LEAFLET DROP BOMB

ca. 1944

1997.02.01

James Buckley's (1920—2001) experience as a tinner for the Anaconda Mining Company served him well when, during World War II, the Psychological Warfare Service decided to develop an aerial "bomb" to distribute leaflets intended to encourage enemy soldiers to surrender. After failing at first, the young Montanan was able to cobble together what became known as the "Buckley bomb" by modifying a four-foot-long gas tank from a British Spitfire fighter plane. According to Buckley, the success of the device - which distributed 30,000 leaflets over a fifteen-mile radius - was its simplicity. When he was discharged from the service, Buckley returned to Montana bringing with him this model made of cracker tins. On May 11, 1946, in a ceremony in Butte, the innovative designer was awarded a Bronze Star for being "responsible for the surrendering of thousands of enemy troops thereby saving the lives of our own troops."