Unusual bomb

[Micdrow]

Ok, I need some help. I dont know where I saw it but I wished I'd saved it. I think it was in a book but not sure. Its of a bomb made out off a 55 gallon drum with a 500lb bomb tail fin welded to on end of the drum as a stabilizer. Any body know where I can find the picture or post it here. Also any idea on what it was intended for. Im guessing as a sort of napalm bomb.

Many thank in advance.

[A4K]

Sounds like Napalm is the most obvious candidate, unless someone was experimenting with home made jettisonable fuel tanks...??!

[c1951]

Maybe I could shed some light on what you are talking about. There was a bridge used by the Soviets at the end of the war. The Luftwaffe decided to drop a floating bomb in the water from a JU 88? I have seen a picture of it and its like what you describe.
From memory I think a lot of pyrotechnics were roped to it as well. Seemingly the job was a success.

[Micdrow]

Originally Posted by c1951

Maybe I could shed some light on what you are talking about. There was a bridge used by the Soviets at the end of the war. The Luftwaffe decided to drop a floating bomb in the water from a JU 88? I have seen a picture of it and its like what you describe.
From memory I think a lot of pyrotechnics were roped to it as well. Seemingly the job was a success.

Very cool as I still am unable to find the picture I described above. Many thanks in advance.

[Micdrow]

This is simular to what I saw only the one Im looking for uses a 55 gal drum. These are M-69's so Im betting what I saw was a home made napalm bomb.

[GrauGeist]

well hell...it won't let me upload a photo that I have of the 55 gallon drum bomb...

I have the image in a .pdf format, and am having some trouble posting the extracted image. Haven't had a problem before, but after trying to upload the image (in various formats) I give up...lol

Anyway, the image is showing seven of the 55 gallon drum fire bombs being released by US 7th AF just above Airstrip No.2 on Iwo Jima on 1 February 1945. The run was targeting the wooded area near the invasion zone. Heavy strikes of several thousand of the drum bombs were to prelude the Iwo invasion.

The difference between these and the ones you're thinking of, is that these have plywood because the metal fins weren't available at the time.

[Micdrow]

Ahh thank you very much GrauGeist, I was starting to think I was nuts on the idea. Thanks again.

Paul

[GrauGeist]

Your welcome!

Glad I remembered that I had that photo!

[Airframes]

Great stuff, Dave and Paul! I'd heard about these DIY bombs, but never seen a picture. I believe a similar thing was attempted during the Falklands conflict, when an Argentine C130 was going to roll 500lb bombs off the tailgate, and, so I'd heard, some 'home-made' napalm bombs! If anyone has any more info on the latter attempt, it would be nice to hear about it.
Terry.

[Micdrow]

Finally I found the picture that started this thread. Here it is.

Enjoy!!!!

[Airframes]

Great pic Paul! I wonder how effective, if at all, the fins were.

[A4K]

Great photos Paul and Grau Geist! I'd never heard of those bombs before!

[Micdrow]

Originally Posted by Airframes

Great pic Paul! I wonder how effective, if at all, the fins were.

Not sure but could you image if you had a 55 gallon drum come through the roof of your house spilling gasoline every where. Very effective against populated Japanese city's due to the nature of construction.

[Airframes]

Yeah! Just a tad nasty!

[comiso90]

Originally Posted by Micdrow

Not sure but could you image if you had a 55 gallon drum come through the roof of your house spilling gasoline every where. Very effective against populated Japanese city's due to the nature of construction.

Do we know in fact that they were filled with Gasoline? That doesnt sound right. I'd believe psy-ops leaflets or perhaps diesel and ammonium nitrate. Maybe gas mixed with phosphorus for a napalm effect... but gas by itself seems like a waste.