When Six Americans Were Killed By a ‘Balloon Bomb'

A balloon used for warfare by the Japanese resulted in the only Americans to die on U.S. soil from enemy action in during World War II.

Meg Godlewski

Thursday, May 05, 2022 at 10:36 AM ET

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In 1944, the Japanese military tried to instill panic in the U.S. by launching thousands of bombs carried across the Pacific by means of hydrogen-filled balloons. [Courtesy: National Museum of the U.S. Air Force]

Key Takeaways:

During World War II, Japan launched thousands of "Fu-Go" balloon bombs across the Pacific, primarily to instill panic and start forest fires in the U.S.
These hydrogen-filled paper balloons, carrying incendiary and high-explosive devices, were designed to be carried by prevailing winds for 3-4 days to reach the American continent.
The U.S. government enforced a media blackout to prevent public panic and keep Japan from learning the balloons had reached their target, largely succeeding.
On May 5, 1945, six Americans—a pregnant woman and five children—were killed by a balloon bomb in Bly, Oregon, marking the only enemy action fatalities on continental U.S. soil during WWII.

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May 5, 2022, marks the 77th anniversary of the deaths of six Americans, the only Americans to die on U.S. soil from enemy action in World War II. They were killed by a Japanese Fu-Go, also known as a balloon bomb.

Fear, Panic and Forest Fires

In 1944, the Japanese military tried to instill panic in the U.S. by launching thousands of bombs carried across the Pacific by means of hydrogen-filled balloons. The bombs were designed primarily as incendiary devices. The target was the forests of the Pacific Northwest. Because they were made of paper, it was believed the balloon bombs would explode and burn, leaving no trace. According to Japanese documentation, it was thought the fires would pull resources away from the military and the stealthy nature of the balloon bombs would unnerve and terrify the populace.