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24 3. GERMAN PHOTOGRAPHIC FLASH-BOMBS

The Germans use for photographic reconnaissance at night a flash-bomb weighing 30 kg., which is sometimes mistaken for an incendiary weapon. This "bomb" has the outer casing of a 50 kg. H.E., but



is fitted with a red painted fuze, similar to that used on parachute flares. The following inscription may be found stencilled upon it in black lettering: "Lieferungs Nr. DELEU—Dr. Feistel Angefertigt, (Date)." The casing is spray-painted aluminium or khaki and the marking BLC 50 in black letters appears near the tail. [Probably an abbreviation for "Blitz-licht (or Blitz-leucht)—cylindrisch," i.e. cylindrical flashlight type.]



Another form of photographic flash-bomb (see Figure 30) has the same outward appearance as the casing of a parachute flare (Figure 56) being cylindrical with four fins at one end. It is 8 in. in diameter, 3 ft. 6 in. long and the fins project about 1 in. The outer casing is painted grey and is of thin sheet steel terminating in a heavy iron casting at the nose, which is flat and has in it four circular pockets or recesses about 2 in. in diameter and 3 in. deep. As will be seen from Figure 31, this bomb has BLC 50/A stencilled on the body.

The fuze is of a flare-type and great care should be taken with any such bombs found unignited, as they are liable to explode with considerable violence.