USE

Incendiary bombs of many various types, ranging in weight from 4 to 250 lbs., are at present in ser-vice use for operations against different types of targets. The construction and filling of these bombs differ with the individual types and no ge-neral description can be given here to cover the complete range.

CHARACTERISTICS

Some bombs, such as the 4 lb. series have bodies composed mainly of in- cendiary material, such as magnesium alloy, and are filled with solid incendi-ary compositions. Other bombs, such as the 30 lb. I.B., have steel tubular bodies and are liquid filled with a rubber/benzole solution, or may be partially filled with cast white phosphorous. Liquid filled bombs are provided with an ejection charge. The 25 lb. bomb has a faired steel tubular body con-taining incendiary firepots which are ejected suc-cessively by small gunpowder charges.

A small percentage of 4 lb incendiary bombs con-tains an explosive charge, the object of which is to render dangerous approach to be burning bombs, due to the risk of flying splinters. Attempts to extinguish these and standard non-explosive bombs which are dropped simultanequaly are thereby discouraged. It the explosive charge is gunpowder, the bomb is distinguished by the letter "E"; a tetryl explosive charge is indicated by the letter "I".

These bombs are painted either a dull red overall, or have the nose end for several inches painted red. Most of then have two black bands separated by a bright red band around the nose end. Though formely thay have been carried in the 250 lb. Small Bomb Container, Cluster Projectiles (simable clus-ters) are replacing the SBC as the favored method of carrying.