Norway/Sweden: Military press ban on ghost rockets
Norwegian General Staff instructed press on August 21, 1946, to avoid mentioning ghost rockets and forward reports to military intelligence. Sweden restricted reports on landing or explosion sites only.
Background
Background
In August 1946, during the wave of ghost rocket sightings in Scandinavia, the Norwegian general staff issued a directive to the press. It required that no mention be made of objects over the country and that all observations be passed to the military intelligence department.
Measures in Sweden
In Sweden the restriction was narrower: the press was not permitted to name precise locations of landings or explosions. The aim was to protect sensitive data for the investigations, as the objects were suspected to be tests by foreign powers.
Significance
This memorandum shows early state control of UAP reporting amid more than 2,000 sightings, including radar-confirmed ones. It points to military concern about advanced technology, suspected at the time to be Soviet or of unknown origin. Source: Eberhart (p. 135), citing the London Daily Telegraph (22.08.1946).