Bat Bomb: World War II's Other Secret Weapon [Hardcover]

Jack Couffer (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: January 1992

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.

Editorial Reviews

From Library Journal

One of World War II's more improbable projects was the plan to release myriads of bats bearing incendiary devices over Japan's cities. The concept worked all too well, but the whole thing came to an end shortly after the nocturnal raiders immolated a remote New Mexico air base. Couffer's account is smoothly written but not glib, and the natural humor is buttressed with official documents saved from his months on the project. More than just a funny wartime memoir, this book illustrates how the wartime military establishment handled an offbeat idea that just might have been useful. Best of all, it provides marvelous insights into the social ethos that prevailed during the wartime years. Recommended for public libraries.
- Raymond L. Puffer, U.S. Air Force History Prog., Los Angeles
Copyright 1992 Reed Business Information, Inc.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 284 pages
• Publisher: University of Texas Press; 1st edition (January 1992)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0292707908
• ISBN-13: 978-0292707900
• Product Dimensions: 8.3 x 5.3 x 1.1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 11.2 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (11 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #506,921 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

19 of 19 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Fantastic, April 8, 1998

By A Customer

This review is from: Bat Bomb: World War II's Other Secret Weapon (Hardcover)

BAT BOMB covers a quite unknown but important part of World War II history. It got good reviews, but the public seemed to neglect it (I don't know why). This book is not only an important history lesson, it is also a wildly entertaining read. Don't YOU neglect this book. Read it. You'll love it.

18 of 18 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A wonderful look at a quirky moment in U.S. defense history., January 18, 1998

By 

John C. (Pasadena, California USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Bat Bomb: World War II's Other Secret Weapon (Hardcover)

Bat Bomb is the story of a small group of people shortly after the beginning of World War II, involved in an unlikely scheme to defeat the Japanese. The plan is to strap small incendiary devices (napalm) to millions of bats and drop them at dawn over Japanese cities. Written by a young member of the team, the story of their eccentric scientist leader, how money was obtained from Washington, and their first encounter with the now-famous bat caves in the Carlsbad area is sometimes sobering, often hilarious, and always fascinating. For example, they were particularly disturbed to find out that the government was spending millions on atomic research in the same part of the country. To quote the bat scientist, "We got a sure thing like the bat bomb going, something that could really win the war, and they're j--ing off with tiny little atoms. It makes me want to cry." A wonderful and mostly overlooked book.

15 of 15 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A truly crazy story!, May 6, 2002

By 

R. N. Keil "r.n. keil" (los angeles, CA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Bat Bomb: World War II's Other Secret Weapon (Hardcover)

I read this at about the same time I discovered Richard Rhodes' "The Making of the Atomic Bomb". The contrast between the seemingly insane bat bomb and the almost farcial nature of it's builder's quest contrasted wonderfully with the serious and dark tones of the Manhattan project. This book has parts that made me laugh out loud, which is something that few history books can do.

The story of prospecting the cave is priceless, and it gives me the heebie-jeebies just thinking about it...