Glimpses of Canadian History, one vibrant moment at a time
  • Home
  • Admin
  • About me

Dr. Gerald Bull and Project Babylon

  • By Susanna McLeod
  • Mar-1-2013
  • Fascinating Canadian History
  • Comments Off on Dr. Gerald Bull and Project Babylon

Dr. Gerald Bull spent his life researching, reinventing and creating new methods of missile launching. His munitions science eventually lead to his murder.

Dr. bull in 1965, Head of HARP - World.std.com

Gerald Vincent Bull was born in the small town of North Bay, Ontario on March 8, 1928. He was raised by an aunt when his mother died and his father abandoned the family. Gerald must have been a brilliant youngster – he entered the University of Toronto’s science program when he was just 16.

By age 22, Gerald had earned a PhD from the University of Toronto. In 1951, he was the youngest Canadian to have earned a doctorate. He “wasn’t the most brilliant student in his class,” said Frontline on PBS.org in 1991 “He was more of a hands-on engineer than a theoretical scientist, but he did command attention and he had enormous tenacity,”. Dr. Bull was an expert engineer in the aero-physics fields, specializing in ballistics and aerodynamics.

CARDE hired Dr. Bull to solve aerodynamic aircraft and missile problems

Dr. Bull found employment with the Canadian Armament and Research Development Establishment (CARDE), a centre for weapons research. The focus of their work, said J. Redford in 1992 on World.Std.com, was “the problems of supersonic aerodynamics in preparation for supersonic aircraft and missiles.” At CARDE, Dr. Bull suggested that the traditional method of wind tunnels for testing would be much too expensive, and that launching the missiles from a gun would be better. Devising large guns, and using simple devices, he was able to measure the aerodynamic properties.

Though Dr. Bull’s work was a success, the project was cancelled. By this time, Dr. Bull was head of the CARDE aerophysics program. His people-skills were not smooth; he was found to be brooding and disagreeable, and not in favour of the required bureaucracy. Two years later, he left the government program. Another project came Dr. Bull’s way through McGill University, a professorship in charge of HARP, the High Altitude Research Program.

HARP was jointly funded in 1961 by the Canadian Government and the United States Army to study high altitude ballistics and large guns – really large guns. The goal was to get projectiles into orbit, extending range length and improving artillery. Dr. Bull used his own ranges on the Quebec/Vermont border and in Barbados to test guns with barrels from 20 metres to to 36 metres in length. The projectiles managed to attain altitudes of 180 kilometres to 360 kilometres into space. Again, the project was cancelled. At the same time, he was an independent consultant with armies around the world.

Political changes meant trouble for Dr. Bull

South Africa was one of Dr. Bull’s customers, purchasing weapons, including newly-designed 155mm long-range Howitzers, and tens of thousands of shells, noted Biography Base. South Africa used the weapons to squash Angola’s attempts at separation. Though the United States was aware of his activities (he became an American citizen in 1973), when the Carter government was elected Dr. Bull was arrested for illegal arms dealing. In 1980, he pled guilty and spent 6 months in prison. On release, he was further punished with fines by the Canadian government.

Disgusted with Canada and the United States, Dr. Bull moved to Switzerland, working with any country that needed his services. He was hired by Iraq to build a supergun that would give them superiority over their neighbour, Iran. He convinced the Iraqi government that a colossal cannon that could launch satellites into orbit would be of great use to them. They agreed and named the task Project Babylon. The design included a barrel 150 metres long with a one-metre diameter. It definitely was not portable.

Also unfriendly with Iraq, Israel was informed of Project Babylon. The country objected, demanding Dr. Bull cease his efforts. (Iraq had also hired him to improve their SCUD missile system.) Dr. Bull did not listen. His apartment in Brussels was broken into several times. Someone was warning him of danger.

Dr. Bull was murdered

On March 22, 1990, Dr. Bull was assassinated outside his apartment by five bullets to the back of his head. The murderer remains unknown. Project Babylon and the supergun program disintegrated. Though he had factories creating the huge cannon parts and a team of scientists working for him, he kept the essential information in his own head. Dr. Bull’s body was returned to his homeland and buried in St. Bruno, Quebec.

The family life of Dr. Gerald Bull was not empty. He married Noemie Gilbert in 1954. The Bull family grew to seven children, some of whom followed their father’s footsteps and became scientists. Dr. Bull was not a war monger. He did not participate in wars. His concentration was the science and the challenge of accomplishing what had not been done before.

More indepth information about the fascinating Dr. Bull and his projects at CBC TV.

This article first appeared on Suite101.com in 2007.  Copyright Susanna McLeod

Comments

← Previous Post Next Post →

Categories

  • Fascinating Canadian History
  • Those Canadian Women, they got this

Search:

Archives

  • November 2023
  • October 2023
  • September 2023
  • August 2023
  • July 2023
  • June 2023
  • May 2023
  • April 2023
  • March 2023
  • February 2023
  • January 2023
  • December 2022
  • November 2022
  • October 2022
  • September 2022
  • August 2022
  • July 2022
  • June 2022
  • May 2022
  • April 2022
  • March 2022
  • February 2022
  • January 2022
  • December 2021
  • November 2021
  • October 2021
  • September 2021
  • August 2021
  • July 2021
  • June 2021
  • May 2021
  • April 2021
  • February 2021
  • January 2021
  • December 2020
  • November 2020
  • October 2020
  • September 2020
  • August 2020
  • July 2020
  • June 2020
  • May 2020
  • April 2020
  • March 2020
  • February 2020
  • January 2020
  • December 2019
  • November 2019
  • October 2019
  • September 2019
  • August 2019
  • July 2019
  • June 2019
  • May 2019
  • April 2019
  • March 2019
  • February 2019
  • January 2019
  • December 2018
  • November 2018
  • September 2018
  • August 2018
  • July 2018
  • June 2018
  • April 2018
  • March 2018
  • February 2018
  • January 2018
  • November 2017
  • April 2017
  • February 2017
  • November 2016
  • September 2016
  • August 2016
  • May 2016
  • April 2016
  • March 2016
  • February 2016
  • August 2015
  • July 2015
  • June 2015
  • May 2015
  • April 2015
  • March 2015
  • February 2015
  • January 2015
  • December 2014
  • November 2014
  • September 2014
  • August 2014
  • July 2014
  • May 2014
  • April 2014
  • March 2014
  • February 2014
  • January 2014
  • December 2013
  • November 2013
  • October 2013
  • September 2013
  • August 2013
  • July 2013
  • June 2013
  • May 2013
  • April 2013
  • March 2013
  • February 2013
  • January 2013
  • December 2012
  • November 2012
  • October 2012
  • September 2012
  • August 2012
  • July 2012
  • June 2012
  • May 2012
  • March 2012
  • February 2012
About This Site

A cras tincidunt, ut tellus et. Gravida scel ipsum sed iaculis, nunc non nam. Placerat sed phase llus, purus purus elit.

Archives Widget
  • January 2010
  • December 2009
  • November 2009
  • October 2009
Categories
  • Entertainment
  • Technology
  • Sports & Recreation
  • Jobs & Lifestyle
Search

Powered by WordPress  |  Business Directory by InkThemes.