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Creator:

Mikesh, Robert C.  Search this

Names:

Japan. Navy  Search this

Mikesh, Robert C.  Search this

Tanaka, Kiyoshi  Search this

Extent:

1.51 Cubic feet (3 legal document boxes)

Type:

Collection descriptions

Archival materials

Reports

Photographs

Publications

Manuscripts

Clippings

Date:

1860-1988

bulk 1945-1983

Scope and Contents:

This collection was gathered by National Air and Space Museum curator Robert C. Mikesh for his publication on this subject, "Japan's World War II Balloon Bomb Attacks on North America." The collection consists of the following: magazine and newspaper articles on the Japanese balloons; manuscripts and independent articles; 83 photos Mr. Mikesh used in his book and 68 miscellaneous photos collected for research purposes; also photocopies of Japanese balloon illustrations and Japanese balloon propaganda reports. The collection also includes the working files of Kiyoshi Tanaka, the Supervisor Technical Lieutenant Commander for the Japanese Navy balloon project, and multiple copies of Mr. Mikesh's publication.

Arrangement:

The collection is arranged as originally numbered and titled by Robert C. Mikesh. Additional folder title information has been added by the processing archivist in brackets.

Biographical / Historical:

During World War II the Japanese constructed nearly 10,000 lighter-than-air balloons for the purpose of carrying destructive pay loads to the U.S. Between November 1944 and April 1945 these balloons made use of the prevailing west-to-east jet stream over the North Pacific Ocean. Nearly 285 sightings and fragment findings have been recorded in North America, and 5 deaths resulted. This was the first and only attack upon the American continent directly from an enemy homeland.

Provenance:

NASM Generated, Transfer, unknown, NASM.XXXX.0558.

Restrictions:

No restrictions on access

Rights:

Material is subject to Smithsonian Terms of Use. Should you wish to use NASM material in any medium, please submit an Application for Permission to Reproduce NASM Material, available at Permissions Requests

Topic:

World War, 1939-1945  Search this

Balloons  Search this

Air defenses -- United States  Search this

Air defenses  Search this

Aeronautics, Military  Search this

Aeronautics  Search this

Genre/Form:

Reports

Photographs

Publications

Manuscripts

Clippings

Citation:

Japanese World War II Balloon Bombs Collection, Acc. XXXX.0558, National Air and Space Museum, Smithsonian Institution.

Identifier:

NASM.XXXX.0558

See more items in:

Japanese World War II Balloon Bombs Collection

Archival Repository:

National Air and Space Museum Archives

GUID:

https://n2t.net/ark:/65665/pg2aaf47a7b-bf2f-482a-88ab-d657128833cb

EDAN-URL:

ead_collection:sova-nasm-xxxx-0558

Medium:

paper; ink; adhesive

Dimensions:

8.9 x 16.5 cm (3.5 x 6.5 in.)

Type:

Covers & Associated Letters

Place of Destination:

Illinois

Place of Origin:

Illinois

Date:

February 23, 1943

Topic:

World War II (1939-1945)  Search this

Covers & Letters  Search this

Object number:

2002.2035.292

See more items in:

National Postal Museum Collection

Data Source:

National Postal Museum

GUID:

http://n2t.net/ark:/65665/hm8d5b940a3-4101-4c44-bc00-166c8616a5d4

EDAN-URL:

edanmdm:npm_2002.2035.292

Issuing body:

Japan. Navy. Naval Air Unit  Search this

United States. Army Air Forces. Air Materiel Command. Air Documents Division (T-2)  Search this

Translator:

Taketa, Kazuto, Cpl.  Search this

Extent:

10 Frames

Container:

Reel 1, Item 28

Type:

Archival materials

Microform

Frames

Date:

December 14, 1945

Scope and Contents:

AAF ATSC Air Documents Division (T-2) translation, December 14, 1945. Translated by Cpl. Kazuto Taketa from correspondence of (Japanese) Aircraft Technical Building #2, Naval Air Unit, October 31, 1945.

Collection Restrictions:

No restrictions on access

Collection Rights:

Material is subject to Smithsonian Terms of Use. Should you wish to use NASM material in any medium, please submit an Application for Permission to Reproduce NASM Material, available at Permissions Requests

Collection Citation:

Captured German Aeronautical Documents (CGD) Microfilm, Acc. XXXX.0408, National Air and Space Museum, Smithsonian Institution.

See more items in:

Captured German Aeronautical Documents (CGD) Microfilm

Archival Repository:

National Air and Space Museum Archives

GUID:

https://n2t.net/ark:/65665/pg2be04bfbc-dc2c-4e0e-aad6-4dbc1768b5a3

EDAN-URL:

ead_component:sova-nasm-xxxx-0408-ref536