# History Dopers--Operation Outward--Historical Book Recommendations? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [October 28, 2021, 10:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/history-dopers-operation-outward-historical-book-recommendations/953372 "2021-10-28T10:36:19Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 8\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Bosda\_Di\_Chi\_of\_Tricor](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bosda_di_chi_of_tricor/32/16845_2.png) [@Bosda\_Di\_Chi\_of\_Tricor](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bosda_Di_Chi_of_Tricor)\ **Post date:** [October 28, 2021, 10:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/history-dopers-operation-outward-historical-book-recommendations/953372/1 "2021-10-28T10:36:19Z")
I’ve developed an interest in the offensive use of Balloons in World War Two. I know about Japans Fu-Go Incendiary Bomb program. But now, I’ve learned about **Operation Outward** , the UK’s similar operation against Germany. Link below. [Operation Outward On Wiki](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Operation_Outward) I checked the Wiki reference section, but there are no books listened that deal specifically with Operation Outward, & the few that reference it are pricey. _I would like a titled that deals with this, specifically._ **Any books on the topic you know of, History Dopers?** ---
**Author:** ![bob\_2](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bob_2/32/3341_2.png) [@bob\_2](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bob_2)\ **Post date:** [October 28, 2021, 11:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/history-dopers-operation-outward-historical-book-recommendations/953372/2 "2021-10-28T11:18:32Z")
> [@Bosda\_Di\_Chi\_of\_Tricor](#): > > **Operation Outward** , I don’t know about books, but this looks pretty comprehensive: [https://magazine.ieee-pes.org/september-october-2011/operation-outward/](https://magazine.ieee-pes.org/september-october-2011/operation-outward/) There is a bibliography at the end. ---
**Author:** ![Bosda\_Di\_Chi\_of\_Tricor](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bosda_di_chi_of_tricor/32/16845_2.png) [@Bosda\_Di\_Chi\_of\_Tricor](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bosda_Di_Chi_of_Tricor)\ **Post date:** [October 28, 2021, 12:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/history-dopers-operation-outward-historical-book-recommendations/953372/3 "2021-10-28T12:06:53Z")
Thank you! It helps. Any other Dopers with input? ---
**Author:** ![PastTense](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pasttense/32/14550_2.png) [@PastTense](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PastTense)\ **Post date:** [October 28, 2021, 2:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/history-dopers-operation-outward-historical-book-recommendations/953372/4 "2021-10-28T14:40:23Z")
A brief video at: [![](https://img.youtube.com/vi/ZnSNddPJG6A/maxresdefault.jpg "Operation Outward: Britain's WWII Balloon Attacks Against Nazi Germany") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZnSNddPJG6A) Note it says the Women’s Royal Naval Service was chiefly responsible for launching the balloons: > **[Women's Royal Naval Service](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Women's_Royal_Naval_Service)** > > The Women's Royal Naval Service (WRNS; popularly and officially known as the Wrens) was the women's branch of the United Kingdom's Royal Navy. First formed in 1917 for the First World War, it was disbanded in 1919, then revived in 1939 at the beginning of the Second World War, remaining active until integrated into the Royal Navy in 1993. WRNS included cooks, clerks, wireless telegraphists, radar plotters, weapons analysts, range assessors, electricians and air mechanics. > The Wrens were formed... So you might see if you can find a comprehensive history of the WRNS in World War II and see what it says. ---
**Author:** ![PastTense](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pasttense/32/14550_2.png) [@PastTense](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PastTense)\ **Post date:** [October 28, 2021, 3:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/history-dopers-operation-outward-historical-book-recommendations/953372/5 "2021-10-28T15:05:00Z")
Another video at: [![](https://img.youtube.com/vi/WZuwbOtIx-w/maxresdefault.jpg "Operation Outward") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WZuwbOtIx-w) ---
**Author:** ![Bosda\_Di\_Chi\_of\_Tricor](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bosda_di_chi_of_tricor/32/16845_2.png) [@Bosda\_Di\_Chi\_of\_Tricor](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bosda_Di_Chi_of_Tricor)\ **Post date:** [October 28, 2021, 9:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/history-dopers-operation-outward-historical-book-recommendations/953372/6 "2021-10-28T21:16:48Z")
This book may be a winner > **[Balloons at War: Gasbags, Flying Bombs and Cold War Secrets (Revealing History)...](https://www.amazon.co.uk/Balloons-War-Gasbags-Revealing-Paperback/dp/0752429957)** > > Buy Balloons at War: Gasbags, Flying Bombs and Cold War Secrets (Revealing History) (Revealing History (Paperback)) Illustrated by John Christopher (ISBN: 9780752429953) from Amazon's Book Store. Everyday low prices and free delivery on eligible... ---
**Author:** ![Bosda\_Di\_Chi\_of\_Tricor](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bosda_di_chi_of_tricor/32/16845_2.png) [@Bosda\_Di\_Chi\_of\_Tricor](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bosda_Di_Chi_of_Tricor)\ **Post date:** [October 28, 2021, 9:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/history-dopers-operation-outward-historical-book-recommendations/953372/7 "2021-10-28T21:26:39Z")
Good videos, too. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Bosda\_Di\_Chi\_of\_Tricor](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bosda_di_chi_of_tricor/32/16845_2.png) [@Bosda\_Di\_Chi\_of\_Tricor](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bosda_Di_Chi_of_Tricor)\ **Post date:** [October 30, 2021, 2:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/history-dopers-operation-outward-historical-book-recommendations/953372/8 "2021-10-30T14:19:17Z")
Anybody else?