Zuiderzee: Polish Wellington foo fighter encounter
On March 25, 1942, a Polish RAF Wellington bomber crew encountered a bright, coppery object over the Zuiderzee after a Ruhr mission. Gunners fired at it without effect as it paced the aircraft before vanishing at high speed.
Background
Incident
On March 25, 1942 (possibly early June), around midnight, Flight Lt. Roman [Raymond] Sobiński of No. 301 Polish Bomber Squadron was flying an RAF Vickers Wellington bomber over the Zuiderzee in the Netherlands. The crew were returning from a bombing raid on the Ruhr, Germany. The rear gunner, Sgt. Stanislaw Sep-Szarzynski, reported an approaching aircraft. Sobiński first saw a bright light, which he took to be a German fighter.
Encounter
The object closed to 600 feet and showed a copper colouring. The rear gunner opened fire; tracer rounds struck it but disappeared without effect. After two minutes it shifted instantly to the left side, remaining 600 feet away. The front gunner, Sgt. Krzysztof Grabowski, also fired, without success. Sobiński manoeuvred evasively, but the object held its position despite sustained fire. It then overtook them, paused briefly ahead, and climbed away at a 45° angle.
Further Details
Sobiński later learned that another Wellington crew behind them had seen the same object. The event is regarded as an early foo fighter incident of the Second World War, with the object appearing impervious to weapons.