June 12, 1915. 
LAND AND .WATER, 
BOMBS USED BY AIRCRAFT. 11. 
By L. BLIN DESBLEDS. 
EXPLOSIVE bombs are very rarely tbe direct cause 
of a fire, but wkere a building is injured cr col- 
lapses, as a result of an explosion, a couflagration 
is often started by open lights or fires inside tbe 
building, and is assisted by escaping gas from 
broken mains or by arcs from broken electric wires. 
Tbe incendiary bomb, on tbe other baud, is designed 
vritb a view readily to set fire to buildings and their contents. 
A number of such bombs were dropped from the hostile air- 
craft which recently visited Southend, Deal, and Rainsgate. 
Some of these bombs were carefully examined by the British 
Fire Prevention Committee, which has prepared several 
leaflets giving valuable advice to the public as to the manner 
in which fires caused by incendiary bombs could be stopped 
or circumscribed. 
Description of a German Incendiary Bomb. 
The incendiary bomb, used by the Germans, has the 
general external appearance shown in the sketch (Fig. 1). 
It is conical in shape, and is of about lOin. in diameter at the 
base. A rope, which has been saturated with some inflam- 
mable Fubstance, is coiled round its outside, and binds 
together the various parts of the bomb. 
There is at the apex 
of the bomb a strong 
wire handle by which it 
is held over the nacelle 
of the aircraft before 
being dropped. So as to 
prevent any premature 
operation of the bomb, 
a safety-pin is inserted 
in the ignition mechan- 
ism, and is only re- 
moved at the moment 
when the bomb is to be 
used. 
The base of the 
bomb is sometimes flat 
and sometimes cup- 
shaped as shown in tde 
sketch (see Fig. 2). On 
that base, which is of 
•beet metal, there is fitted a funnel, also of sheet metal, 
conical in shape and pierced with a number of holes. At the 
top of this funnel are fixed tbe handle and the mechanism 
for igniting the bomb. 
The funnel is generally filled with Thermit, which upon 
ignition generates intense heat, and by the time of the con- 
cussion has taken the form of molten metal of the extra- 
fefrtif- 
Fin 
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rCoiloP 
3ibU rcpe 
Vpi 
\f'Diaautxrt>fbast^ 
lOiai. 
Fie 1. 
SKKTCH OF A GB&UAK 
INCENDIARY AE&IAL BOMLB. 
Hmdie \ 
SaFetu 
m 
1 IgniHon 
■^ Device 
Rope 
I Thermit 
'Fesinous 
'Matter 
Melted 
'tVhite 
Phosphorus 
- iOiB- 
"Reserwu- 
Tciojt- 
TerfcraiXna 
n£.M. 
SECTIONAI. 
'GUERBE' 
Fig. 3. 
, SKETCH OP THE 
IKCEKDIAEY ARROW. 
liK 2. 
SECTIONAL SKETCH OF AN INCBKDiARY BOMB. 
ordinarily high temperature of over 5,000deg. Fahr. The 
molten metal is spread by the concussion, and its temperature 
enables it to cut its way tl, rough a sheet of metal one- 
quarter of an inch thick. Outside the funnel is a padding 
of a highly inflammable or resinous material, which is bound 
on by the in.fiammable rope already mentioned. The resin- 
ous material creates a pungent smoke. There is generally 
some melted whit* phos- 
phorus in the bottom 
of the bomb which de- 
velops nauseous finnes. 
In some cases celluloid 
ohippings are adued 
and occasionally a small 
quantity of petrol. ScfetvTin. 
The "Guerre" In- 
cendiary Arrow. 
The Allies aLo 
have a number of in- 
cendiary bombs. It is, 
of course, impossible to 
explain in an article 
meant for publication 
the devices which we 
or our Allies may pos- 
sess. There is, how- 
ever, a French incen- 
dir.ry bomb about which 
so many articles have 
already been written 
that the Censor cannot 
object to a short descrip- 
tion of it being made in 
this publication. 
The "Guerre" incendiary arrow, a sectional sketch of 
which is shown in Fig. 3, derives its name from that of its 
inventor, M. Guerre. It weighs oijly 2^1b., and is about 
16in. in length and 3in. in diameter. 
It consists essentially of two parts, one of which carries 
a reservoir containing petrol, or any other inflammable sub- 
stance, and tbe other slides relatively to the first one. Besides 
means for perforating the reservoir, this latter part contains 
a device for igniting the inflammable material. 
The .'•■hock produces the sliding of the two parts rela- 
tively to each other, which produces an incendiary result. 
M. Guerre's incendiary arrow has already proved very 
successful. 
The British Fire Prevention Committee's Suggestions. 
To cope with the possible danger arising from incendiary 
bombs, the above Committee has suggested some precautions 
to be taken wherever there may be a likelihood of an aerial 
bombardment. A knowledge of these precautions, as well 
a? the method suggested by the Committee to deal with the 
effect of incendiary bombs, may prove so useful that tbe 
writer has summarised them below: 
1. Should definite information be received of the ap- 
proach of hostile aircraft, or actual bombardment 
commence in the vicinity, refuge should be promptly 
taken in the cellar, basement, or lower floor. 
2. All gas lights or stoves should be turned out, and 
the gas supply turned off at the meter. 
3. All electric lights should be switched ofl', and the 
supply turned off at the niain switch near the meter. 
4. Ail oil lamps should be extinguished and taken into 
the cellar or basement, and all open tires above base- 
ment level should be put out. 
5. AH doors, window?, and shutters .should be closed. 
6. Buckets of water are the most suitable and the most 
economical fiie appliances. When oil or spirit is 
kept on the j'ramises buckets of sand may prove of 
great value. 
7. Don't wait un^.il a fire occurs to find out liow it is 
]>ossible to get out in the dark. Think of a couple 
of way.s out beforehand. 
8. It there is dense smoke from a fire, remember 
Uiat the air is clearer near the ground, so crawl on 
the flcor, with a hajio'ke'ol'ief , wet rag, or respiratoi 
in front of y<;ur mouth. 
13* 
