Notes
Atomic Bomb
Ford, Brian J. "The Power of the Atom." Secret Weapons: Technology, Science
& the Race to Win World War II. Oxford: Osprey, 2011. 200-17. Print.
"Biography." Max Von Laue. N.p., n.d. Web. 04 May 2013.
"Nazi Science - 03." Nazi Science - 03. N.p., n.d. Web. 04 May
2013. <http://www.bibliotecapleyades.net/ciencia/nscience/nscience03.htm>.
1894 - Johnsone Soney soined the term electron
1897- J.J thoomsom at Cambridge University first recorded the existence of the election
1896 - Antoine Henri Becqueral accidentally discovered radioactivity
1932 - Ernest Rutherford observed the splitting of the nucleus
comment: it was not till very lately that the discovery of the atom has been made, yet, I question if this was a positive aspect for the human evolution? Is it really on our power to controll one of the basic units that exist and create disaster?
In this book, it is said that:
German Army Ordnance Office began to compile reprts on a nuclear reactor and on methods of purifiying uranium isotopes. The agreement was that a nuclear reaction sould liberate a huge amount of energy, but it would take many years to put it together. And the war was going very well for Germany, so Germany turned agasint the idea and the research was done bits and bits all acorss Germany.
Ever since the end of WWII, among many other talks, there has been many stories about whether or not the Nazis constructed the atomic bomb or not. There is a story that they even tested a crude device near the end of the war. The fact is that an atom labortory exploded in Leipzig in June 1942. However, the the sotries of a Nazi nuclear bomb have no basis in reality. It is evident that some people in Germany who knew how an atomic bomb can be made, but some were too isolated to propose their ideas and others did not seem to let Germany come up with more violent ideas to mess up with morals.
For example. Dr.Horst Willkomm, a leading German physicist knew about the principles and the poosibility of an atomic bomb, but he did not want Germany to know about it.
Wiegrefe, Klaus. "The Third Reich: How Close Was Hitler to the A-Bomb?"
SPIEGEL ONLINE. N.p., n.d. Web. 04 May 2013.
This articl is based on the book, "Hitler's Bomb" by Rainer Karlsch arguing that Germany had conducted nulear weapon tests. He says that the German physicists and the members of the nilitary carried out 3 nuclear weaons tests near the end of the war. Till now, the known was that based on the Allies's interrogation of the Third Reich laboratories and the Germany's top physicists, it has been told that Hiter's scienctists were a long way from any nuclear weapon. If the author's arguement is true, then the history books will have to be rewritten, however, the major flaw about his argument is that there is no proof to back up his arguments.
Comment: I have heard that whether or not the German scienists knew about the atomic bomb or not was a question and whether or not Hitler was pursuing research about the nuclear weapons are also very controversial. Personally, I think that Hitler did not know much about the possibility of the nuclear bomb. My hope is that the Germany's top scientists like Dr. Horst Willkomm kept his scientific morals. I hope that what happened was that after he discovered the potential of the nuclear weapon, he only kept it to himself. Another reason that I do not think that the scientists were the ones that kept their mouths shut is because I DO NOT think that if Hitler knew about the atomic bomb, there would have been so little evidence. Based on Hitler's views and his deeds including concentration camps and invading other countries, he does not seem like the person who would resist to the destructive weapon. He would have had not reason to give a second thought because he does not have any sympathy or a soul. Also, I believe that German scientists had a knowledge of the possibility of the atomic bombs because at that time, they had one of the most advanced technologies and researches.
Ford, Brian J. "The Power of the Atom." Secret Weapons: Technology, Science
& the Race to Win World War II. Oxford: Osprey, 2011. 200-17. Print.
Ford, Brian J. "The Power of the Atom." Secret Weapons: Technology, Science
& the Race to Win World War II. Oxford: Osprey, 2011. 200-17. Print.
"Biography." Max Von Laue. N.p., n.d. Web. 04 May 2013.
"Nazi Science - 03." Nazi Science - 03. N.p., n.d. Web. 04 May
2013. <http://www.bibliotecapleyades.net/ciencia/nscience/nscience03.htm>.
