let's look at RAf bomb disposal in more detail
Section 1
In the beginning there were many conferences and meetings between the Home Office (HO) and the War Office (WO) (now the Ministry of Defence (MOD)) as to who would be responsible for the disposal of unexploded bombs and missiles.
It was agreed that rather than the Civil Defence (CD) and Local Authorities (LA), the Armed Services should be responsible for all unexploded ordnance (UXO) on their property and installations plus all civilian areas.
Arrangements were made to strengthen the BD Organisation and make clear the question of priority when dealing with UXO the different priorities (in order) are listed below:
- To deal with all UXO concerning Railways, Important Telecommunications Networks, Ordnance Factories and Oil Storage Depots.
- To deal with important roads, Essential Public Services, Electricity, Gas and Water Supplies and storage depots other than oil
- Health, i.e. Hospitals & Sewerage
- Any other property not related to the War Effort.
In the early days of Bomb Disposal, the responsibility of UXO on RAF property rested with the armament personnel on nominated "X" Stations. Some primitive equipment and instruction was available for the purpose of these "X" Stations.
The nominated personnel were known as "X" Station Demolition Squads ad consisted of three Armament personnel of Senior Non Commissioned or Junior Non Commissioned Rank. The list of "X" Stations at the time is shown in the next section.
Section 2. The "X" Stations
LIST OF "X" STATIONS
ABBOTSINCH, FARNBOROUGH, NEWARK , ACKLINGTON, FAULD, NORTHCOATS, ALDERGROVE
FELTWELL, NORTHOLT, ALTRINGHAM, FINNINGLEY, NORTH WEALD, BASSINGBOURNE, HALTON
OXFORD, BIGGIN HILL, HARPUR HILL, PADGATE, BIRCHAM NEWTON, HARWELL, HAWKINGE,
PEMBROKE DOCK, BRAMCOAT, HEMSWELL, BOSCOMBE DOWN, PETERBOROUGH,
HENDESFORD, SEALAND, CALSHOT, SHREWSBURY, CAMBRIDGE, HENDON, SILLOTH,
CARDINGTON, HENLOW, ST ATHAN, SOUTH CERNEY, CARLISLE, CATTERICK, HIGH WYCOMBE,
HONINGTON, ST EVAL, CHILMARK, HORNCHURCH, STRADISHALL,
CHURCH FENTON, HORSHAM, TANGMERE, COSFORD, HUCKNALL, TERNHILL, COTTESMORE, INVERGORDON , THORNABY, CRANWELL, JURBY, CRAVEN, THORNEY ISLAND, TURNHOUSE, CROYDON, KENLEY, KINLOSS,,DEBDEN, UPPER HEYFORD, LECONFIELD, USWORTH, DETLING, LEUCHARS, WADDINGTON, LINTON ON OUSE, DISHFORTH, WATTISHAM, DREM, MANBY, WATTON, DRIFFIELD, MANSTON, MARHAM, DUXFORD, DYCE, EAST LAYS, WEST RAYNHAM, WICK, WYTON, MONTROSE,,MOUNTBATTEN, EVANTON, MARTLESHAM HEATH, YORK.
Section 3
At the time the "X" Squads were operating there was little information available on German bombs and bomb components or even other types of enemy ammunition.
The procedure followed by the "X" Squads was to uncover or recover German bombs, unscrew the locking ring holding the electrical fuze and remove the fuze. The bomb was then demolished in situ or transported to a safe site for disposal later.
The fuze was sent post haste to BD Headquarters for examination and dismantling to find an immunisation method. Once a method was determined for a particular fuze and the necessary equipment manufactured it was sent to all squads with a set of instructions and correct procedures for its use in dealing with that particular type of fuze.
Accidents were commonplace when withdrawing fuzes and were unavoidable in the early days but the "X" Squads who carried out this dangerous operation gained a vast amount of knowledge about the enemy weapons they were dealing with.
By the summer of 1940 the Air Ministry realised that the "X" Squads were overtasked and stretched too far so a decision was made to disband the "X" Stations Squads in favour of official RAF Bomb Disposal Fights comprising of:
- 1 Officer of Flying Officer Rank
- 1 Flight Sergeant Armourer
- 2 Sergeant Armourers
- 12 Corporal Armourers
- 12 Ordinary Airmen (ACH.GD) for digging parties
- 2 or 3 Drivers (MT)
Motor vehicles were also provided as was the most up to date equipment for dealing with UXO. Each Flight was given a number and a name. Each Flight had a designated area of responsibility and operated within its own area.
The newly operational Flights were very efficient in dealing with UXO and their equipment enabled them to undertake excavation to almost any depth. A lot of their tools were non magnetic or non ferrous for an added degree of safety when working on or around an unexploded bomb or missile. The Flights had the most up to date equipment for dealing with German and also Allied bomb fuzes of all known types at the time.
RAF Bomb Disposal qualifying courses were started in March 1940 at the School of Technical Training at Melksham in Wiltshire where selected personnel were sent to undergo training in the art of Bomb Disposal. They were taught procedures and methods enabling them to deal with all types of munitions.
The course lasted six weeks. If the trainee passed his course with a mark of 65% or more, he was promoted to Corporal in the trade of Armourer/Bomb Disposal. He also received a rise in his pay from Group 5 to Group 2.