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Conclusion The "something big" referred to in Japanese propaganda messages, failed to materialize. The balloon offensive was terminated as suddenly as it had begun. Americans monitoring the program were puzzled by the cessation, for winds continued to be favorable for launchings, and the onslaught was absorbing United States military men and equipment in preparation for what might occur next. The silence of the American public and selfcensorship by the American press left the Japanese with considerable doubt as to the effectiveness of the Fu-Go Weapon. The attitude of the American people on the home front, and their cooperation with government officials for the good of the nation, was a major contribution toward ending these attacks. If a lesson is to be learned from this history, it might be summarized best by an opening remark on the subject in a news release following the war: Japan was kept in the dark about the fate of the fantastic balloon bombs because Americans proved during the war they could keep their mouths shut. To their silence is credited the failure of the enemy's campaign. The Japanese had one thousand more balloons in readiness, but further launches were suspended in the early part of April 1945, primarily because the Showa Denko Company and other hydrogen sources were being disrupted by B-29 raids. Since the effectiveness of the program was uncertain to the Japanese, resources for these repairs were funneled to more urgent needs. Obviously, the "Fu-Go Weapon" was not the anticipated decisive weapon, but it was Japan's V-l weapon in an effort to avenge Doolittle's April 1942 raid on Tokyo. Hardly more was attained than a psychological effort against the United States resulting in rumors and uncertainty, even though it was assumed that not more than ten percent ever reached the United States and 10 The New York Times, 29 May 1947. Canada. Although some American publications printed statements that the Japanese army staff headquarters had ordered the balloon missions to be stopped, they were actually suspended because of the intensified United States air raids against Japan. With no report of their effect upon the North American continent, little effort was expended to make repairs after these raids. It was based upon these circumstances that the program was terminated. From 4 November 1944 to 8 August 1945, 285 "incidents" were recorded, including 120 balloon recoveries; 32 balloon recoveries including bombs; 20 balloons downed but not recovered; 28 independent bomb incidents; and 85 related incidents. In addition to the six Americans who were the only casualties in the United States as a result of foreign enemy action, the only recorded property damage was two small brush fires and the momentary loss of electrical power at the Hanford, Washington, atomic energy plant. Few were aware that one of these Japanese balloons caused a delay in the production of materials for the atomic bomb that would later be used on Japan. Elaborate safeguards were taken to prevent accidents in the reactor piles and uninterrupted cooling was essential. When the power was interrupted by the balloon, somewhere between Bonneville and Grand Coulee, it triggered the safety mechanism of the reactor. Since the system had never been tested, this incident gave everyone confidence in its safety although it necessitated three days of work to get the piles back to full capacity again. The effort and expense by the Japanese in the balloon offensive was great in comparison to the minor results achieved. <strong>Balloon</strong>s were reported over a very wide area of the North American continent stretching from the island of Attu to the state of Michigan, and from northern Alaska to northern Mexico. The greatest weakness of the free balloon as a military weapon is that it cannot be controlled. The balloon campaign was an interesting experiment, but it was a military failure. 38
APPROX. VOLUME 19,000 CU. FT. 32.81-FT. DIAMETER ENVELOPE 4-PLY PAPER ON UPPER SPHERE FLASH BOMB SUSPENSION CURTAIN 3 - PLY PAPER ON LOWER SPHERE GAS RELIEF VALVE 19 SHROUD LINES 49.2 FT. LONG 64-FT. FUSE BURNING TIME APPROX. I HR. 22 MIN. BUNGEE SHOCK CORD AUTOMATIC CONTROL ALTITUDE DEVICE SANDBAG BALLAST TWO INCENDIARY BOMBS 15-KG. ANTI-PERSONNEL BOMB © Figure 39. General arrangement of Japanese paper bombing balloon. 39
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 24 and 25: Figure 14. A skyward view of an inf
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 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.

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