1894 - Johnsone Soney soined the term electron
1897- J.J thoomsom at Cambridge University first recorded the existence of the election
1896 - Antoine Henri Becqueral accidentally discovered radioactivity
1932 - Ernest Rutherford observed the splitting of the nucleus
comment: it was not till very lately that the discovery of the atom has been made, yet, I question if this was a positive aspect for the human evolution? Is it really on our power to controll one of the basic units that exist and create disaster?
In this book, it is said that:
German Army Ordnance Office began to compile reprts on a nuclear reactor and on methods of purifiying uranium isotopes. The agreement was that a nuclear reaction sould liberate a huge amount of energy, but it would take many years to put it together. And the war was going very well for Germany, so Germany turned agasint the idea and the research was done bits and bits all acorss Germany.
Ever since the end of WWII, among many other talks, there has been many stories about whether or not the Nazis constructed the atomic bomb or not. There is a story that they even tested a crude device near the end of the war. The fact is that an atom labortory exploded in Leipzig in June 1942. However, the the sotries of a Nazi nuclear bomb have no basis in reality. It is evident that some people in Germany who knew how an atomic bomb can be made, but some were too isolated to propose their ideas and others did not seem to let Germany come up with more violent ideas to mess up with morals.
For example. Dr.Horst Willkomm, a leading German physicist knew about the principles and the poosibility of an atomic bomb, but he did not want Germany to know about it.
Wiegrefe, Klaus. "The Third Reich: How Close Was Hitler to the A-Bomb?"
SPIEGEL ONLINE. N.p., n.d. Web. 04 May 2013.
This articl is based on the book, "Hitler's Bomb" by Rainer Karlsch arguing that Germany had conducted nulear weapon tests. He says that the German physicists and the members of the nilitary carried out 3 nuclear weaons tests near the end of the war. Till now, the known was that based on the Allies's interrogation of the Third Reich laboratories and the Germany's top physicists, it has been told that Hiter's scienctists were a long way from any nuclear weapon. If the author's arguement is true, then the history books will have to be rewritten, however, the major flaw about his argument is that there is no proof to back up his arguments.
Comment: I have heard that whether or not the German scienists knew about the atomic bomb or not was a question and whether or not Hitler was pursuing research about the nuclear weapons are also very controversial. Personally, I think that Hitler did not know much about the possibility of the nuclear bomb. My hope is that the Germany's top scientists like Dr. Horst Willkomm kept his scientific morals. I hope that what happened was that after he discovered the potential of the nuclear weapon, he only kept it to himself. Another reason that I do not think that the scientists were the ones that kept their mouths shut is because I DO NOT think that if Hitler knew about the atomic bomb, there would have been so little evidence. Based on Hitler's views and his deeds including concentration camps and invading other countries, he does not seem like the person who would resist to the destructive weapon. He would have had not reason to give a second thought because he does not have any sympathy or a soul. Also, I believe that German scientists had a knowledge of the possibility of the atomic bombs because at that time, they had one of the most advanced technologies and researches.
Ford, Brian J. "The Power of the Atom." Secret Weapons: Technology, Science
& the Race to Win World War II. Oxford: Osprey, 2011. 200-17. Print.
The Manhattan Project
In 1939, Albert Einstein wrote a letter directly to President Roosevelt stating, "A single [atom] bomb might well destory a city and some of the surrounding territory". President Roosevelt then immediately appointed Lyman Briggs at the National Bureau to set up the 'Uranium Committee'. The commitee recognized that the bomb can be built with smaller amounts of fissile materials than anyone thought. In 1942, Manhattan Engineer Project was in progress with an aim to produce an atomic bomb. Its name derived itself from the concentration of expertise in Manhattan itself. There was 10 research sites and almost all of it stand till the present day. The original headquarters were in a skycraper adjacent to City Hall. There were about 5000 staff coming and going. Each person knew only little of what they are supposed to know and only few knew any sort of overview. The scientists on the commitee were from various nations: the United States of America, Germany, Hungary, Italy, Denmark, Switherland and Britain. The different nationalities were being problematic. Many British tean had family in Europe, including some in nations that were now enemies to the Allied forces. The Americans thought that this is not secure, so they soon took over the project.
Comment: In order to make the manhattan project a success, it would have been a very heartseizing time for those who knew about the project because once the information of the bomb is heard by the enemy, in this case the Japanese and the Germans, it meant a greater danger than they were in then. If the enemy started to develop an atomic bomb too, the present would be questionable.
