ParanoidSkeptic2
Active Member
This is quite a popular photo that has been circulating around the internet for a while. This photo dates back to Word War 1 and is usually called the 'ghost of Goddard's Squadron.' Behind one of the soldier's a face of a bald/balding man without a cap that looks somewhat like an apparition can be seem behind one of the soldiers. This is the original photo
source:https://www.skeptic.com/insight/should-goddards-squadron-drop-dead-fred/
This is an zoomed in version of the photo
source:https://www.skeptic.com/insight/should-goddards-squadron-drop-dead-fred/
Although the photo was taken around the time of the first world war, the photo was allegedly released around 1975. His funeral took place on the day of the photograph. The conjecture that most people go with is that Freddy was unaware of his death so he attended the photograph session, thinking he was alive.
The story goes that an air mechanic called Freddy Jackson had been accidentally killed by an aeroplane propeller two days prior to the photo being taken
There was in fact a Freddy Jackson that died, however, the details of the death are different to what people usually state.
In addition, the R.A.F officer who originally published the story, Sir Goddard, did have a history with the paranormal excluding this incident.
This is one of the most popular ghost photos yet surprisingly received little skeptical attention. A lot of people also say that this could not be double exposure because the "ghost" is not wearing the cap that the other soldiers are wearing.
source:https://www.skeptic.com/insight/should-goddards-squadron-drop-dead-fred/
This is an zoomed in version of the photo
source:https://www.skeptic.com/insight/should-goddards-squadron-drop-dead-fred/
Although the photo was taken around the time of the first world war, the photo was allegedly released around 1975. His funeral took place on the day of the photograph. The conjecture that most people go with is that Freddy was unaware of his death so he attended the photograph session, thinking he was alive.
Article: Some articles refer to the photo as first being published in 1975. A little research turned up that Sir Robert Victor Goddard KCB, CBE, published a book that year titled Flight Towards Reality in which the photograph is (to the best of my knowledge) first described in print.
The story goes that an air mechanic called Freddy Jackson had been accidentally killed by an aeroplane propeller two days prior to the photo being taken
There was in fact a Freddy Jackson that died, however, the details of the death are different to what people usually state.
Article: Registry number 591269 records the death of a George Frederick Jackson, who had worked in the R.A.F. Aeroplane Repair Section. He died on April 13, 1918 at the 3rd Northern General Hospital in Sheffield. When I first got this information I was curious about why the date didn't come close to the Armistice Day (end of WWI) date that was part of Bobbie Capel and Goddard's version of the story.
In addition, the R.A.F officer who originally published the story, Sir Goddard, did have a history with the paranormal excluding this incident.
Article: While Goddard had risen quite high in the military ranks, he effectively had a second career as a paranormal enthusiast after retiring. His book Flight Towards Reality is largely a collection of thoughts about the nature of the spirit, ESP, and continued consciousness. He was a strong promoter of spirituality and alternative modes of healing.
This is one of the most popular ghost photos yet surprisingly received little skeptical attention. A lot of people also say that this could not be double exposure because the "ghost" is not wearing the cap that the other soldiers are wearing.
