15. Testing For Project X-Ray
The bat collecting expedition’s studies and observations confirmed Dr. Adams’ hunch that the Mexican Free-Tailed Bat was the best candidate for the project. So Adams’ team netted hundreds of Free-tails, placed them in refrigerated trucks to induce hibernation, and sent them to Washington for further research.
There, Adams conducted an experiment in front of military brass using some Free-tails and dummy bombs. The results impressed his audience, and convinced them that the plan, which was designated Project X-Ray, warranted serious research. The US Army Air Force was put in charge of the project, whose subject matter was described as a “Test of Methods of Scattering Incendiaries“. Testing and research was ordered, so as to “[d]etermine the feasibility of using bats to carry small incendiary bombs into enemy targets“.