The Americans envisaged 2 different types of atom bomb, one using uranium and the other using plutonium. The work began from the consturction of an atomic pile under the leadership of a physicist, Enrico Fermi. The atomic pile was called Chicago Pile - 1(CP-1). It stood on a racket court under the abandoned west stands of the original Alonzo Stagg Field stadium at the University of Chicago. In December 1942, the first sustained nuclear reaction was started. America produced the isotopes it needed to plan an atomic bomb.
-- Enrico Fermi led the US research into uranium and plutonium for use in nuclear weapons. In 1942, the United States achieved the first sustained nuclear reaction, an important milestone in the development of nuclear power. --
A prototype was successfully tested at Alamogordo, in the deserts of New Mexico, on 16, July 1945. Near the creation of the bomb, the war between the Allies and Germany were at a near end and conflict between Japan was also coming to a close.
On July 17, 1945, Leo Szilard and 69 co-signatories from the Manhattan Project in Chicago petitioned the President of the US with an opposition to any use of such a weapon agasint civilians in war. The US did warn the Japanese before the bombing.
- The creation of the nuclear bomb was a huge change in the humanity. And the development of the bomb was rather quiet and secretive among the few which means that a power that is able to kill off hundreds of millions of people were created by a handful of peope. Whether or not that seems wrong to you will be laid on your hands. Personally, I think that the creation of the nuclear bomb scientific wise was indeed a good(?) product of science, however, morally and politically, it was unfair and very immoral way of ending the war.
Comment: In order to make the manhattan project a success, it would have been a very heartseizing time for those who knew about the project because once the information of the bomb is heard by the enemy, in this case the Japanese and the Germans, it meant a greater danger than they were in then. If the enemy started to develop an atomic bomb too, the present would be questionable.
The Americans envisaged 2 different types of atom bomb, one using uranium and the other using plutonium. The work began from the consturction of an atomic pile under the leadership of a physicist, Enrico Fermi. The atomic pile was called Chicago Pile - 1(CP-1). It stood on a racket court under the abandoned west stands of the original Alonzo Stagg Field stadium at the University of Chicago. In December 1942, the first sustained nuclear reaction was started. America produced the isotopes it needed to plan an atomic bomb.
-- Enrico Fermi led the US research into uranium and plutonium for use in nuclear weapons. In 1942, the United States achieved the first sustained nuclear reaction, an important milestone in the development of nuclear power. --
A prototype was successfully tested at Alamogordo, in the deserts of New Mexico, on 16, July 1945. Near the creation of the bomb, the war between the Allies and Germany were at a near end and conflict between Japan was also coming to a close.
On July 17, 1945, Leo Szilard and 69 co-signatories from the Manhattan Project in Chicago petitioned the President of the US with an opposition to any use of such a weapon agasint civilians in war. The US did warn the Japanese before the bombing.
- The creation of the nuclear bomb was a huge change in the humanity. And the development of the bomb was rather quiet and secretive among the few which means that a power that is able to kill off hundreds of millions of people were created by a handful of peope. Whether or not that seems wrong to you will be laid on your hands. Personally, I think that the creation of the nuclear bomb scientific wise was indeed a good(?) product of science, however, morally and politically, it was unfair and very immoral way of ending the war.
The Hiroshima Nagasaki bombings
The decision to drop the bomb:
After Harry Truman was aware of the Manhattan Project, he faced the decision of whether or not to drop the bomb. Bythen, the American forces had occupied Okinawa and Iwo Jima and was fire bombing in the home islands guarding against invasion.
First, the Allies demanded for an immediate unconditional surrender was made to the leadership in Japan. The demand did state that the refusal would result to total destruction; however, there was no mention about any new weapon dropping down on them. The Japanese military command rejected the request for an unconditional surrender.
Comment: I think that it would have been probably the smart thing to do and perhaps mention the existence of the atomic bomb and tell the Japanese how serious of damage it is capable to doing. If Japanese surrender was the purpose, why couldn’t the American forces just straight out say the intent of dropping a nuclear bomb? It sounds pretty questionable about the fact that when asking for a immediate unconditional surrender, the Americans did not mention the nuclear bomb that can destroy a city into ashes.
