Air defence of the US mainland west-coast

[natttuppen]

Being new to the subject, I have read that pilots from the USAAF shot down a number of Japanese paper-balloons. Does any information exist about dates, names of pilots and places etc? Thanks in advance.

[Leendert]

I can send you some documents with sightings and so on. Please send me a PM with your e-mail address.

Names of pilots are hard to come by though. Only got to know one or two (I had some queries about it on armyairforces.com in January 2015 or thereabouts).

The RCAF also had some successful interceptions over W-Canada.

When browsing the internet you can find quite a lot about it as well, except the names of the few USAAF pilots who have chased the balloons...

Regards,

Leendert

[Edward L. Hsiao]

Gentlemen,

I myself is interested in knowing about the US pilots that score plenty of kills over Japanese explosive balloons. Sometimes I wonder who had the highest score over these paper balloons? This subject is very little known.

Sincerely,

Edward L. Hsiao

[R Leonard]

Can't help you with names of pilots or units, but a TAIC report does provide a little info as of May 1945:

Alaska - of 30 reported balloons
Shootdowns: 12
24-Feb-45 Attu, near 51-49N, 172-06E
27-Feb-45 Bethel
12-Apr-45 Massacre Bay, Attu
13-Apr-45 Attu - 9 balloons shot down this date

Alberta - of 10 reported balloons
Shootdowns: 1
28-Mar-45 Strathmore

British Columbia - of 29 reported balloons
Shootdowns: 3
10-Mar-45 Galiano Island
11-Mar-45 Kunghit Island, Queen Charlotte
13-Mar-45 Port Hardy

California - of 17 reported balloons
Shootdowns: 1
23-Feb-45 Calistoga-Elmira

Saskatchewan - of 8 reported balloons
Shootdowns: None

Colorado - of 2 reported balloons
Shootdowns: None

Idaho - of 9 reported balloons
Shootdowns: None

Iowa - of 2 reported balloons
Shootdowns: None

Kansas - of 1 reported balloon
Shootdowns: None

Manitoba - of 5 reported balloons
Shootdowns: None

McKensie - of 2 reported balloons
Shootdowns: None

Michigan - of 1 reported balloon
Shootdowns: None

Nebraska = of 4 reported balloons
Shootdowns: None

Miscellaneous locations - of 13 reported balloons
Shootdowns: 3
12-Jan-45 San Eugenie Point, Mexico
28-Mar-45 Laguna Salada, Mexico
15-Apr-45 vic 52-46N, 178-30W (about 400 miles NNW of Adak)

[Leendert]

Edward,

Nice overview here as well: http://www.sil.si.edu/smithsoniancon.../SAOF-0009.pdf

Go to last half op publication.

Regards,

Leendert

[natttuppen]

Thank you very much for the informative book!

[edwest2]

I recommend:

Silent Siege III: Japanese Attacks on North America in World War II : Ships Sunk, Air Raids, Bombs Dropped, Civilians Killed





https://www.amazon.com/Silent-Siege-...GN53QPMQ45GMED












Usual disclaimer,
Ed

[natttuppen]

Thank you for the recommendation. The book is on my shopping-list.

[Crimea River]

Western Canadian perspective here:

http://www.journal.forces.gc.ca/vo6/...ire-01-eng.asp

[natttuppen]

Thank you for the interesting link concerning RCAFs defence of western Canada,