What was ‘Operation Firefly” that occurred in 1945?

The 555th Parachute Infantry Battalion was activated in December 1943, gaining fame as the only entirely black (African Americans) airborne unit in the U.S. Army history. The 555th was not sent into combat because of racial segregation in the U.S. military during WWII. Instead, in May 1945, the unit was deployed to the West Coast of the U.S. to combat forest fires ignited by Japanese incendiary balloons, a campaign named ‘Operation Firefly’.

During the winter of 1944-45, the Japanese sent 9,300 Fu-Go balloon bombs toward North America. After 3 days each balloon dropped an incendiary bomb. It was believed that 1,000 succeeded in reaching the U.S. with 312 balloon bombs found. Although there were no significant wildfires, small ones developed on the forest floors when the bombs were detonated, having been undisturbed for weeks or months.

Approximately 300 unit members participated in firefighting missions throughout the Pacific Northwest during the summer and fall of 1945, earning the nickname “Smoke Jumpers”. The 555th made a total of 1,200 jumps to 36 fires.

Only one fatality occurred when a Private First Class (PFC) was killed on August 6, 1945, after falling during a let-down from a tree in the Umpqua National Forest near Roseburg, Oregon. His death is the first recorded smokejumper fatality during a fire jump.

Separately, there were Civilian Public Service workers, approximately 240, who worked as smokejumpers during WWII.