On August 6, 1945, a plane named B-29 Super fortress ENOLA GAY dropped an atomic bomb called‘Little Boy’ on Hiroshima on August 6, 1945. Right away, more than 70, 000 Japanese citizens disappeared off the map and as time passed, more than 100, 000 suffered from burns and radiation sickness. Two days after the attack, the Soviet Union declared war on the bombed Japan and the following day, another bomb dropped on Nagasaki, where additional 80,000 died. Five days after on August 14, 1945, the Japanese surrendered.
As a result of the bombings, the American government was accused of racism. The United States of America remained as the sole country to have used a nuclear weapon on another nation. President Truman said that the decision to drop the bomb was only military. He said that an invasion would have cost at least a million casualties. Truman saw little difference between atomic bombing Hiroshima and firebombing of Dresden or Tokyo.
Comment:
Personally, I am not a huge fan of Japan at this time; however, I do feel very bad for the innocent civilians who died instantly. With the two bombings and the Soviet Union’s declare of war on Japan seemed to have happened all so fast. I feel that the second bombing in Nagasaki was unnecessary. After the Hiroshima bombing, Japan would have been pretty terrorized. The Allies should have given the Japanese some time to organize themselves and they would have easily surrendered. Because of the second bombing in Nagasaki which seemed pretty unnecessary, 700,000 more people disappeared into ashes.
Reference:
"51g. The Decision to Drop the Bomb." The Decision to Drop the Bomb [ushistory.org]. N.p., n.d. Web. 06
May 2013.< http://www.ushistory.org/us/51g.asp>.
On July 26, President Truman sent the Potsdam Declaration which asked for Japan’s unconditional surrender and listed peace terms. It was signed by President Truman, Prime Minister Attlee of the United Kingdom and with the concurrence of Chiang Kai-Shek, President of the National Government of china. When Japan rejected, Truman authorized the use of the atomic bombs. Secretary of War, Henry. L. Stimson said that the choice of using the atomic bomb against Japan would be the “least abhorrent choice”. Military
advisors told Truman that about 500,000 American soldiers can be lost otherwise.
At exactly August 1945, at 9:15AM Tokyo, a B-29 place the ENOLA GAY piloted by Paul W Tibbets dropped a uranium atomic bomb codenamed LITTLE BOY on Hiroshima, which was the seventh largest city in Japan. The US estimated that around 60,000 to 70,000 people died or just went missing. 140,000 were injured and the radiation reached over 100,000. Among the 90,000 buildings, 60,000 were destroyed.
On August 6, another bomb was made at Train Island. On August 8, Field Order No.17 issued from the 20thAir Force Headquarters on Guam called for its use on whether Kokura or Nagasaki. Only 3 days later, the B-29 Bockscar piloted by Sweeney reached the sky over Kokura on the morning of August 9, but abandoned it because of smoke over and changed its path for Nagasaki. Nagasaki was an industrialized city but at 11:02a.m., the “Fat Man” bomb was dropped over the north factory district at 1,800 feet above the city to get maximum blast effect. The city was unrecognizable and secondary fires followed.
Comment: The excuse of dropping the bombs seem pretty obvious, but it is very racist. It is pretty reasonable to comprehend that America was only dropping the bomb to save their people from
going to war. However, how about the other people who are going to die in a second? At least the soldiers had the will to serve for their country. The innocent person, cart, dog, flower and files did not have anything do with the kill this person kill that person. Also, the fact that the second bomb codenamed 'Fat man’ was dropped at 1800 feet above the ground to maximize blast effect is very immoral and unreasonable. Those scientists seem like they were conducting a science experiment. “Maximizing the effect so that they could kill of more living creatures and destroy the city” – what kind of person in their right mind try to do that.
The experiment result:
In the early stages of the explosion, temperatures reached tens of millions of degrees. The light emitted was around 10 times the brightness of the sun. During the explosion, many types of radiation including gamma rays and alpha and beta particles emitted. Gamma radiation and neutrons were capable of causing thousands of cases of radiation sickness in Japan. First, the blood was affected, and then the blood making organs were impaired including the bone marrow, the spleen and the lymph nodes. And when the radiation was severe it caused death within a short period of time.
On September 2, the Japanese government surrendered unconditionally.
