VPM angående ljusfenomen över svenskt område

This memorandum, dated July 23, 1946, from the Swedish Defense Staff (Försvarsstaben), details the investigation into unusual light phenomena observed over Swedish territory. The report notes that initial interest was sparked by press reports and civilian observations beginning on May 25, 1946. Between May 25 and July 8, approximately 30 reports were received, though they were deemed insufficient for a definitive assessment. Consultations with the Stockholm (Saltsjöbaden) and Uppsala observatories suggested that many of these phenomena were not meteors. Following reports in the Finnish press in early June, the Swedish military attaché was instructed to gather information from Finnish authorities, though no similar information was obtained from Denmark or Norway. After a surge in reports between June 9 and June 10, a headquarters order was issued to all military units to report sightings. A significant increase in reports occurred following a large-scale observation on July 9, with approximately 250 reports received between July 9 and July 13, and another 50 by July 21. The report includes an analysis of the observed courses, noting that while no organized air surveillance exists to confirm specific flight paths, the sightings appear to follow specific tracks: two smaller arcs with a primary northeast orientation and a larger arc with a primary northward orientation. All sightings showed an eastward course over the east coast. The report suggests that the objects may have originated from the Baltic region and were directed in an arc over Scandinavia. The phenomena are described as either 'glowing fireballs with tails' (white or blue-green) or 'silver-shining elongated objects of torpedo shape,' with many witnesses comparing the latter to a thermos bottle. The report concludes that the sightings are characterized as fire phenomena.