Inflatable Trickery

I had heard about this, but never knew Firestone was involved
(the war years and how the rubber workers and companies pulled together)

*** IN THE SECOND WORLD WAR THE ALLIES USED INFLATABLE TANKS TO TRICK THE NAZIS

During the Second World War the allies used various tricks and deceptions to fool the Nazi’s. One of these deceptions was quite elaborate and involved inflatable tanks, sound trucks and fake radio transmissions. This was known as the Ghost Army.

The purpose of the Ghost Army was to deceive and befuddle the Germany army in the weeks leading to the D-Day landings. The unit, known as the 23rd Headquarters Special Troops, put on a travelling road show throughout France.

The unit enticed German Units into battle or deflected them from where larger combat units intended to be. They went into France and used various tactics to confuse the enemy, this included using inflatable rubber tanks which they inflated at night using compressor pumps. The troop would scar the ground making it look like the tread marks of tanks.

The unit used ‘sound trucks’ to broadcast complex sounds of military units to make it sound like there were hundreds of tanks rolling though. They were s able to emulate the impression of a 30,000 strong army while having only 1100 men in the unit. However, these weren’t soldiers. The unit was made up of artists, actors and set designers. They were recruited from art schools, advertising venues are other creative avenues.

To enhance the deception the unit would also use dummy artillery, broadcast fraudulent radio messages and leave empty bivouacs shelters around. Many of these performances even took place within 100 yards of the front lines!

Photo1) - Dummy model of the M-4 tank at Firestone Tire and Rubber Company
Firestone Tire and Rubber Company
World War II
Description
"The sight of this powerful-looking M-4 tank drew frantic enemy fire on the battlefields of World War II. One of the most closely-guarded secrets of the war, this dummy model is only one of many inflated rubber and canvas models made by the Firestone Tire and Rubber Company and employed by our armed forces in illusionary warfare." -- photo caption.(1st AND 2ND photo via the Cleveland Memory Project was taken at Firestone Tire and Rubber Company Akron)

Photo 2) Inflatable dummy of a Bofors
Firestone Tire and Rubber Company Rubber
World War II
Description
"From this point it is quite certain that the Bofors above will never inflict serious damage upon the enemy--but from 1000 feet or more an enemy observer could not spot it as a dummy target. One of the most closely-guarded secrets of the war, this dummy model is only one of many inflated rubber and canvas models made by the Firestone Tire and Rubber Company and employed by our armed forces in illusionary warfare." -- photo caption.(1st AND 2ND photo via the Cleveland Memory Project was taken at Firestone Tire and Rubber Company Akron)

- by Beth Becker