17 Th October 1939 first German bombs dropped in Hoy in the
Orkney's,that failed to explode they were all 50Kg and were fuzed
with the simple impact fuze type(15) which could be rendered safe
using a crabtree discharger, a device that shorted out the electrical
charge,contained in capacitors inside the fuze.
The Crabtree 2 pin discharger
17 Th November 1939 Germans start dropping parachute mines.
23 Rd November 1939 Lt Ouvery recovers first Magnetic mine at Shoeburyness and successfully defuzes it.
1 St May 1940 Home office Circular 88/40 confirms that war office is
responsible for dealing with any UXB
1 St May 1940 First UXB committee is held to discuss various ways and
devices to tackle unexploded bombs
May/June 1940 First 25 BD sections are formed,comprising of 1 x Lt
,1xSgt and 14 other ranks.
June 1940 Steam sterilizer developed to cut a hole in bomb casing and
emulisify explosive fill.
17Th August 1940 Lt Archer removes a type (50) anti disturbance fuze
by hand, this was needed for experiments.
17 Th August 1940 Lt E.W.Reynolds defuzes bomb in Bristol with a
type(17) fuze.
27 Th August 1940 Lt Archer recovers the first (38) fuze.
2 Nd September1940 Lt Archer removes a ticking type(17) fuze to find
a new type Zus40 Anti withdrawl fuze underneath, this was successfully
removed in tact.
12 Th September 1940 The steam sterilizer was used for the first time
by Capt Kennedy on a live 250Kg bomb in Regents street .
14 Th September 1940 Lt Robert Davies defuzes a 1,000Kg bomb under St
Pauls cathedral.
16/17Th September Parachute delivered magnetic mines dropped on London
77 dropped,but 25 failed to explode.
23 Rd September 1940 King George announces a new decoration
for gallantry to be called the GEORGE CROSS.
26 Th October 1940 First accoustic mine recovered.
28 Th October 1940 SD2,s Butterfly bombs dropped on Ipswich(this was
the first time these bombs were dropped in the UK)
16 Th November 1940 Fuze Extention cap was found on a bomb in
Shaftsburt Ave ,The BD officer couldnt determine what fuze was
fitted, removed by Lt neville Newitt.
21 St December 1940 1st 2,500 Kg (max) dropped on Victoria Station London
18 Th January 1943 New type Y fuze was recovered by Maj Martin , this
fuze was designed purely to kill the bomb disposal officer trying to
defuze the bomb.
24 Th January 1943 Method found to defeat this Y fuze was found by
Maj John Hudson, the method used was to freeze the fuze with liquid
oxygen.
3/4 Th March 1943 New types of fuze the (67) time fuze and the type
(70) anti disturbance fuze , found in butterfly bombs dropped in
Esssex. The (67) was designed to explode up to 30 mins after hitting
the ground, the (70) exploded on attempt to move the bomb
13/14 Th June 1943 First large scale raid using SD2 Butterfly bombs
were dropped on Grimsby.
13 Th june 1944 the first FZG 76 (Flying bomb) landed in Kent
23 Rd June 1944 Unexploded flying bomb (V1) found in Sussex , the
fuzes had to be removed at all costs, Radiography was used by Maj John
Hudson and Dr Dawson.
2 Nd July 1944 Fuzes were successfully removed from V1 flying bomb.
8 th September 1944 The first V2 rocket to land at Chiswick
11 Th March 1945 St unexploded V2 rocket found at Paglesham in Essex.
Cleared by Major Gerhold
27 Th March 1945 Last V2 Rocket to land at Orpington ,kent
23 Rd October 1945 Last of 48 meeetings of the UXB commitee was held
at Shell Mex house on the Strand.
Picture show the type (17) Long delay fuze , fitted with the ZUS 40 Anti Withdrawl fuze fitted underneath
Orkney's,that failed to explode they were all 50Kg and were fuzed
with the simple impact fuze type(15) which could be rendered safe
using a crabtree discharger, a device that shorted out the electrical
charge,contained in capacitors inside the fuze.
The Crabtree 2 pin discharger
17 Th November 1939 Germans start dropping parachute mines.
23 Rd November 1939 Lt Ouvery recovers first Magnetic mine at Shoeburyness and successfully defuzes it.
1 St May 1940 Home office Circular 88/40 confirms that war office is
responsible for dealing with any UXB
1 St May 1940 First UXB committee is held to discuss various ways and
devices to tackle unexploded bombs
May/June 1940 First 25 BD sections are formed,comprising of 1 x Lt
,1xSgt and 14 other ranks.
June 1940 Steam sterilizer developed to cut a hole in bomb casing and
emulisify explosive fill.
17Th August 1940 Lt Archer removes a type (50) anti disturbance fuze
by hand, this was needed for experiments.
17 Th August 1940 Lt E.W.Reynolds defuzes bomb in Bristol with a
type(17) fuze.
27 Th August 1940 Lt Archer recovers the first (38) fuze.
2 Nd September1940 Lt Archer removes a ticking type(17) fuze to find
a new type Zus40 Anti withdrawl fuze underneath, this was successfully
removed in tact.
12 Th September 1940 The steam sterilizer was used for the first time
by Capt Kennedy on a live 250Kg bomb in Regents street .
14 Th September 1940 Lt Robert Davies defuzes a 1,000Kg bomb under St
Pauls cathedral.
16/17Th September Parachute delivered magnetic mines dropped on London
77 dropped,but 25 failed to explode.
23 Rd September 1940 King George announces a new decoration
for gallantry to be called the GEORGE CROSS.
26 Th October 1940 First accoustic mine recovered.
28 Th October 1940 SD2,s Butterfly bombs dropped on Ipswich(this was
the first time these bombs were dropped in the UK)
16 Th November 1940 Fuze Extention cap was found on a bomb in
Shaftsburt Ave ,The BD officer couldnt determine what fuze was
fitted, removed by Lt neville Newitt.
21 St December 1940 1st 2,500 Kg (max) dropped on Victoria Station London
18 Th January 1943 New type Y fuze was recovered by Maj Martin , this
fuze was designed purely to kill the bomb disposal officer trying to
defuze the bomb.
24 Th January 1943 Method found to defeat this Y fuze was found by
Maj John Hudson, the method used was to freeze the fuze with liquid
oxygen.
3/4 Th March 1943 New types of fuze the (67) time fuze and the type
(70) anti disturbance fuze , found in butterfly bombs dropped in
Esssex. The (67) was designed to explode up to 30 mins after hitting
the ground, the (70) exploded on attempt to move the bomb
13/14 Th June 1943 First large scale raid using SD2 Butterfly bombs
were dropped on Grimsby.
13 Th june 1944 the first FZG 76 (Flying bomb) landed in Kent
23 Rd June 1944 Unexploded flying bomb (V1) found in Sussex , the
fuzes had to be removed at all costs, Radiography was used by Maj John
Hudson and Dr Dawson.
2 Nd July 1944 Fuzes were successfully removed from V1 flying bomb.
8 th September 1944 The first V2 rocket to land at Chiswick
11 Th March 1945 St unexploded V2 rocket found at Paglesham in Essex.
Cleared by Major Gerhold
27 Th March 1945 Last V2 Rocket to land at Orpington ,kent
23 Rd October 1945 Last of 48 meeetings of the UXB commitee was held
at Shell Mex house on the Strand.
Picture show the type (17) Long delay fuze , fitted with the ZUS 40 Anti Withdrawl fuze fitted underneath