Japanese Balloon Bombs Over U.S. Skies (1945)

It’s April 17th. This day in 1945, a balloon bomb exploded over Omaha, Nebraska. This was one of thousands of Japanese devices that were sent out over the Pacific ocean to ride the jet stream and explode on U.S. soil.

Jody, Niki, and Kellie discuss the balloon bomb program, why it was largely kept secret from U.S. citizens, and how they lead to a number of American deaths.

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Our team: Jacob Feldman, Researcher/Producer; Brittani Brown, Producer; Khawla Nakua, Transcripts; music by Teen Daze and Blue Dot Sessions; Julie Shapiro and Audrey Mardavich, Executive Producers at Radiotopia