Desperately trying to get info regarding hot air balloon attack that was attempted by Japan during WWII......Aimed at California coast......Help??? Thank you.....
2007-03-19 04:30:01 · 7 answers · asked by jc092047 1 in Politics & Government ➔ Military
They didn't use hot air. They used hydrogen in the balloons.
The Japanese used an ingenious triggering device that was able to count the number of days the balloon had been in the air by the number of times it ascended and descended due to heat from the sun.
On the 5 day an incendiary bomb was released. The goal was to set large forest fires in the Pacific Northwest.
No fires were set, however I believe a person who found an unexploded device was killed when it went off as he touched it.
2007-03-19 04:59:11 · answer #1 · answered by Yak Rider 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
The Japanese released numerous hydrogen-filled balloons with both explosive and incendiary devices attached. The intent was to severly hamper or cripple the timber industry in the Greater Northwest thereby damaging lumber production.
There was no great damage to the target but several people were killed after finding the warhead after the balloon landed.
Some drifted as far as Texas. In particular Woodson, Texas: In mid-March of 1945 (reportedly before sunrise) the explosive charge fell from the balloon and detonated in the school yard. There were no injuries but rest assured there were probably a lot of jangled nerves.
Another fell in a pasture near Desdemona, Texas. But the vegetation was so sparse that it didn't even cause a fire.
I graduated from Woodson High School
2007-03-19 14:00:14 · answer #2 · answered by Albannach 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Try the below links
http://www.lonesentry.com/wwii-blog/blog/japanese-balloon-attacks.html
http://www.axishistory.com/index.php?id=932
Good Luck
2007-03-19 04:36:24 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
go to History Channel, Operation Cherry Blossom, hope this helps.
Yak Ride, a teacher and four students were killed in Oregon by touching off one of these balloons, just FYI.
2007-03-19 04:32:39 · answer #4 · answered by bigbro3006 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Look up "fire balloon" on the Wikipedia website. I heard they're going to try this again.
2007-03-19 04:34:29 · answer #5 · answered by JK 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Yes this did happen they would send bombs up into the jet stream hoping to hit U.S. you may check the web for more information.
2007-03-19 04:34:35 · answer #6 · answered by James B 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
http://www.historyhouse.com/in_history/balloon_1/
2007-03-19 04:36:53 · answer #7 · answered by akablueeye 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