50KG bomb discovered at RAF St Eval

Hmm, yes Resmoroh, I saw that too but thought I wouldn’t comment:highly_amused:

However, what’s an anti with drawl device? Does it emanate from the southern US?:D

Anon.

Possibly even “their” beams, etc.
Resmoroh

hi,
or perhaps they had intelligence that a new sq.of Spitfires were based at Perranporth,but there beams got crossed,and hit the wrong airfield…
regards
jack…

wouldn’t mind a piece of the shrapnel if anyone finds a bit

plt

Yes I see what you mean now looking at the FB Clip again. Thanks for explaining Andy. Most appreciated. :eagerness:

Bomgone

What you were looking at was the corroded remnants of the mag-alloy one piece fins that some 50kg bombs had. From memory, the SD-50 Splitterbombe. You are thus looking inside the hollow fin area. The bomb, forward of that, appears intact along with its filling and fuse pocket.

I think the ‘tasking’ of EOD has changed in recent years, Bomberboy. It used to be RN for anything below HWM, RE for anything on land but with the exception of RAF EOD who dealt with anything related to an aircraft. I am not sure, though, what the future is for RAF EOD.

When they showed the bomb before detonation the casing appeared broken meaning most of the explosive material had gone. Seemed to be a big bang for what appeared to be an empty casing. Also it did appear to be in remarkable condition. The bomb fuse was also described as in good condition. I supposed it depended on how much plastic explosive was used. Any thoughts guys?

Watching the news report it shows the crater left by the disposed bomb and the damage it caused to the plastic water pipe.
Whoever laid the original pipe was lucky not to set it off!

Nice one, I wish my dad was still around, being a St Eval RAF wartime postee, he would have been amused by this.
One thing I do not recall seeing mentioned is that quite a few station personnel were killed by the Luftwaffe during raids at St Eval and so fortunately this is one bomb that thankfully did not claim even more.
A few of the victims are laid to rest in the peaceful St Eval church, as were I understand some Luftwaffe aircrew who were later re-interred elsewhere at a later date?

One thing that is puzzling me though. I was always under the impression that if a bomb was discovered at sea, the Royal Navy disposed of it, If a bomb was discovered on land, like this one was, then the Army disposed of it, but if it was ordnance discovered in an aircrafy wreck on land the the RAF disposed of it?
If this is true, then how come the navy disposed of this one and not the army, or did pure location and logistics apply in this case?

I amazed that these things are not popping off all over the place with the amount of ordnance dropped here and in Europe.

They are…

No doubt the reason it’s taken 70 years to shift is that someone was going to move it “dreckly”!

:D:D:D

Latest from Cornwall, bomb goes boom!

https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?v=563764460355723

St Eval Kart Circuit?

Good way to make sure the drivers dont wander off track.

“Ehy, don go drvin off trak now!”

No doubt the reason it’s taken 70 years to shift is that someone was going to move it “dreckly”!

Adrian

Reason for delay in disposal? “Ere Fred baby needs new shoes how about a bit of overtime?”

Apparently, the raids got so bad that the aircrew literally fled the station and sheltered in the nearby woods! This was told to me by a former pilot who was there. Flying ops on Blenheims and Beauforts was dangerous enough without being bombed as well …

On 26 August 1940 at RAF St Eval (No 15 Group) it is recorded that:

“Enemy aircraft set fire to false flare-path and put bombs on it until the early hours of the morning. Sixty two craters were made, but damage was mostly on the heath.”

Was this find ‘on the heath’…?

There were other raids:

12 July 1940 During the afternoon a single Ju 88 dropped eight bombs, causing minor damage. It was chased off by two Spitfires.
21 August 1940 Three Ju 88s bombed bombed St Eval, causing damage to two hangars and destroying three Blenheims.
22 August 1940 14 high explosive bombs and 200 incendiaries were dropped without causing much damage.
23 August 1940 A direct hit on a pyrotechnics store caused a large explosion.
26 August 1940 St Eval was bombed at 2130 and 2158 hours.
30 September 1940 At about 2300 hours, five high explosive bombs were dropped, two landing on the aerodrome and three outside. No damage was reported.
3 October 1940 St Eval was attacked between 0655 and 0710 hours. Two Spitfires and one Avro Anson were completely destroyed, two hangars were also hit.
14 October 1940 At 2111 hours, six high explosive bombs and 20 incendiaries were dropped on the Station.

I think 50kg bombs were mainly dropped on the 26 August, but the 30 September attack is interesting with two on the aerodrome and three outside. The odd number might indicate a ‘missing’ UXB? (Unless delivered by a He 115 which had capacity for five x 250kg bombs. Other types had ‘even’ number bomb loads.)

So how viable are these old wartime bombs.
Presumably any energy in the fuse would have discharged long ago or is there potential that they could just go off?
I amazed that these things are not popping off all over the place with the amount of ordnance dropped here and in Europe.
Especially the chemical fused ones.

Get some pikies to take it away and we will soon see if you are right. Two problems solved with one bang!:D

WOW! WW2 UXB. Sounds exciting. I recon with a type 17 delayed action fuse and a Zus 40 Anti with drawl device. 😮