WWII's Secret Weapon: Japan's Failed Balloon Bomb Attack

In 1944, Japan launched thousands of balloon bombs across the Pacific, aiming to sow chaos and destruction in the continental US. These massive paper balloons, carrying incendiaries and explosives, utilized the jet stream for transpacific travel. While ultimately resulting in only six American civilian deaths and minimal military impact, the operation remains a fascinating, obscure chapter of WWII, highlighting Japan's desperate wartime resourcefulness and the complexities of wartime information control. The project's failure underscores the limitations of unconventional warfare tactics.