Japanese Fu-Go Balloons

[Erich]

just so you guys are aware, Dan and myself are seperated by about 70 miles of territroy with Medford in between the two of us, which was attacked.

E ~

[Dan O'Connell]

Interesting review! By the way, the local Klamath County Museum has one of the support rings that the incendiaries were suspended from on the balloons. I don't recall were it was recovered from. And fortunately, I've never found any parts in my local archaeology work :-) Erich, I think you were thinking of the bombs dropped by a submarine based "sea plane" that were dropped near Brookings. (for potential forest fires) The pilot actually visited the site some time about ten years ago. Erich, my very best for prompt and full recovery!

[Erich]

thanks for the wishes Dan, not doing well right now, you could be right about the sea plane as I was later figuring after your first comment that it had to be related in some way as the Japanese were determined if possible to explode our NW forests to pull back man-power for the war effort to the hills ....

[Dan O'Connell]

Erich, hang in there buddy! For those interested in the Bly occurance, the location is reached by going east about one mile from Bly, turn north on Cambell Resevoir road, and then east again towards Gearhart wilderness. It's about ten miles from there. Oddly, it did not start a fire (only killing all those people) although it's heavily forested. It is right beside a very nice spring/creek and a nice memorial marker is at the location.

[Dan O'Connell]

http://www.oldsmokeys.org/Links/BLY%...ON%20BOMBS.htm

A personal memory of the event.

[shooshoobaby]

The original book on the subject of Japanese Balloons was
" Retaliation " by Bert Webber Medford , Oregon.
Available on abebooks.com Excellent book.
I have heard of another good book on the subject by Historian
Robert Mikesh.

FYI - the Balloon's Timing Devices were made by Seiko , Explosives by
Hitachi , electronics/ gyros by Toshiba
Fugo means - Windship Weapon
Cheers

[Brian]

Hi guys

I have now found out that the 54thFS flying P-38s from the Aleutians accounted for nine Fugo balloons on 11 April 1945. No other details as yet apart from two (at least) by RCAF Kittyhawks on 21/2/45 and 10/3/45.

Progress!

Brian

[Rwrwalker]

Hi guys;

Interesting thread. The RCAF brought down at least 3 of these balloons. In addition to the two brought down by Kittyhawks, one was "forced down" by a Canso (Catalina to you Yanks) of 6 (BR) Squadron, near the north end of Vancouver Island on 12 March 1945. Those are the words from the official RCAF history, whereas they describe the Kittyhawk claims as "shot down". Maybe just literary licence, but I picture the Canso pilot calling for "ramming speed". There is also a press report of an interception over western Alberta, but this is not confirmed in any surviving RCAF records. Apparently the balloons didn't show on radar of the day, so interception was mostly based on luck.

Several more landed across western Canada, as far east as Saskatchewan, without major effect. The Oregon incident was the only casuality caused by any of the several hundred balloons launched. None of them ever achieved their goal of starting forest fires, because they arrived over the west coast at the height of the rainy season. Late in the war the RCAF moved east coast Hurricanes to the western prairies, and diverted Canadian built Mosquitos to BC to intercept balloons, but none of these aircraft ever sighted a balloon. In one sense, the diversion of these aircraft from other uses was a small victory for the Japanese.

Several of the balloons landed intact, and did not ignite. Those that were found were rushed to Rockcliffe for examination at the RCAF engineering offices, but I can't find any record of any pieces on display today in Canada. Officially, the Canadian government clamped down on all reporting of balloons, to prevent any useful information from reaching Japan. For this reason, there is very little information on this campaign outside of a few RCAF records.

[edwest]

Here's an article that may be of help:


http://okielegacy.org/WWIIpowcamps/balloonbombs.html



Ed

[edwest]

And one more:


http://www.airpower.maxwell.af.mil/a...eb/conley.html


Ed