Ghost Tape
Psychological warfare recordings produced by the United States military during the Vietnam War. Drawing on traditional Vietnamese beliefs about spirits, the audio simulated the wailing of ghosts in order to undermine the morale of enemy soldiers.
Timeline (last 90 days)
The ghost tapes were designed by the U.S. Army's 6th Psychological Operations Battalion and played through speakers hidden in the jungle or loudspeaker equipment mounted on helicopters and boats.
Currently only the tape numbered "Number 10" has been released to the public, hence the name Ghost Tape Number 10.
The core logic of the ghost tapes exploits traditional Vietnamese spirit beliefs: if a person dies suddenly far from home and is not properly buried, the soul wanders forever.
Over Buddhist funeral music and eerie sound effects, the ghost tapes layered processed Vietnamese voices simulating the spirits of dead soldiers begging their comrades to flee or defect.
According to the U.S. Army, a small number of captured soldiers admitted to having heard the ghost tapes and being frightened by them.
Most North Vietnamese soldiers appear to have known the ghost tapes were U.S. military recording devices, and their response was often simply to shoot in the direction of the loudspeakers.
All Facts (6)
The ghost tapes were designed by the U.S. Army's 6th Psychological Operations Battalion and played through speakers hidden in the jungle or loudspeaker equipment mounted on helicopters and boats.
50%UnverifiedCurrently only the tape numbered "Number 10" has been released to the public, hence the name Ghost Tape Number 10.
50%UnverifiedThe core logic of the ghost tapes exploits traditional Vietnamese spirit beliefs: if a person dies suddenly far from home and is not properly buried, the soul wanders forever.
50%UnverifiedOver Buddhist funeral music and eerie sound effects, the ghost tapes layered processed Vietnamese voices simulating the spirits of dead soldiers begging their comrades to flee or defect.
50%UnverifiedAccording to the U.S. Army, a small number of captured soldiers admitted to having heard the ghost tapes and being frightened by them.
50%UnverifiedMost North Vietnamese soldiers appear to have known the ghost tapes were U.S. military recording devices, and their response was often simply to shoot in the direction of the loudspeakers.
50%