Fu-go: The Curious History of Japan's Balloon Bomb Attack on America (Studies in War, Society, and the Military)

Coen, Ross

ISBN 10: 0803249667 / ISBN 13: 9780803249660

Published by University of Nebraska Press, 2014

Connecting readers with great books since 1972! Used books may not include companion materials, and may have some shelf wear or limited writing. We ship orders daily and Customer Service is our top priority! Seller Inventory # S_459246626

Synopsis:

This story about a little-known failed military excursion by the Japanese will appeal to general history readers as well as military history buffs.—John Rodzvilla, Library Journal

Near the end of World War II, in an attempt to attack the United States mainland, Japan launched its fu-go campaign, deploying thousands of high-altitude hydrogen balloons armed with incendiary and high-explosive bombs designed to follow the westerly winds of the upper atmosphere and drift to the west coast of North America. After reaching the mainland, these fu-go, the Japanese hoped, would terrorize American citizens and ignite devastating forest fires across the western states, ultimately causing the United States to divert wartime resources to deal with the domestic crisis. While the fu-go offensive proved to be a complete tactical failure, six Americans lost their lives when a discovered balloon exploded.

Ross Coen provides a fascinating look into the obscure history of the fu-go campaign, from the Japanese schoolgirls who manufactured the balloons by hand to the generals in the U.S. War Department who developed defense procedures. The book delves into panic, propaganda, and media censorship in wartime.

Fu-go is a compelling story of a little-known episode in our national history that unfolded virtually unseen.

About the Author:

Ross Coen is a historian who writes about the American West, Alaska, and the Arctic. He is the author of The Long View: Dispatches on Alaska History and Breaking Ice for Arctic Oil: The Epic Voyage of the SS Manhattan through the Northwest Passage.

Bibliographic Details

Title: Fu-go: The Curious History of Japan's ...
Publisher: University of Nebraska Press
Publication Date: 2014
Binding: Hardcover
Condition: Very Good