Operation Bat Bomb

The Strangest Plan of WWII

De: Calven Hurstin

Narrado por: Matthew R Weeks

World War II was a crucible of invention. Out of that desperate struggle emerged radar, jet engines, mass-produced penicillin, and the atomic bomb. But alongside those triumphs of science came projects so unusual they seem almost unbelievable today. Among the strangest of all was Project X-Ray — America’s audacious plan to turn millions of bats into living incendiary weapons.

Operation Bat Bomb: The Strangest Plan of WWII tells the full, remarkable story of how a Pennsylvania dentist’s brainstorm nearly became a weapon of war. From its bizarre origins in the bat-filled caverns of New Mexico, through classified tests on U.S. air bases, to its final cancellation in the shadow of the Manhattan Project, this book uncovers one of the war’s oddest forgotten episodes.

Listeners will discover:

• The spark of an idea — how Lytle S. Adams, shaken by Pearl Harbor, imagined weaponising bats to ignite Japan’s paper-and-wood cities.
• Recruiting the team — the unlikely mix of scientists, engineers, and even bat guano experts who tried to turn fantasy into reality.
• Catching the little bombers — how thousands of Mexican free-tailed bats were captured, chilled into hibernation, and prepared for arming.

©2025 Deep Vision Media t/a Zentara UK (P)2025 Deep Vision Media t/a Zentara UK

Absurd but Amazingly Real

The idea sounds ridiculous at first, but the author shows why it came close to being used. It’s a fascinating mix of science and strategy.

A Riveting Account of an Odd WWII Project

The author does a great job showing how seriously this unusual plan was taken by the military. The internal debates and testing mishaps are fascinating.

Entertaining and Enlightening

The book is not just fun to read but also provides insight into how military decisions were made in the 1940s. I found it enlightening.

A True Story That Feels Unreal

It’s amazing how far the U.S. military went with this concept. The author shows the testing process and the serious funding behind the project. A must-read for curious minds.

A Hidden Gem of Military History

This book covers a topic that feels almost unbelievable, yet the author presents it with solid evidence and documentation. It’s a gem for anyone who likes unique historical tales.