World War 2: American Army Oddest Things

 

Inflatable Tank

Here are some of the oddest aspects of the U.S. Army in World War II.

The Ghost Army: Masters of Deception

The 23rd Headquarters Special Troops ("Ghost Army") was a secret unit of about 1,100 artists, designers, engineers, and soldiers. They used inflatable rubber tanks, fake radio traffic, sound trucks playing battle noises, and phony headquarters to simulate entire divisions (up to 30,000 men). They conducted over 20 deceptions in Europe, saving thousands of lives by misleading Germans.

Bat Bombs (Project X-Ray)

A dentist proposed attaching tiny incendiary bombs to Mexican free-tailed bats. The plan: drop thousands in canisters over Japan; bats would roost in buildings and start fires. Tested successfully (even accidentally burning a U.S. base), it cost $2 million but was canceled before being used against Japan.

Ice Cream Obsession as "Fighting Food"

Ice cream was deemed essential for morale. The U.S. shipped millions of pounds of dehydrated mix; the Navy built a $1 million concrete floating ice cream barge producing 500+ gallons daily in the Pacific. Army units set up mini-factories near front lines.

Rapid Expansion from Tiny Force

In 1939, the U.S. Army ranked 17th globally (behind Romania) with ~190,000 men and outdated gear. By 1945, it grew to 8.3 million.

A Rifleman in Normandy

Nuclear War 1962 (Alternate History)