"The Bombing of Hiroshima and Nagasaki." Hiroshima & Nagasaki Atom Bombs. N.p., n.d. Web. 06 May
2013. <http://www.atomcentral.com/hiroshima-nagasaki.aspx.>
After Harry Truman was aware of the Manhattan Project, he faced the decision of whether or not to drop the bomb. Bythen, the American forces had occupied Okinawa and Iwo Jima and was fire bombing in the home islands guarding against invasion.
First, the Allies demanded for an immediate unconditional surrender was made to the leadership in Japan. The demand did state that the refusal would result to total destruction; however, there was no mention about any new weapon dropping down on them. The Japanese military command rejected the request for an unconditional surrender.
Comment: I think that it would have been probably the smart thing to do and perhaps mention the existence of the atomic bomb and tell the Japanese how serious of damage it is capable to doing. If Japanese surrender was the purpose, why couldn’t the American forces just straight out say the intent of dropping a nuclear bomb? It sounds pretty questionable about the fact that when asking for a immediate unconditional surrender, the Americans did not mention the nuclear bomb that can destroy a city into ashes.
On August 6, 1945, a plane named B-29 Super fortress ENOLA GAY dropped an atomic bomb called‘Little Boy’ on Hiroshima on August 6, 1945. Right away, more than 70, 000 Japanese citizens disappeared off the map and as time passed, more than 100, 000 suffered from burns and radiation sickness. Two days after the attack, the Soviet Union declared war on the bombed Japan and the following day, another bomb dropped on Nagasaki, where additional 80,000 died. Five days after on August 14, 1945, the Japanese surrendered.
As a result of the bombings, the American government was accused of racism. The United States of America remained as the sole country to have used a nuclear weapon on another nation. President Truman said that the decision to drop the bomb was only military. He said that an invasion would have cost at least a million casualties. Truman saw little difference between atomic bombing Hiroshima and firebombing of Dresden or Tokyo.
Comment:
Personally, I am not a huge fan of Japan at this time; however, I do feel very bad for the innocent civilians who died instantly. With the two bombings and the Soviet Union’s declare of war on Japan seemed to have happened all so fast. I feel that the second bombing in Nagasaki was unnecessary. After the Hiroshima bombing, Japan would have been pretty terrorized. The Allies should have given the Japanese some time to organize themselves and they would have easily surrendered. Because of the second bombing in Nagasaki which seemed pretty unnecessary, 700,000 more people disappeared into ashes.
Reference:
"51g. The Decision to Drop the Bomb." The Decision to Drop the Bomb [ushistory.org]. N.p., n.d. Web. 06
May 2013.< http://www.ushistory.org/us/51g.asp>.
On July 26, President Truman sent the Potsdam Declaration which asked for Japan’s unconditional surrender and listed peace terms. It was signed by President Truman, Prime Minister Attlee of the United Kingdom and with the concurrence of Chiang Kai-Shek, President of the National Government of china. When Japan rejected, Truman authorized the use of the atomic bombs. Secretary of War, Henry. L. Stimson said that the choice of using the atomic bomb against Japan would be the “least abhorrent choice”. Military
advisors told Truman that about 500,000 American soldiers can be lost otherwise.
At exactly August 1945, at 9:15AM Tokyo, a B-29 place the ENOLA GAY piloted by Paul W Tibbets dropped a uranium atomic bomb codenamed LITTLE BOY on Hiroshima, which was the seventh largest city in Japan. The US estimated that around 60,000 to 70,000 people died or just went missing. 140,000 were injured and the radiation reached over 100,000. Among the 90,000 buildings, 60,000 were destroyed.
On August 6, another bomb was made at Train Island. On August 8, Field Order No.17 issued from the 20thAir Force Headquarters on Guam called for its use on whether Kokura or Nagasaki. Only 3 days later, the B-29 Bockscar piloted by Sweeney reached the sky over Kokura on the morning of August 9, but abandoned it because of smoke over and changed its path for Nagasaki. Nagasaki was an industrialized city but at 11:02a.m., the “Fat Man” bomb was dropped over the north factory district at 1,800 feet above the city to get maximum blast effect. The city was unrecognizable and secondary fires followed.
