The first cluster bomb was the Sprengbombe Dickwandig 2kg (SD2), known as the ‘butterfly bomb’, a particularly nasty type of anti-personnel cluster bomb developed by the German Luftwaffe.
The body of the SD2 was a cast-iron cylinder three inches in diameter holding around 8oz of high explosive. This was attached to an arming spindle and a fuse. These closed ‘bomblets’ were then packed into bomb-shaped containers which would be released from an aircraft in the same way as an aerial bomb.
Once airborne, the bomb would split open to shower the target below. The individual bomblets would open automatically, releasing spring-loaded ‘wings’, which would cause the bomblet to spiral down to the ground, becoming armed as it rotated in the air.
Many bomblets failed to detonate and were caught on rooftops, trees or telephone wires. They proved particularly hazardous to bomb disposal units and curious children. If exploded, they were usually lethal within 80ft and could cause shrapnel damage within 500ft.
In October 1940, Ipswich became the victim of the first cluster bomb attack in history. It’s not known how many were killed.
The British government recognised the fear these devices could cause and responded with an information blackout, not wanting the Germans to know their effectiveness. This seemed to work because they were not deployed again in the UK until spring 1943.
By now these horrible devices had been refined for maximum impact. Some had been fitted with a time delay fuse which would trigger up to 30 minutes after landing, the aim being to kill emergency service personnel and civilians.
Others were primed to go off only when handled.
WWII Beware of the Butterfly Bomb poster warning of the dangers of the device
Sd2 Butterfly Bomb
The last major attack was on the night of June 13, 1943, when SD2s were dropped on Cleethorpes and Grimsby. By this time the government had issued an information film and warning posters. Around 2,760 bomblets were dropped, leading to chaos in the towns for weeks and an eventual death toll of 114.
These devices had a way of hanging around: the last fatality was in November 1956.
Dennis Hopewell, London SE9
QUESTION: What car makes are popular abroad but have failed to make the grade here?
US car brands such as Mustang, Dodge, Cadillac, Buick, GMC, Chrysler and Lincoln are not widely sold in the UK for reasons related to market demand and regulations.
The UK market tends to favour smaller, more fuel-efficient vehicles due to narrow roads and limited parking space. It also has generally stricter emissions standards compared with the US, so many
American cars would need modifications to meet these requirements, making them less viable to sell. Ford of course has bucked this trend with models such as the Focus.
Holden, a staple of the Australian automotive market for decades, was known for its robust, reliable cars with its Commodore line, whose station wagon was beloved of families and surfers alike.
Perodua dominates the Malaysian market with affordable, compact cars, which are rarely found on these shores, and Chery is China’s biggest car exporter, known for its Arrizo and Tiggo models, which have sold more than 15million units worldwide. Its Omoda and Jaecoo brands will be appearing here soon.
Sam G. Marshall, Brixham, Devon
QUESTION: Why was a post box installed in a crematorium?
Several crematoriums and cemeteries have installed special post boxes known as ‘Letters to Heaven’ or ‘Postbox to Heaven’. These provide a way for grieving individuals to send letters, cards and messages to their deceased loved ones.
The concept was inspired by nine-year-old Matilda Handy from Nottinghamshire, who wanted to write to her late grandparents.
Her mum Leanne saw an article in a newspaper about a postman who found a letter in a Leicester post box written by an eight-year-old to her father in Heaven.
Leanne arranged for the first memorial post box, white with gold lettering, to be installed at Gedling Crematorium just before Christmas 2022. Within a few weeks, more than 100 messages had been posted in it.
The idea has caught on, with white post boxes being installed at cemeteries and crematoria across the country from Derbyshire to Jersey.
Emma Hall, Chesterfield, Derbys
