Bat bomb : World War II's other secret weapon / Jack Couffer.

Format:

Book

Author/Creator:

Couffer, Jack, author.

Language:

English

Subjects (All):

Couffer, Jack.

Bats--United States--War use--History--20th century.

Bats.

World War, 1939-1945.

Incendiary bombs--History--20th century.

Incendiary bombs.

World War, 1939-1945--Personal narratives, American.

Physical Description:

1 online resource (284 p.)

Edition:

First edition.

Place of Publication:

Austin : University of Texas Press, 1992.

Language Note:

English

Summary:

It was a crazy way to win World War II in the Pacific— All the United States had to do was to attach small incendiary bombs to millions of bats and release them over Japan's major cities. As the bats went to roost, a million fires would flare up in remote crannies of the wood and paper buildings common throughout Japan. When their cities were reduced to ashes, the Japanese would surely capitulate. The plan made sense to a handful of eccentric promoters and researchers, who convinced top military brass and even President Roosevelt to back the scheme. It might have worked, except that another secret weapon—something to do with atoms—was chosen to end the war. Told here by the youngest member of the team, this is the story of the bat bomb project, or Project X-Ray, as it was officially known. In scenes worthy of a Capra or Hawks comedy, Jack Couffer recounts the unorthodox experiments carried out in the secrecy of Bandera, Texas; Carlsbad, New Mexico; and El Centro, California, in 1942-1943 by "Doc" Adams' private army. This oddball cast of characters included an eccentric inventor, a distinguished Harvard scientist, a biologist with a chip on his shoulder, a movie star, a Texas guano collector, a crusty Marine Corps colonel, a Maine lobster fisherman, an ex-mobster, and a tiger. Not to be defeated by minor logistical hurdles, the bat bomb researchers risked life and limb to explore uncharted bat caves and "recruit" thousands of bats to serve their country. Through months of personality conflicts, military snafus, and technical failures the team pressed on, certain that bats could end the war with Japan. And they might have—in their first airborne test, the bat bombers burned an entire brand-new military airfield to the ground. For everyone who relishes true tales of action and adventure, Bat Bomb is a must-read. Bat enthusiasts will also discover the beginnings of the scientific study of bats.

Contents:

Frontmatter

Contents

Preface

Acknowledgments

I. THIS MAN IS NOT A NUT

2. SECRECY IS OBVIOUSLY ESSENTIAL

3. THE SUGGESTION IS RETURNED AS IMPRACTICAL

4. THE ARMY AIR FORCES WILL COOPERATE

5. FLAMETHROWER

6. NO QUESTIONS WILL BE TOLERATED

7. THEY CAN FLY!

8. CHEMICAL WARFARE CONCLUDES

9. THE BAT-SHIT MAN

10. OZRO

11. OSAKA BAY

12. MUROC

13. CARLSBAD

14. BANDERA

15. PROJECT X-RAY

16. THE OTHER WAR

17. THE HIBERNATION EQUATION

18. THE FISTFIGHT

19. DUGWAY

20. IT'S A BIT "STICKY" IN EL CENTRO

Epilogue

References

Index

Notes:

Description based upon print version of record.

Includes bibliographical references and index.

Description based on print version record.

ISBN:

0-292-78969-6

OCLC:

1312726244