The Case:
The granddaughter of a World War II veteran from Austin, Texas has a wartime memento with a note claiming it is a piece of Japanese balloon that floated across the Pacific Ocean in 1945.
The alleged balloon scrap could be evidence of a unique weapon in modern warfare: the Japanese Balloon Bomb.
More than 9,000 of these incendiary weapons were launched from Japan during the war via the jet stream with the intention of causing mass disruption and forest fires in the American West. These Balloon Bombs caused the only fatalities on the U.S. mainland due to enemy action during World War II.
The existence and purpose of the Balloon Bombs were kept secret from the American public for security reasons until a tragic accident forced a change in policy.
History Detectives investigates whether this scrap of fabric is a missing piece of an ingenious secret weapon.
Season 6, Episode 3
Season 7, Episode 9
Detective:
Tukufu Zuberi
Location:Austin, Texas and Washington, D.C.
Related Content
Video:
Blog Post:
Technique:
Technique:
Technique:
Related Links
Explore
-
Related Investigation
Jefferson Pledge
Did the transformation of the nation's public education system begin with this $200 pledge?
-
Also in Depression and WWII: 1929-1945
Exercise Records
What role did these records play in the sculpting of america's fixation with fitness?
-
Related Investigation
Doc Holliday's Watch
Was this watch a gift from the fearless frontier lawman Wyatt Earp to the gambler Doc Holliday?
-
Also in Depression and WWII: 1929-1945
Nazi Spy Toys
Did a Nazi spy buy these toy soldiers?
-
Also in Season 7
Civil War Bridge
Has a new discovery rewritten Civil War history?
-
Also in Season 7
Galleon Shipwreck
Is this a piece of treasure from a Spanish galleon washed up on an Oregon beach?
Comments
This is a place for opinions, comments, questions and discussion; a place where viewers of History Detectives can express their points of view and connect with others who value history. We ask that posters be polite and respectful of all opinions. History Detectives reserves the right to delete comments that don’t conform to this conduct. We will not respond to every post, but will do our best to answer specific questions, or address an error.