Episode 231: Gerald Vincent Bull was a smart cookie from North Bay, Ontario. He graduated from the University of Toronto at 20, got a master’s degree at age 21, and at 22 earned a Ph.D. in aeronautical engineering from the University of Toronto’s newly created Institute of Aerodynamics.
Magazines touted him the ‘boy rocket scientist’. Nations sought him for his innovative ideas regarding long range artillery, ballistics and other military related endeavours. He was charged several times with breaching arms embargoes, even spending time in prison, a sore spot for the proud scientist. Eventually he became involved in Iraq’s ‘Project Babylon’ in which he was asked personally by then Iraqi leader Saddam Hussein to build a Supergun which would launch weapons into space, giving Hussein the capability of bombing targets 1000’s of kilometres away. This obviously worried Iraq’s neighbours in the Middle East.
Before the project was completed Gerald Bull was assassinated, shot five times outside his apartment building in Brussels, Belgium. A lot of nations hated Gerald Bull and some, no doubt, wanted him dead, but it remains a mystery who was behind his killing. It isn’t clear who actually pulled the trigger in the murder of Gerald Bull, most likely it was someone either within, or acting on behalf of, one of those governments who’d felt threatened by Bull’s activities and alliances.
Sources:
Gerald Bull | The Canadian Encyclopedia
The tragic tale of Saddam Hussein’s ‘supergun’ – BBC Future
Superguns 1854–1991 by Steven J. Zaloga, Jim Laurier – Ebook | Scribd
Strange Crime by Editors of Portable Press – Ebook | Scribd
Three in the Back, Two in the Head by Jason Sherman – Ebook | Scribd
Ready the Cannons! by William Gurstelle – Ebook | Scribd
Who Killed Gerald Victor Bull | PDF | Mossad | Central Intelligence Agency
Gerald Bull │ Super Gun │ History Documentary │ YouTube
NYT — Gerald Bull — Wayback Machine
Israel to kill in U.S., allied nations – UPI.com
Doomsday Gun (TV Movie 1994) – IMDb
CBC Archives — Who killed Gerald Bull?
The Man Behind Iraq’s Supergun – The New York Times
Dr. Gerald Bull: Scientist, Weapons Maker, Dreamer – People – CBC Archives
THE GUNS OF SADDAM – The Washington Post
A Brief History of the HARP Project
Gerald Bull, 62, Shot in Belgium; Scientist Who Violated Arms Law – New York Times
Mossad | History & Functions | Britannica
Was Gerald Bull murdered by the Mossad? | CBC.ca
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