AIRCRAFT JETTISONABLE FUEL TANK USED AS IMPROVISED FIR BOMB Part 1

Description

Summary: Demonstrates the use of droppable fuel tanks filled with Napalm mixture. Methods of mixing igniter used and effect on ground targets. Planes used are Navy F6F, F4U and P-38. (Shot in 1944 at Eglin field by the Air force for the Navy Dept.) PS Navy dive bomber diving in across flat terrain. Camera pans with plane as it releases fuel tank, showing tank hitting ground, large explosion of Napalm immediately in front of camera. Excellent shot Napalm bomb explosion. INFORMATION: JETTISONABLE FUEL TANKS INSTALLED ON NAVY FIGHTER PLANE, MODEL F6F-3. CS Navy Fighter F6F-3 stationary-fuel tank attached to underside of fuselage. CU fuel tank attached to plane. IGNITION UNIT CONSIST OF M-3, M-13 ENATOR, M-15 WHITE PHOSPHORUS OR SODIUM GRENADE AND PRIMA CORD. CU hand removing the denator unit from fuel tank. LOADING AREA SHOWING FIELD METHOD OF FORMING JELL AND TRANSFERRING TO FUEL TANK. MS two Navy F6F-3 fighters stationary, fuel tanks attached to underside, immediately to right of the aircraft is the mixture area showing the personnel and equipment used in mixing the Napalm mixture. FIFTY GALLON DRUMS ARE USED FOR MIXING GASOLINE AND NAPALM. GASOLINE IS PLACED IN DRUM, AIR AGITATE DEVICE IS INSERTED THEN NAPALM IS ADDED. CS containers for Napalm mixture. CS men preparing the drums, placing gasoline in 55 gallon steel drums, inserting the air agitator unit. CS placing funnel into hole, pouring the mixture of Napalm into drum. Good shot personnel working about the various tasks in the Napalm mixture area. FOR FAST RESULTS SOLUTION IS AGITATED FROM 3 TO 10 MINUTES, DRUMS ARE THEN CAPPED AND LEFT STANDING 24 HOURS PRIOR TO TRANSFER, FOR THIS PROJECT NAPALM PERCENTAGE VARIED BETWEEN APPROXIMATELY 3.5 AND 7.5%, BEST RESULTS WERE OBTAINED BY USING A 6% SOLUTION. MS four Navy F6F planes, wings folded, parked closely together showing men and activity in the area as the men prepared to load Napalm mixture into the aircraft fuel tanks. DEMONSTRATION OF FIRE HAZARD TO CARRING AIRCRAFT. WING MACHINE IS USED DEVELOPING 150 MPH SLIP ATREAM AGAINST TANK. CALIBER 30 TRACER PUNCTURES TANK, BUT FAILS TO IGNITE JELL. MS test stand erected in open area, fuel tank attached to unit showing wind machine in operation. Thirty caliber gun firing at fuel tank showing hits upon same. CALIBER 50 AP INCENDIARY IGNITES JELL BUT SLIP STREAM LOCALIZES THE BURNING. CS fifty caliber, mounted on steel stand, pointing in direction of the fuel tank hanging suspended from the test stand; showing 50 firings at the fuel tank, hits upon same and flames starting -- personnel in bg. 20MM INCENDIARY RUPTURED TANK, SPILLS JELL BUT CAUSES NO FIRE. MS 20mm mounted on stell frame, open area pointing in direction of test stand and fuel tank showing wind machine in operation. To left shows effect of hits upon fuel tanks, spilling the liquid from same. MCS demolished tank hanging from test stand. TYPES OF FIGHTER PLANE USED FOR PROJECT: F6F-3, CARRING HUNDRED FIFTY GALLON TANK F4U-1 CARRING 1675 GAL. TANK; P-38 CARRYING TWO 165 GAL. TANKS. Ground shot looking up at F6F-3, F4U-1 flying formation together -- passing directly over head. PS of the F6F buzzing. PS of the F4U buzzing. PS P-38 buzzing. MISSION AGAINST LAND AND WATER TARGETS. PS Navy fighter plane diving in low across flat terrain dropping Napalm bomb mixture showing bomb strike and explosion. PS another run. CU the resulting explosion. PS Navy F4U-1 flying in low releasing Napalm bomb -- showing bomb explosion. PS F6F-3 flying low releasing Napalm bomb showing large explosion. CU demolished section of the fuel tank. PS two Navy F4U's flying wing-tip to wing-tip, coming in low across the area, releasing Napalm bombs together showing resulting explosion. PS P-38 coming in low across edge of forest releasing Napalm bomb on edge of forest and water. PS Navy F-4-U same approach, dropping Napalm, showing explosion in water from Napalm mixture. MISSION AGAINST STEEL ROAD BRIDGE. PS GC P-38 flying low releasing Napalm bomb. LS across water, Napalm bomb mixture exploding at steel bridge erected in water for test purposes, fires spreading over the area around the bridge. Excellent shot Navy F4U flying in low across the bridge releasing Napalm, showing direct hit on the structure and the resulting fires. MISSION AGAINST JAPANESE TYPE BUNKERS AND SLIT TRENCHES. PS P-38 coming in low towards camera re1easing Napalm bombs, showing direct hit up-on bunker and spreading of flames cross the area.GOATS ARE PLACED IN TARGET TO DETERMINE FIRE EFFECTIVENESS. CS man leading goat into the bunker type structure structure and slit trench area. PS Navy F4U coming in low dropping Napalm bomb onto the bunker. Several shots of same showing direct hits upon the area. P-38 coma low releasing Napalm mixture showing explosion in area. TWICE THE LETHAL AMOUNT OF CARBON MONOXIDE FOR HUMAN WAS PRESENT IN BLOOD OF DEAD GOATS. CS slit trench showing flames coming from the same area. MISSION AGAINST JAPANESE TYPE HOUSE DEMONSTRATES THE EFFECTIVENESS FO FIRE-DROP AT TARGET. PS Navy fighter buzzing in low, dropping Napalm bombs on two Japnese type of constructed housed, showing direct hit. PS remains of same after drop. STUDIED FIRE COVERAGE IN THE PROJECT INDICATES BURNT AREA IN SHAPE OF AN ELLIPSE WITH LONG AXIS IN THE FLIGHT PATH OF THE RELEASE TANKS. EFFECTIVE COVERAGE FROM A SINGLE DROP SHOWS LONG AXIS BETWEEN 200 AND 300 FEET. SHORT AXIS VARYING BETWEEN 90 AND160 FEET. AS test site showing burnt out area. SLATE: edited film M44-131. BUREAU OF AERONAUCTICS, 1944. good

Collection

Records of U.S. Air Force Commands, Activities, and Organizations

Series

Moving Images Relating to Military Aviation Activities