Five Attacks on U.S. Soil in World War II-- Part 3

4.  OPERATION PASTORIUS--  Eight male German sabateurs, all naturalized U.S. citizens were to sabotage war industries and use terrorism on U.S. citizens.

In June 1942, U-boats dropped off two four-man groups.  One landed in Amagansett, New York, and the other at Ponte Vedra Beach, Florida.  Each team had $84,000 cash.  One group turned themselves in and the mission failed.

5.  JAPANESE FIRE BALLOONS--  Balloon bombs called "Fugos."  Starting in 1944 there were 9,000 high-altitude balloons launched from Japan.  Each carried 50 pounds of explosives.  They drifted some 5,000 miles to the U.S. mainland, a trip of three days at the high altitudes.

Nearly 350 made it across with several being intercepted and shot down.  Balloons were spotted in 15 states, as far east as Iowa and Michigan.  The only fatalities were from one balloon which exploded in Oregon, killing a pregnant woman and 5 children.  These six are considered the only U.S. mainland fatalities during the war.

And Most Americans Think the U.S. Was Safe During the War.  --GreGen