"Fold up bomber"???

[TacitBlue]

something else weird from the japanese: they launched timed balloon bombs toward the US, and a few of them actually made it here. Not very effective though,I think only 2 civilians were killed by these balloons. This was only declassified a few years ago (I think).

[Craig.]

Eesh, imagine that, waking up to a burning bat in your bed!

Wouldn't some rednecks consider that a good breakfast?

[beaky]

something else weird from the japanese: they launched timed balloon bombs toward the US, and a few of them actually made it here. Not very effective though,I think only 2 civilians were killed by these balloons. This was only declassified a few years ago (I think).

Yes, I've heard of that. One came down in Wash. state, I believe, near a picknicking family. They went to investigate, and it went off just as they got close enough. I think they had altimeter fuses...

[Hagar]

Those sort of things are fine unless the wind changes. I've read about mustard gas during WWI blowing back over the trenches of the side using it. What you might call an own goal.
The weather is unpredictable at the best of times &, even now, weather forecasting is an inexact science. I wouldn't rely on it.

While on the subject of animals being used in wartime, RAF bombers carried a pigeon as standard equipment during WWII operations. The idea was if the bomber crash-landed somewhere the crew could release the pigeon with a brief message giving their whereabouts. I'm not sure if this was ever used in anger or succeeded if it was. The pigeon loft at Bletchley Park (the famous Station X decoding centre) which was once used for receiving messages & microfilm from agents in occupied Europe is still there today.

[Woodlouse2002]

You must also remember that the Russians trained dogs to look for food under tanks. They then took the dogs onto the battlefield with mines strapped to their backs. Unfortunately the dogs had been trained using Russian tanks... Ooops.

Ain't poetic justice wonderful.

[beaky]

You must also remember that the Russians trained dogs to look for food under tanks. They then took the dogs onto the battlefield with mines strapped to their backs. Unfortunately the dogs had been trained using Russian tanks... Ooops.

Ain't poetic justice wonderful.

Brings a tear to my eye... beautiful. Kinda feel sorry for the tank crews (not their idea, I'm sure), but that is justice indeed. Given a chance, dogs have shown heroism and great effectiveness in war as recon scouts, guards,  search and rescue team members,  even footsoldiers-  wrong to use them merely as weapons.

[Saratoga]

Sadly rotty, the goal seems to be how much can we use for weapons?