Balloon Bomb - Smithsonian Institution Libraries

More documents

Recommendations

Info

Figure 14. A skyward view of an inflated balloon held captive by its shroud lines. The gas relief valve is shown at the base of the envelope. (A 37180F) In numbers, school children were the greatest labor force on this project. During wartime, school hours were short in order that the remainder of their day could be devoted to the war effort. Thousands of Japanese had a part in making these balloons, but officially they were never told of their purpose. Even when word about their intended use would filter down, no one believed it. Two years of experimentation and some 9,000,000 yen (more than 2,000,000 prewar dollars) were spent on the manufacture of balloons. Still another source quotes the original price per balloon at 10,000 yen, roughly $2,300 at the prewar rate of exchange, but this cost was considerably reduced as production increased. It is difficult at this time to accurately determine from these figures what actual costs were involved. Balloon Launch Sites Figure 15. The Japanese paper balloons were 32 feet in diameter and, when fully inflated, held about 19,000 cubic feet of hydrogen. (A 37180F) While the fabrication of the balloons was underway, the army formed a new operational unit called the Special Balloon Regiment, under the command of Colonel Inoue. Its responsibility was to prepare launch sites, establish direction-finding station locations, prepare for gas-production facilities, and train personnel in the launching of the balloons. Three general site locations were selected along the lower half of Honshu's eastern seaboard. These areas were chosen because of nearby rail lines and favorable terrain. Also, the coastal sites lessened the possibility of damaging Japanese property through flight malfunctions. Of the thousands of balloons released, only two returned to Japan. Both occurred on 13 March 1945, twenty fours after launching, but they fell in snow and caused no damage. The first landing was reported near Hakodate on Southern Hokkaido, while the second was located in Akita Prefecture. The northern regions of Japan were ruled out as launch sites because of the possibility that balloons might stray into Kamchatka, a Soviet Union territory, and cause an international incident. Balloon launch locations and their unit and functions that occupied them were as follows: Otsu, Ibaraki Prefecture Command Headquarters. First Battalion (composed of three squadrons). Total strength: 1,500. Weather Unit (in connection with the Army Weather Bureau). Ichinomiya, Chiba Prefecture Second Battalion (composed of three squadrons). Total strength: 700. Test Release Unit. Nakoso, Fukushima ftefecture Third Battalion (composed of two squadrons). Total strength: 600. Hydrogen-generation plants became the key to launch operations. The Nakoso and Ichinomiya sites depended upon the gas being transported in tanks from distant Kanto Plain companies, such as Showa Denko (a chemical and electric company still operating under this 16
IWANUMA (l D.F. STATION) NAKOSO (6 LAUNCH STATIONS) OTSU (O LAUNCH STATIONS) OHARA) ICHINOMIYA (e LAUNCH STATIONS) (I D.F. STATION) Figure 16. Balloon launching sites and flight-following stations. name). The Otsu site, however, was capable of generating its own hydrogen from the beginning of the operation. Launching Operations To achieve the greatest effect from the balloons based upon weather forecasts, the following proposed launch schedule was worked into the plan, based on the possibility that 15,000 balloons would be available (actual balloon operations are shown for comparison). Date November 1944 December January 1945 February March April (early) Total To be launched 500* 3,500 4,5J)0 4,500 2,500 0 15,000 Approximate number launched 700 1,200 2,000 2,500 2,500 400 9,300 •Anticipated difficulties with the new program accounted for this low figure. 17
Page 1: Number 9 SMITHSONIAN ANNALS OF FLIG
Page 4 and 5: SERIAL PUBLICATIONS OF THE SMITHSON
Page 6 and 7: Foreword Mr. Mikesh has compiled th
Page 8 and 9: Meteorologists James F. Andrews and
Page 10 and 11: Origin and Development The Unexpect
Page 12 and 13: Figure 4. A faulty ballast-dropping
Page 14 and 15: project cannot actually be determin
Page 16 and 17: SENDAI OSHIMA SHIO-NO-MISAKA Figure
Page 18 and 19: Figure 7. Imperial Japanese Navy's
Page 20 and 21: Figure 8. Japanese technicians stru
Page 22 and 23: 3 Ml < ON (N .ft -SH3±3W JO SONVSn
Page 26 and 27: Figure 17. Balloon launching comple
Page 28 and 29: -HYDROGEN TANKS •SUSPENSION RIG P
Page 30 and 31: '"-VHKXV s
Page 32 and 33: Army Special Balloon Regiment also
Page 34 and 35: Figure 27. Wind catches a recovered
Page 36 and 37: United States Military Counter/meas
Page 38 and 39: Figure 30. A Lockheed P-38 Lightnin
Page 40 and 41: Most of the activities connected wi
Page 42 and 43: Other captive balloons had been inf
Page 44 and 45: Figure 38. Fighter-aircraft gun-cam
Page 46 and 47: Conclusion The "something big" refe
Page 48 and 49: APPENDIXES Detailed Description of
Page 50 and 51: The degradation of the cellulose to
Page 52 and 53: Figure 44. Timing fuses. (A72-872)
Page 54 and 55: lost altitude. In order to prolong
Page 56 and 57: Figure 53. Aneroid board showing co
Page 58 and 59: Figure 63. Main power supply was a
Page 60 and 61: Figure 69. Minutely detailed, explo
Page 62 and 63: (Continued from page 48) the bakeli
Page 64 and 65: Figure 72. Numbered holes containin
Page 66 and 67: Ballast Metering Device A schematic
Page 68 and 69: Color and markings: Black overall w
Page 70 and 71: Paper balloons: Chugai Kako K.K. Ko
Page 72 and 73: SUSPENSION CURTAIN. 19 SCREW ANCHOR
Page 74 and 75:
V = WIND SPEED lOOr-
Page 76 and 77:
Figure 85. The Mitchell Recreation
Page 78 and 79:
Place Recovery date Remarks 3. Ther
Page 80 and 81:
Place Recovery date Remarks 56. Ash
Page 82 and 83:
Place Recovery date Remarks 150. Fo
Page 84 and 85:
Place Recovery date Remarks 234. Ki
Page 86:
V I: l S a R"' -**rl>} 82S i 8sMs f
Page 89 and 90:
J o „ o 1 ** * in fO o 3 o 2 S 2
Page 91 and 92:
Bibliography Arakawa, H. Basic Prin
Page 93:
Lightening Project, 29 Majima, Dr.
show all

Balloon Bomb - Smithsonian Institution Libraries

Create successful ePaper yourself

Delete template?

Save as template?