“Attack on America by Balloon” written by Raymond Schuessler

In a little-known side action of World War II, the Japanese succeeded-although lamely-in attacking the United States mainland. Humiliated by James Doolittle’s bombing of Tokyo in 1942 and unable to retaliate with warplanes, they launched thousands of bomb-laden, paper balloons against the west coast, killing at least six persons. The invasion route was a natural air corridor at 30,000 -35,000 feet where winds roared east at 100 to 200 miles an hour. The Japanese hoped to launch 100 balloons a day, expecting at least 10 percent to reach America and damage cities, burn forest and cause panic. On November 1, 1944, the campaign began. In time, eventually 9,000 balloons would be released from Japan. According to chief of staff of the Western Defense Command, Brigadier General W. H. Wilbur, about 1,000 reached the West Coast from Alaska to Mexico. Ten percent failed to explode; 200 balloons were found in the U.S. and Canada. Remains of 75 more were fished out of coastal waters. Flashes in the sky indicated midair explosion of others. The 32-foot-diameter balloons carried 30 six-pound sandbags which were successively released by a device whenever the balloon dropped below 30,000 feet. Another device let hydrogen escape when the bag rose above 35,000 feet. Each balloon carried an incendiary bomb and two or three 32-pound antipersonnel bombs. They were designed to hit earth after 40 hours when, the Japanese assumed, the balloons would be over the U.S. At a school picnic in Oregon, children found a balloon and, tugging at the strings, exploded the bomb. Five children and a woman were killed. The only way to combat the scourge, it was decided was to keep the Japanese from learning that balloons reached America. The press and radio in Canada and the U.S. were advised to say nothing. But to warn of the danger, news was spread by word of mouth to schools, farmers, hunters, police and fraternal clubs in the West. In April 1945, the balloons stopped coming. General Wilbur visited Japan after the war and found out why. General Sueki Kusaba, in charge of the balloon barrage, had his funds cut (each balloon cost $800) because no reports of their landings had been reported in the American press. “Your balloons are not reaching America,” the final notice said. “The nosy American press could never keep such a secret.”