SD2-butterfly bomb 1940

[ahafan]

Hello
I read just about the SD2-butterfly bomb.and the use, first used on ipswich and cleothorpes around september 40-can anyone explain the use of them on this Towns-and why not ever again.
was they too kill Civilians?-or damage buildings.and why not did they use them say by Night fighters around bomber bases...or the battle of britain?

sharon

[Nick Beale]

Look up "butterfly bomb" on Wikipedia and you'll find this: "Butterfly bombs were first used against Ipswich in 1940, but were also dropped on Grimsby and Cleethorpes in June 1943, amongst various other targets in the UK."

I once saw a TV series on bomb disposal and it said that the clean-up in Grimsby had been a massive undertaking because the bombs could hang up on gutters, wires and whatever by their "wings" and not explode. However they were fantastically sensitive, so removing them was a nightmare.

[Pilot]

Did the US used copy of this bombs after the war?

[Joe Potter]

The total number of civilians killed in the Grimsby/Cleethorps area was 61, 14 killed during the raid, 31 within the first hour following the raid and the remainder during the next 12 hours.
Source, Hogben, Designed to Kill, page 124.
Also, several were found by us (Royal Engineers EOD) at RAF Coningsby, in the mid 1960's, a farmer was plowing a section of the airfield that just been handed back to him, an SD2 exploded under his tractor, he was saved by the old steel seat on his Fordson tractor, but still had a shredded arse.
Joe

[BC]

The SD-2 was an anti-personnel weapon designed principally for airfield attack.
There is some evidence to suggest their first use over the UK was by Me 109s of ErPrGr.210 during an attack on RAF Martlesham Heath on 27 Oct 1940. At least 5 people were killed by some which fell in Ipswich and were picked up UX with fatal results. The first warnings were issued by the BBC on 28 Oct.

The SD-2 was used intermittently in 1941 during intruder raids against airfields, and quite extensively during the autumn of 1943 by the Me 410s of V/KG.2 I believe the Luftwaffe made more widespread use of them on the Eastern Front.

A farm worker at Scottow (edge of RAF Coltishall) was killed when he disturbed one in Feb 1944 - the bomb had been dropped on 27 Sept 1943.

In 1975, the screening of the ITV drama series "Danger UXB" resulted in a number of reports of SD-2s from around the country as people realised that the small, innocuous objects they had kept in sheds or on mantelpieces were in fact, high-explosive devices.

BC

[edwest]

Yes, the US did copy the butterfly bomb.


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





Ed

[edwest]

A warning was issued as late as 1944:


http://www.lonesentry.com/blog/germa...rfly-bomb.html

And apparently, they were used elsewhere. I seem to recall a photo of an American soldier, on the continent, pointing to a large white sign that had an inert butterfly bomb held on with a piece or two of black tape. Underneath were words to the effect: Danger! Butterfly Bomb. Watch out for these. Do not handle! Report immediately if found!



Ed

[edwest]

A possibly original warning leaflet:


http://www.ebay.com/itm/BUTTERFLY-BO...item256d11805f




Usual disclaimer,
Ed

[Pilot]

Thank you edwest

[edwest]

You're welcome.




Ed