SOE, MD1, SAS Display in California, USA

[Houndsworth]

When I built my replica SAS desert jeep I just had to make some replica Lewes Bombs like their 2IC John "Jock" Lewes invented. A combination HE and incendiary in a small package. The Army did not have anything like that. The initial role of the SAS was sabotage attacks at night on enemy aircraft on the ground, using time bombs placed above the gas tanks. An explosion that could light the gas - high speed HE won't reliably do that if at all - was the objective so the plane would burn up. So I learned how they made them. I had to find some time pencils. This took me down the path of learning who made them, and other gadgets.

The result so far is this educational display, which I did for the second time at a large annual military vehicle show and swap meet in California. I showed WWIIBuff these pictures yesterday and this is the first time to a wider audience. I am more of a storyteller than a collector. Nothing like the many serious collectors of original items who frequent this website. Many of these items are reproductions. Nearly all attendees at shows like this, which is a militaria show as much as a vehicle show, had never seen things like these. It is not like a pure militaria table show with many serious collections and displays. In California, USA, very few collectors are into British things. So I have the pleasure of telling the stories about SOE, MD1, SAS, and other behind the lines units during WW2, to many people who know little about the subjects.

The next time I do the display I will have labels next to everything. I was missing some things because I forgot to pack the Italian mountaineering rucksack I stow in the jeep, that carries some imitation HE and gadgets. Like my Lewes Bombs. An SAS NCO procured a lot of these rucksacks, which they found to be the perfect size for carrying 12-15 bombs.


I forgot my No. 1 MD1 pull switch and think I have a Percussion Ignitor somewhere. I am looking for a No. 7 Pull/Pressure switch, a No. 8 Pressure "debollocker", and a No. 12 Release Switch would be nice.


I made the HE cartridges when I thought PE2 was 1 3/8 inch diameter but I think 1 1/4" is right. Correct? So I will re-do them. I would like to purchase a power supply for a MCR 1 receiver.


I made the Cordtex and don't know if I got the early lead-colored color right. I read that it was a lead tube with TNT filling. Poured in I assume. Later it was PETN in a plastic tube I think. I need a couple extension rods for those No. 5 SOE pressure switches. I have a complete one on my train derailment display, a postwar switch. See the pics.


That is a 1945 Signaling Beacon, 12 volt, between the derailment setup and the guns. Someday I'd like to set up an SAS DZ/resupply display with mannequin, the lamp, maybe an S-phone if I can find one. Eureka beacon is on the wish list.


If you can zoom you can read the explosives summary. This is for the explosives geek. I found a few at the show. I am not sure I got all my facts straight. I think people liked knowing some of the ordnance that used these chemicals.


The next couple pics were from last year, before I put cut down spikes on the rails. By the way this equipment is an old U.S. type with rail plates and spikes. I think the continental rails in the 1940s were bolted, right? These rails are called 60 pound. That is for three feet. Mine are 25 inches long, I think the bare minimum length to fit everything on it. The crude little signs say how many feet apart the things should be. I put two different charges on each rail, for variety, with fog signal on the front one and a No. 5 switch on the back one. It's 1950s color blends in with the ballast. I'd rather use the green one if I had a green extension rod.


I am not sure if a half pound TNT block would be right for rails of this size. Maybe 12 ounces of 808 would be better?


The made up charge I forgot to bring last week is on the right.


An airborne petrol can is under the table. Made to fit C containers.


I am signed up to do this display with the jeep at a nice militaria show in Pomona, CA in June but not sure I want to deal with the travel expenses and long drive. California is a long state. But I'd like to meet WWIIBuff who I think will be there.

That's about it.
John in Northern California, USA

 

[sgtlynn]

Very nice, You have loads of goodies I would like!!

 

[Taber10]

Really an interesting and VERY informative display. Thanks for posting. Wish I could get to CA for the next event!

 

[millsbomber]

Well done that looks fantastic and educational to any one who looks.

 

[Houndsworth]

Thanks. Normally I'd have some replica Lewes Bombs in the case. Like these. The Italian mountaineering rucksack is usually in the jeep. These rucksacks are bigger than a standard British Large Pack, and smaller than the big, heavy Bergan rucksack, which many SAS troopers were familiar with from when they were in the Commandos. They could carry around 15 bombs in these.



The bomb Jock Lewes invented in late 1941 was a pound of HE - Gelignite or Nobel's 808 - with a quarter pound of thermite, with motor oil kneaded in. The latter was the key ingredient, apparently slowing the burn so there was still oxygen in the area to create enough flame to light the gasoline that was dispersed at that point. So a small bomb could create fire to cause a larger destruction. A one ounce guncotton primer was imbedded, with a detonator and short length of Cordex. This assembly was put into a cloth ration bag with the Cordex tail coming out, and the opening was tied. The Cordtex was taped to a detonator which was crimped to a length of Bickford Safety Fuse that led to a time pencil. The fuse created a delay so that if the pencil fired early, after the safety strip was withdrawn but still in the presence of the operator, the fuse would burn at 1cm/second and he would hear and smell it and have time to pull the thing apart. The pencil was taped to the bag and the bag was coated with tar so it would stick to a sloping wing after being thrown up onto it. Also it would be less likely to be blown off the wing by a nearby explosion. Each bomb was wrapped in a cloth so they wouldn't stick together in the rucksack. This was taken off before placing them. The bombs were put by the wing root over the gas tanks of bombers and transports, and usually on the seats of fighters. They liked to attack the same wing on each airplane, say the right one. If the plane was repairable, it was not likely they would have enough right wings in inventory.

In the beginning the airplanes were not guarded at night. Behind-the-lines special forces didn't exist in early 1942. So the team of several men would simply stroll among rows of airplanes doing their mischief. Later the Italians and Germans started putting guards out. One per three planes, then one per plane, often sleeping. So these guards were usually knifed. Have a nice day. After the SAS obtained lend-lease jeeps in June 1942, they separated from the Long Range Desert Group which provided their taxi service to and from raids. The SAS evolved to raids using multiple machine guns per jeep but normally carried Lewes Bombs for placing on trucks, warehouses, and fuel dumps they came across. The jeeps and 3-tonners normally had a Lewes Bomb under a seat to be used to destroy the vehicle if disabled.

There was a Royal Engineers Training Memorandum written about this bomb, as reported by the SAS, with a diagram. It showed a dual time pencil firing system. It said "L-Delay" (No. 9 switch but the drawing showed early No. 10 switches) and I have read references about "pressing" the pencils which means No. 10 at that time anyway. Double firing devices follows the standard demolition practice of redundancy. But it said, "In the demolitions carried out only one L-Delay was used - a chance that should not be taken, but one which was successful 300 out of 300 times."

I am going to make new ones with a larger ball of modeling clay. This one is too small. The "Cordex" will be improved because at that time I was using rope. It bends too easily. I'll paint the ball gray/black to represent the used motor oil content. One veteran called it a black mess of goo.

 

[Houndsworth]

Really an interesting and VERY informative display. Thanks for posting. Wish I could get to CA for the next event!

Thanks! We have a lot of good tourist stops in California for before and after a show. Make it a combination trip.