British Balloon Bombs in the Balkans, Summer 1943?

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Old MacDonald

Airman
60
10
Mar 27, 2018
I've seen several German reports of balloon bombs being found on the ground, unexploded, in Yugoslavia, Romania, and Bulgaria during May, June, July, August, and September 1943. Every report states the balloon and explosives package were unmarked and the Germans did not know their source or intent. It's possible the balloons were found before and/or after that period, but I've not checked those records.

Very roughly speaking, it appears possible these balloon bombs might have been intended for Danube mining or river ship/installations destruction, although some balloon bombs were found as far east as the coasts of Romania and Bulgaria (the Danube also flowed through these areas so the Danube "target" idea may still be valid).

Koch, in his German-language book Flak, states these were RAF bombs, but provides no references or details other than claiming the British sent "balloon bombs." I wonder whether these could have come from Soviet sources, either launched from the Soviet Union or possibly by Soviet-supported partizan groups in Yugoslavia or elsewhere in the Balkans. I believe the generally prevailing winds in that area of the world are SW to NE or W to E, but of course wind direction varies considerably based on various conditions. This might argue for a central Balkans launch point. I can't imagine the balloons surviving launch from aircraft, although the SOE was flying regular supply missions into the general area.

Do you know anything about these balloon bombs? Who sent them? From what launch locations? What was the target or target category? Technical details?

TIA

Ol' Mac
 
THAT is fascinating--I've never heard of this program before, either. The purpose of the balloon bombs described at the link is consistent with the fact that Hungary, Romania, and to a lesser extent Bulgaria provided considerable foodstuffs and other field/forest products to the Reich. Causing random fires at extremely low costs was probably an idea the Brits jumped on, particularly SOE (speculation, of course).

The German reports do not give enough information to confirm whether the bombs described at the link are the same, but who else would have been doing this? The Soviets? I think the prevailing winds would have precluded launches from Soviet territory.

Still hoping somebody can provide info on whether these were in fact the same type balloons as in the linked article, and who launched them (the Royal Navy seems unlikely), and from where.
 
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