Risk Assessment

The Fauld Explosion

If you are ever in the Burton-on-Trent area a diversion to visit the Fauld Crater is worthwhile. Over 60 years on there is quite a lot of vegetation encroaching now so the crater is not as dramatic as it once must have been. However you can still make your way to the edge (signposted from the village) and stand there observing a hole of “nuclear” proportions. Sobering thought is that it appeared all of a sudden one November morning!. The pub in the village has a good display of contemporary photos as well as a fine pint.

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I recall a time when RAF stores chappies used to roll full cylinders of breathing air off the back of trucks until one day a cylinder hit the ground at an angle…….the valve was badly damaged and the air came rushing out. It took off across the sports pitch like a rocket. Luckily it was not a Wednesday, no one hurt.
We treated full diving air cylinders with as much care as you might give to a live bomb.

As demonstrated in Jaws…..

The Fauld Explosion

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Have heard of this before but not seen this excellent website – many thanks – I must admit i seem to remember reading that the cause of the explosion was (according to a rare survivor) one worker thumping out a fin or fuse with a hammer – am pretty sure the witness was on his way out when he saw this guy doing it and told the tale after the explosion.

(Think Hemel Hempstead?!)

TT

I recall a time when RAF stores chappies used to roll full cylinders of breathing air off the back of trucks until one day a cylinder hit the ground at an angle…….the valve was badly damaged and the air came rushing out. It took off across the sports pitch like a rocket. Luckily it was not a Wednesday, no one hurt.
We treated full diving air cylinders with as much care as you might give to a live bomb.

The Fauld Explosion

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Christ! 😮

This may be of interest

The Fauld Explosion

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Munitions always reminds me of the old Bob Newhart bomb disposal sketch.

“Now one wire is kind of a bluish grey, the other is a kind of greyish blue….”

High explosive, as used in WW2, is only really dangerous if a) someone shoots it at you or b) it starts sweating (this may be b0ll0cks but I have heard that form several sources)

In 1945, after my dad had come back from Normany, he was on HMS Hawkins and they had a batch of shells that were sweating. These were unloaded onto lighters and dumped in the Forth of Clyde. The unloading was done by US conscipt prisoners, y’know the Dirty Dozen sort.

As they were moving them one started rolling away. Had it gone over the side it would have gone right into the lighter and probably exploded taking several hundred more with it. One prisoner just put his foot in front of it to stop it. Apparently the sound of breaking bone was enough to turn stomachs but he stopped it.

Saved the ship

Was probably given community service instead of what he had before.

Dad has always said that was one of the bravest acts he saw in the whole war.

Have you seen the nails sticking out of those pieces of wood ???
Talk about risky if he stood on one of those ! 😀

Health and Safety would have a field day, no gloves or eye protection!! and as for the risk of sun burn 😮

At last! Coalition forces find a weapon of mass destruction! (And that’ll be the bloke with the pick axe!)

I notice there is no one around helping him!!!!!!!, Would you?.

“Here John, just hold this crate while I take a swing at it with me pick axe mate, just let me get my glasses on……….John?……..John?………….anyone…….!!!!!!!”

Only dangerous if the fuses are in place and that wasn’t done untill the bombs were either attached to underwing stores or just prior to loading into the bomb bay by the armourers.

Brown shorts moment if one started ticking inside the crate!!!

Regards

John.