Svenska Dagbladet, July 16, 1946.

"The 'ghost bomb' found," Svenska Dagbladet, August 24, 1946:20.

"Ghost bomb was a wind balloon. Observatory saw an exploding star," Svenska Dagbladet, August 23, 1946:3.

"Steep-diving magpie in Nyhem causes ghost rocket fever," Ostersunds-Posten, August 22, 1946.

"'Missile' is a meteorite. Swedish physicist is skeptical about reports of firing," New York Times, September 17, 1946:8.

"Bomb crash at Sigtuna exposed as meteorite," Stockholms-Tidningen, July 24, 1946.

"The reality behind the 'ghost bombs,'" Stockholms Tidningen, July 26, 1946.

"The ghost bombing," Halsingborgs Dagblad, July 27, 1946.

"The ghost rockets," Expressen, August 7, 1946.

"Russians cry 'slander' to rocket-firing charge," New York Times, September 4, 1946:10.

"The Russians talk about lies and panic," Svenska Dagbladet, September 4, 1946:3.

"Sic transit," Ny Dag, August 6, 1946.

"Sweden used as a shooting range," Halsingborgs Dagblad, July 26, 1946.

"Rocket, meteor or phantom?" Aftonbladet, August 7, 1946.

Smalands Folkblad, July 27, 1946.

"The ghost bomb a serious threat. 'Monster in miniature for the next war,'" Svenska Dagbladet, August 7, 1946:7.

Ibid.

Advertizement for Se magazine appearing in Svenska Dagbladet, August 16, 1946:9.

"The ghost bombs," Vasternorrlands Folkblad, July 26, 1946.

"Around..." [column], Svenska Dagbladet, August 18, 1946:4.

The following appeared in the Morgon-Tidningen, July 12, 1946:8. "Trembling people walk about wondering what will happen... Limitless is our wonder, no one knows what it will bring, just now upon the sky, here the horned beast was seen... Terrible is a summer's night, listen to the laughter of the ghosts, when on the wheels of the atom bombs, they play tag in the heavens." A poem in Copenhagen's Berlingske Tidende, July 31, 1946: last page, made reference to a recent sensational ghost rocket sighting over Byen, expressing relief that the "rocket" was actually a meteor. "People breathed a little scared in Hong ....It was like a great meteor in and arc over the region below. People thought at once of this rocket which travels so mysteriously... ....But surely people can be at ease on Hong. It was not a great power on an expedition of war." On July 12, a poem titled "Anxiety on the air" appeared in the Vasterbottens Folkblad, stating in part: "What is it that's flying here and there...That man can never rest in peace, of atoms and other troublesome things, in a calmer world some may believe--but I, I believe in nothing." Other poems on the ghost rockets include: "The great riddle," Stockholms-Tidningen, August 18, 1946; "The ghost rocket in Denmark," Dagens Nyheter, August 19, 1946.

"Doolittle consulted by Swedes in bombs," New York Times, August 22, 1946:2.

"Special to the New York Times," New York Times, August 22, 1946:2.

"Inquiry into arms in Germany seen." New York Times, August 23, 1946:6.

"Ghost rocket explodes in Denmark," Svenska Dagbladet, August 14, 1946: last page; "Space projectile over Helsinki," Svenska Dagbladet, August 15, 1946: last page; "Another Danish sighting," Svenska Dagbladet, August 15, 1946:3; "Many ghost rockets over Denmark," Svenska Dagbladet, August 17, 1946:13; "Danes find metal piece of a ghost bomb," Morgon-Tidningen, August 22, 1946:1; "12 'ghost bombs' up till now over Denmark," Svenska Dagbladet, August 22, 1946:13; "Ghost rockets over Norway," Svenska Dagbladet, July 19, 1946, last page.

"Ghost rockets over France too," Svenska Dagbladet, August 21, 1946, last page; "Carrier cancels Athens air show," New York Times, September 6, 1946:1, 11; "Ghost bomb over Austria," Svenska Dagbladet, September 13, 1946: last page. A survey of 14 Italian daily newspapers between July and October 1946, yielded 70 articles primarily describing sightings of mysterious aerial objects over Italy. Edoardo Russo of Torino, Italy (personal communication, 16 January 1997) summarizes these: "'strange bolides' at Imola and 'rocket projectiles' in Bologna of September 17, 'flying bombs' over Vercelli and a 'fire bolide' again at Imola on the 18th, 'luminous bolides' at Turin on the 19th, at Florence on the 21st and on the 22nd, 'bright signals' over Rome on the 20th, more 'rocket projectiles' at Livorno on September 20 and in Bari on October 5, 'flying bolides' in Trieste on October 12 and even a 'fire disc' at Varazze on October 4." Russo remarks that most reports described rapidly moving luminous objects with trails, which, although initially connected to the Scandinavian phenomena in the press, were subsequently explained as meteorological events by astronomers. For details on these sightings, refer to the following Italian press reports: "Bombe volanti anche a Vercelli?" Il Giornale Di Torino, September 20, 1946; "Il bolide luminoso. Chi l'ha visto?" Gazzetta d'Italia, September 21, 1946; "Un bolide luminoso nel cielo di Firenze, Nazione Del Popolo, September 22, 1946; "I bolidi misteriosi. L'opinione di un astronomo sull natura..." Nazione Del Popolo, September 24, 1946; "I proiettili razzo sull'Italia sono fenomeni cosmici," Corriere Di Sicilia, September 25, 1946; "Proiettile razzo nel cielo di Livorno," Corriere Tridentino, October 1, 1946; "Un corpo luminoso nel cielo di Bari, Giornale Alleato, October 6, 1946; "Un bolide volante avvistato a Bari," La Prealpina, October 6, 1946; "Anche nel cielo di Trieste i misteriosi razzi," Voce Libera, October 10, 1946; "I razzi luminosi di Trieste sono frammenti di una cometa," La Prealpina, October 13, 1946.

"Ghost bomb awakens interest in England. Star reporter sent to Sweden," Svenska Dagbladet, September 4, 1946:3.

"Sweden's bomb," Manchester Guardian, August 13, 1946:4.

"Rocket bomb made in the Hars," Svenska Dagbladet, September 8, 1946: last page.

"The Russians experiment with new rocket weapon," Svenska Dagbladet, August 13, 1946:3.

Press release from the Defense Staff published by the Tidningaras Telegrambyra news agency, October 10, 1946.

"Flying saucer over Stockholm," Stockholms-Tidningen, July 12, 1947; "'Flying saucer' over Ostersund," Stockholms-Tidningen, July 25, 1947; "Flying saucer over Haparanda," Norrlandska Social-Demokraten, August 6, 1947; "Flying saucer over Finspang," Ostergotlands Dagblad, August 18, 1947; "Flying saucer or meteor over Helsingborg," Helsingborgs Dagblad, October 19, 1947.

"Fireball with tail appeared before Lulea inhabitants," Norrlandska Social-Demokraten, August 5, 1947; "Fireball over Stockholm," Ostergotlands Dagblad, December 22, 1947; Letter in the Defence Staff Archives from G. Pettersson, warrant officer with Gota Artilleriregemente, Gothenburg, submitted to the Stockholm Defence Department on 20 November, 1947, describing a luminous ball over Gothenburg, November 17, 1947 at 1740 hours.

"Ghost rockets over Hudiksvall," Aftonbladet, October 7, 1947; "'Space projectile' over Appelviken," Dagens Nyheter, October 23, 1947, and Ministry of Foreign Affairs Archive.