Butterfly bomb help required

Ah the notorious “Green Parrot” much beloved of Taceval organisers.

What was it? Took 10 mins to arm? So when a injection was put out saying dropped in front of HAS, Distaff were stunned to see a guy on the little road sweeper we had sweep the apron and taxiway then dump it on the grass all with the ten mins period 🙂

One of the several types of container produced to hold German B1 incendiary bombs.

these were the modern Ruskie version we played with in the 80’s

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Ah the notorious “Green Parrot” much beloved of Taceval organisers.

This is a Abwurfbehalter AB-36 which contained 36 1kg Incendiary bombs. Looks like only half of it??

I am pretty sure it used to be called a 3 1/2 inch floppy, but no one uses such things these days :highly_amused:

seriously though, when you flip it does it look like this?

http://www.iwm.org.uk/collections/item/object/30023916

says butterfly items cannot be defused, see

http://inert-ord.net/usa03a/usa6/bfly/index.html

..

A large hammer usually works first time…:diablo:

But don’t forget to close your eyes and put your spare finger in one of your ears, they can be noisy blighters:D

these were the modern Ruskie version we played with in the 80’s

[ATTACH]151757[/ATTACH]

This is the item I need to identify. Its only a thought that it might be a butterfly bomb container, but whatever it is it screams air dropped dispensing container, but what and whose is it?

I have manual for SD-2 (B-bomb) dispensers, and that does not look like it.

Tangmere, thanks for that, I’m sure the currator at Middle Wallop will be delighted when I tell her. I did have a suspicion that it was an aerodynamic nose for something as blunt nosed as a mine but needed someone who knew to confirm it.

Bomb defusing..

A large hammer usually works first time…:diablo:

Here is another whatisit from the bowles of the Museum at Middle Wallop.
Is ir a spinner, It can’t be a radome as its all aluminium, this time there is a serial number 559 41 1d 139B and then something that looks like an angel or a stylised eagle. [ATTACH]151773[/ATTACH]

[ATTACH]151774[/ATTACH]

These quite often turn up and are mistaken for some kind of prop spinner cone. In fact, the parachute housing dome of a Luftwaffe “Luftmine” or parachute mine – probably a LMA or LMB rather than the “Monika” sea mine or BM1000. This one was manufactured in 1941 and was probably one of many dropped in the Blitz. Andy Saunders

Prince Charles had one on his mantlepiece at Highgrove House years ago. That too was live and had to be ‘rendered safe by detonation’. I am also under the impression that there was no way to safely defuse the sods.

I used to have a “mint” example given me by an ex-bomb disposal man and I know of several other inert examples in private hands. I think the EOD policy is to assume they are live and blow them up whatever the circumstances! Andy Saunders

Prince Charles had one on his mantlepiece at Highgrove House years ago. That too was live and had to be ‘rendered safe by detonation’. I am also under the impression that there was no way to safely defuse the sods.

They could not be defused because on the way down after being ejected from the container, the outer casing formed a fan which rotated and unscrewed the fuse. Depending on how far the fuse was unscrewed was the sensitivty. Theonly way of disposing of them was to cover them gently with sandbags, drop in (carefully) a wad of gun cotton with a 30 second fuse) light blue touch paper and retire imediately!!!

So if someone had one in their collection, it should be considered “live”?

http://www.millsgrenades.co.uk/images/german%20bombs/sd2a.JPG

Butterfly bombs

They could not be defused because on the way down after being ejected from the container, the outer casing formed a fan which rotated and unscrewed the fuse. Depending on how far the fuse was unscrewed was the sensitivty. Theonly way of disposing of them was to cover them gently with sandbags, drop in (carefully) a wad of gun cotton with a 30 second fuse) light blue touch paper and retire imediately!!!

Is this the beastie?
http://www.millsgrenades.co.uk/images/german%20bombs/sd2a.JPG

Not sure but I was always told that these bombs were impossible to defuse – which makes me wonder if this one is still live?

Not a SD 2 container but possibility part of a 1kg incendiary container. Looks very similar to the AB36 container the Luftwaffe used for carrying 36 1kg or 24 2kg incendiaries. The only thing is that it looks like it’s made of aluminium while the info I’ve got (a 1944 US Navy Bomb Disposal Manual) says the AB36 should be steel and the illustrations doesn’t show any fins.

Anne

Here is another whatisit from the bowles of the Museum at Middle Wallop.
Is ir a spinner, It can’t be a radome as its all aluminium, this time there is a serial number 559 41 1d 139B and then something that looks like an angel or a stylised eagle. [ATTACH]151773[/ATTACH]

[ATTACH]151774[/ATTACH]

[ATTACH]151757[/ATTACH]

This is the item I need to identify. Its only a thought that it might be a butterfly bomb container, but whatever it is it screams air dropped dispensing container, but what and whose is it?

Butterfly Bomb containers.

When Grimsby was showered with these bombs in 1942 I was only twelve, but I remember seeing containers littered around the town and they seemed to be cylindrical, five feet long and about three feet in diameter. They appeared to be spring loaded to open on leaving the aircraft scattering the bombs willy nilly.

Ken

Is this the beastie?
http://www.millsgrenades.co.uk/images/german%20bombs/sd2a.JPG