Comment: The excuse of dropping the bombs seem pretty obvious, but it is very racist. It is pretty reasonable to comprehend that America was only dropping the bomb to save their people from
going to war. However, how about the other people who are going to die in a second? At least the soldiers had the will to serve for their country. The innocent person, cart, dog, flower and files did not have anything do with the kill this person kill that person. Also, the fact that the second bomb codenamed 'Fat man’ was dropped at 1800 feet above the ground to maximize blast effect is very immoral and unreasonable. Those scientists seem like they were conducting a science experiment. “Maximizing the effect so that they could kill of more living creatures and destroy the city” – what kind of person in their right mind try to do that.
The experiment result:
In the early stages of the explosion, temperatures reached tens of millions of degrees. The light emitted was around 10 times the brightness of the sun. During the explosion, many types of radiation including gamma rays and alpha and beta particles emitted. Gamma radiation and neutrons were capable of causing thousands of cases of radiation sickness in Japan. First, the blood was affected, and then the blood making organs were impaired including the bone marrow, the spleen and the lymph nodes. And when the radiation was severe it caused death within a short period of time.
On September 2, the Japanese government surrendered unconditionally.
"The Bombing of Hiroshima and Nagasaki." Hiroshima & Nagasaki Atom Bombs. N.p., n.d. Web. 06 May
2013. <http://www.atomcentral.com/hiroshima-nagasaki.aspx.>
Animals join the war
Ford, Brian J. "Animals Join The Secret War." Secret Weapons: Technology, Science & the Race to Win
World War II. Oxford: Osprey, 2011. 193-96. Print.
A dentist in United States named Lytle S. Adams proposed to send a squadron of B-24 bombers to destroy Osaka, Japan. Each plane would carry 100 incendiary shells - the weapons would not contain bombs but bats. He's idea was the bats would settle in on the wood and paper of buildings that were feature of that ancient Japanese city. Each bat would carry a small incendiary charge, strapped securely imposition. Once they settled and made homes in roof spaces in Osaka, the fuses would light the devices and the city would be destroyed.
As a result of his plan, the National Defense Research laboratories experimented with lightweight incendiary bombs and were able to make one less than 28g which included the weight of a small time fuse that would ignite the package when time comes. Adams and his team were to visit thousands of caves to gather guano bats, which were larger kinds of bats that can be used to carry little bombs.
Some trial flights were tested in Muroc Lake in California, but the bats were disorientated and flew straight into the ground. A batch of bats, experimentally fitted with bombs was able to escape in New Mexico and set fire to an aircraft hangar and the military vehicle inside.
The government of United States told Adams and his team to hand the project in the hands of the Marine Corps. The Marine Corps codenamed it Project X-ray, and abandoned the idea soom after.
World War II. Oxford: Osprey, 2011. 193-96. Print.
A dentist in United States named Lytle S. Adams proposed to send a squadron of B-24 bombers to destroy Osaka, Japan. Each plane would carry 100 incendiary shells - the weapons would not contain bombs but bats. He's idea was the bats would settle in on the wood and paper of buildings that were feature of that ancient Japanese city. Each bat would carry a small incendiary charge, strapped securely imposition. Once they settled and made homes in roof spaces in Osaka, the fuses would light the devices and the city would be destroyed.
As a result of his plan, the National Defense Research laboratories experimented with lightweight incendiary bombs and were able to make one less than 28g which included the weight of a small time fuse that would ignite the package when time comes. Adams and his team were to visit thousands of caves to gather guano bats, which were larger kinds of bats that can be used to carry little bombs.
Some trial flights were tested in Muroc Lake in California, but the bats were disorientated and flew straight into the ground. A batch of bats, experimentally fitted with bombs was able to escape in New Mexico and set fire to an aircraft hangar and the military vehicle inside.
The government of United States told Adams and his team to hand the project in the hands of the Marine Corps. The Marine Corps codenamed it Project X-ray, and abandoned the idea soom after.
Comment:
Personally, if the project was not actually mobilized, I would have thought
that it was actually a creative idea which was also funny. The idea is pretty
logical. The bats would seek a home in deep places of Japan, and once they are
there blow off the bomb to destroy the city. On the other hand, what kind of
person would think that thousands of bats would simply obey what they are told
to do? Not a lot of animals seem to obey their owners and the fact that people actually
believed and mobilized the project thinking that it would work is actually very
funny. Additionally, the idea and the project were violating animal rights. The
bats did not do anything wrong. They have no reason to do forced out of their
homes and attach the bombs on themselves. They have no reason to be forced in a
new city with all different environments and forced to settle there. And once
they are settled, the bombs are going to blow up and kill them. I am pretty
sure that no animals supported Hitler and no animal said anything about
ruling to deserve death.
