Did today's U.S. Air Force forget to buy film for their camera?

During World War II, the Japanese launched 9,300 incendiary and explosive balloons, 300 were discovered in 18 states, Canada, and Mexico. The then US Office of Censorship requested no publicity so as not to alert the Japanese. On May 5, 1945, six civilians were killed by an explosive balloon near Bly, Oregon, becoming the only fatalities from Axis action in the continental U.S. during the war. Aerial photographs of the balloons were taken, 20 were shot down by propeller planes.

Today, military orders using devices of high explosives have obliterated all four objects. Why didn't the Air Force photo any of the objects prior to destruction so pictures could be published in The Day? Why didn't they puncture the balloons with gunfire that would cause them to settle with cargo intact to awaiting ground personnel? It is difficult to find broken parts falling from thousands of feet after an explosion has sent pieces far and wide! It seems we are flexing our strength while overlooking the need to see what these things seem to be!

William Bucko

Uncasville