When the war came to (Japanese attacked) Dorr, Michigan 1944

[rangerrebew]

When the war came to (Japanese attacked) Dorr

“It will always be remembered as the day the Japanese attacked North Dorr.”

Brent Ashcroft

When the war came to Dorr
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DORR, MICH. - It was spring of 1942. World War II was forging ahead, as Japan continued to seize islands in the south Pacific.

At the time, the United States was reeling along with its allies, Great Britain and France.

“President Franklin Roosevelt decided that America needs a propaganda victory,” said Michael Unsworth, retired MSU history librarian. “He decided on an attack called the Doolittle Raid.”

In April 1942, the United States sent B-25 bombers from aircraft carriers, commanded by General James Doolittle, and bombed Tokyo.

http://www.wzzm13.com/news/local/michigan-life/when-the-war-came-to-dorr-1/410087740

[Wingnut]

I remember reading about the Japs FUGO program.  Never knew one of those suckers made it as far as Michigan!

[TomSea]

Was their every any danger from the explosives on the bomb? Or had they all been dropped?



More history I was not aware of.

[Wingnut]

IIRC...The bombs were to be released at 30-40000 feet.  Most dropped prematurely in the Pacific Ocean before even making it to the coast.   Never heard of one landing still attached to the FUGO Ballon

[Joe Wooten]

One did land with the bombs intact near Bly Oregon.  A church youth group on a picnic found it and 6 were killed when they tried to drag it out of the woods and set off the bombs. Elsie Mitchell, 26, wife of minister Archie E. Mitchell; Edward Engen, 13; Richard Patzke, 14; Jay Gifford, 13; Sherman Shoemaker, 11; and Joan Patzke, 13. Rev. Mitchell heard the explosion and discovered the bodies.

[Wingnut]

One did land with the bombs intact near Bly Oregon.  A church youth group on a picnic found it and 6 were killed when they tried to drag it out of the woods and set off the bombs. Elsie Mitchell, 26, wife of minister Archie E. Mitchell; Edward Engen, 13; Richard Patzke, 14; Jay Gifford, 13; Sherman Shoemaker, 11; and Joan Patzke, 13. Rev. Mitchell heard the explosion and discovered the bodies.

Damn,  I guess one could put the blame on the Government for hiding information on these balloons from the public.

http://www.history.com/news/attack-of-japans-killer-wwii-balloons-70-years-ago

U.S. military censored reports about the Japanese balloon bombs. Although many Bly locals knew the truth, they reluctantly followed military directives and adopted a code of silence about the tragedy as the media reported that the victims died in “an explosion of undetermined origin.” By the end of May 1945, however, the military decided in the interest of public safety to reveal the true cause of the explosion and warn Americans to beware of any strange white balloons they might encounter—information divulged a month too late for the victims in Oregon.

[TomSea]

That's really sad about that church group. It reminds me of landmines, we haven't had to deal with these kinds of things too much.

[Cripplecreek]

Niles Michigan has the nickname of "The city of 4 flags" due to the fact that it was held by 4 different nations at some point. (Spain, France, Britain, and the USA)

[rangerrebew]

Was their every any danger from the explosives on the bomb? Or had they all been dropped?



More history I was not aware of.

On this one there was no longer a bomb attached.  The strings on the balloon indicated there had been a fire which probably caused the bomb to drop prematurely.  Let me tell you what, Dorr is in the middle of nowhere.