Bat Bombs of WW2

Ever heard of a bat bomb? Before the atomic bomb was finalized, the US was developing bombs that would release bats all over Japanese cities and start fires wherever they roosted. These bombs would drop thousands of hibernating bats over cities, who would spread out for miles and seek shelter in the eaves and attics of the town's buildings, which were predominantly made of wood and paper. To each bat was attached a timed incendiary device, which after giving the animals time to hide, would go off and ignite the surrounding materials.

Tadarida brasiliensis, Mexican Free-tailed Bats

This crazy idea was the brainchild of a dentist from Pennsylvania; his friendship with Eleanor Roosevelt got the idea pushed through from the top. The dentist, Lytle Adams, realized that most Japanese construction was based on wood, bamboo and paper, making cities highly susceptible to fire. If the bats were released high enough, they would spread up to 40 miles, setting fires at random locations all over areas with dispersed industries. By dropping the bats just before dawn, they could time the incendiary to go off shortly after all the bats would have sought shelter for the day. Their widespread availability in the American Southwest at the time combined with their ability to carry weight in flight made the bats ideal candidates for this job; plus they need no care when in hibernation.

Bat Bomb Cannister.

Test of the concept looked promising, although an Auxiliary Air Base near Carlsbad, New Mexico, was set on fire when loose bats roosted under a fuel tank. Even though the outlook was promising for the prject, when brass learned that the bat bombs wouldn't be ready until 1945, they scuttled the endeavor, probably in favor of a near finished atomic bomb.

Carlsbad Air Base Fire.

All photos in Public Domain.