TV crew in Seattle to investigate World War II propaganda leaflet
SEATTLE, On December 13 a crew from the popular PBS summer TV series, “History Detectives,” will visit a Museum of Flight aircraft restoration facility to shoot part of their investigation about propaganda leaflets dropped on Japan by U.S. bombers during World War II. The production will make use of the Museum’s B-29 bomber, the same type used over Japan during the war. At the B-29, “History Detectives” host Wes Cowan will interview Dr. Allison Gillmore, author of the book about psychological warfare against the Japanese Army in the Southwest Pacific, “You Can’t Fight Tanks with Bayonets.”
The Museum’s B-29 is undergoing restoration in Seattle at a Boeing Field facility, and is not open to the public. Media opportunities are possible during the taping of the show.
About this “History Detectives” episode, “The World War II Leaflet”:
Going through her brother’s belongings in El Paso, Texas, a “History Detectives” fan came across a leaflet with Japanese writing and startling war images. A note taped to the box says, “This box contains an original propaganda leaflet dropped on Japan. I know the woman who did most of the artwork and printing for the U.S. propaganda leaflets.” The pictures are provocative: a clenched fist with people struggling inside its grasp, a soldier wielding a dagger against a civilian, planes flying over billows of smoke.
Did the U.S. Military use this leaflet during World War II? Who was the artist? “History Detectives” host Wes Cowan travels to Texas Christian University to consult Professor Emeritus Paul Boller who prepared leaflets dropped over Japan during World War II. In Seattle, Cowen visits The Museum of Flight to get insights from Dr. Allison Gilmore, an expert on the psychological warfare of World War II. Finally he heads to the Henry Art Gallery in Seattle to meet with art historian Michiyo Morioka, who directs Cowen to an illuminating exhibit.
The World War II leaflet story will air with “History Detectives” ninth season during the summer of 2011.
“History Detectives” is a popular PBS series where history investigators crisscross the country, delving into legends, folklore and personal histories to discover potentially extraordinary objects in everyday American homes, cities and small towns. Lion Television and Oregon Public Broadcasting co-produce the series. Find out more about the series at: http://www.pbs.org/opb/historydetectives/
The Museum of Flight is located at 9404 E. Marginal Way S., Seattle, Exit 158 off Interstate 5 on Boeing Field half-way between downtown Seattle and Sea-Tac Airport. The Museum is open daily from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Admission is $15 for adults, $13 for seniors 65 and older, $10 for active military, $8 for youth 5 to 17, and free for children under 5. Group rates are available. Admission on the first Thursday of the month is free from 5 to 9 p.m. courtesy of Wells Fargo. For general Museum information, please call 206-764-5720 or visit
www.museumofflight.org