Ford, Brian J. "Japanese Hydrogen Weapons." Secret Weapons: Technology, Science & the Race to Win
World War II. Oxford: Osprey, 2011. 193. Print.
World War II. Oxford: Osprey, 2011. 193. Print.
The Japanese decided to launch incendiary attacks against the United States. Japan manufactured about 9,000 hydrogen balloons to which they fitted small incendiary weapons that could burn for over an hour and 33lb (15kg) of high explosive anti-personnel bombs. Japan's plan was to release them into the high - altitude jet-stream that the Japanese had just discovered in order for the weapons to be carried across the Pacific to North America. The balloons were made with paper and were assembled by young women, mostly students from nearby schools. The washi paper for the balloons was made from large sheets that were stuck together with 'devil tongue' gel which were made by boiling the roots of arum lilies. Beginning from November, the Special Balloon Regiment that was established under Imperial Japanese Army released a bunch of the balloons from Ibaraki Prefecture, on the western side of Honshu.
Although the plan seems silly, the plan worked. Most of the balloons burst or deflated and landed in the sea, but over 1000 of the secret balloons reached North America and around 25 of them was capable of damage, mostly a small forest fire. The first few reports of the fireballs falling from the skies were ignored as farmland gossip, but closer to 1944, the authorities realized what was happening. Some of the balloons just landed untouched, and were examined by the military. The payload contained magnesium as an incendiary device, partly to set fire to the balloons on landing, but also to ensure that the device was consumed in the blaze so that the Americans would not discover the existence of the strange balloons. Once the existence of the weapons was discovered, many were shot down by warplanes in mid-flight. The United States made a secret agreement with the newspaper editors, so that the reports of successful attacks were never published and the Japanese were not able to find out whether or not they succeeded. After about 5 months passed without any damage appearing the American news media, the Japanese were discouraged and discontinued their attacks. In reality, 285 balloon bombs incidents have been reported and some of the balloons reached as far in as Michigan. One was found by a group of holidaymakers in the Oregon woods, all of whom were killed when they tried to move it and the anti-personnel mine exploded.
Although the plan seems silly, the plan worked. Most of the balloons burst or deflated and landed in the sea, but over 1000 of the secret balloons reached North America and around 25 of them was capable of damage, mostly a small forest fire. The first few reports of the fireballs falling from the skies were ignored as farmland gossip, but closer to 1944, the authorities realized what was happening. Some of the balloons just landed untouched, and were examined by the military. The payload contained magnesium as an incendiary device, partly to set fire to the balloons on landing, but also to ensure that the device was consumed in the blaze so that the Americans would not discover the existence of the strange balloons. Once the existence of the weapons was discovered, many were shot down by warplanes in mid-flight. The United States made a secret agreement with the newspaper editors, so that the reports of successful attacks were never published and the Japanese were not able to find out whether or not they succeeded. After about 5 months passed without any damage appearing the American news media, the Japanese were discouraged and discontinued their attacks. In reality, 285 balloon bombs incidents have been reported and some of the balloons reached as far in as Michigan. One was found by a group of holidaymakers in the Oregon woods, all of whom were killed when they tried to move it and the anti-personnel mine exploded.
The hydrogen balloon would have been unexpected by the Americans for sure. Many people would not think that a paper balloon that has a bomb in it would be able to fly across the large Pacific. I think that in terms of military perspective, the idea is very clever and creative. The process was evidently well planned because the use of magnesium as an incendiary device seemed very precise and well thought out. For example, it set fire to the balloons on landing, but also ensures that the device was consumed in the blaze, so that the Americans would not figure out of the existence of the mysterious balloons. The reaction of the Americans also allowed me to realize that the war requires a lot of intelligence and is full of tension. The way the Americans controlled over their media and had to hide all the incidents must have took a lot of effort.
Additional notes can be found on http://16dview-history.tumblr.com/ .