Rats with Wings and Explosive Things

What’s the best way to win a world war? Strap a napalm bomb on a bat and see what kind of damage it can do! In this episode of Historically Accurate, host Dawn-Michelle and actor and co-host John Rearick dive into two little known projects of World War II: bat bombers and pigeon-guided missiles. World War II was the era of the atom bomb. But before that, FDR signed off on a few less conventional wartime projects. Without reliable electronic guides for missiles, military scientists were looking for a way to get missiles to hit targets in Germany and Japan. The best candidates for the job? Mexican free-tailed bats and the common pigeon. Tune in to learn about the nuances of pigeon missile retargeting, why the military put bats in ice cube trays, the day bat bombs accidentally wiped out a base in New Mexico, and so much more. Sources: 08 Apr 2011 | Posted by Video Blogger. “The Pidgeon-Guided Missile.” Military.com, www.military.com/video/operations-and-strategy/second-world-war/project-orcon-pidgeon-guided-missile/897399315001. “B.F. Skinner.” Encyclopædia Britannica, Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc., www.britannica.com/biography/B-F-Skinner. “B.F. Skinner's Nose Cone of a Pigeon-Guided Missile.” National Museum of American History, americanhistory.si.edu/collections/search/object/nmah_690069. Lewis, Danny. “Bats and Balloon Bombs: The Weird Weapons That Could Have Won WWII.” Smithsonian.com, Smithsonian Institution, 10 Aug. 2015, www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/bats-balloon-bombs-world-war-ii-180956203/. Ripley's Believe It or Not!, et al. “Bat Bombs Were In Competition With the Atom Bomb.” Ripley's Believe It or Not!, 19 Feb. 2020, www.ripleys.com/weird-news/bat-bombs/. Stromberg, Joseph. “B.F. Skinner's Pigeon-Guided Rocket.” Smithsonian.com, Smithsonian Institution, 18 Aug. 2011, www.smithsonianmag.com/smithsonian-institution/bf-skinners-pigeon-guided-rocket-53443995/. Quotes: “At no point did anyone question the morality or the ecological consequences of sacrificing a few million bats.” (13:21-13:28) Links: Instagram: @john_rearick Support this show thru Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/TheHApodcast Check us out on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/hapodcast/ Theme Song Composed by: Daniel Dorty Lyricist and Vocalist: Sushma Saha Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sushmasahahaha/ Podcast production and show notes provided by FIRESIDE Marketing