Tail Fin Assembly from a German B1E 1kg Elektron Incendiary Bomb – picked up after a raid by a boy in Hull.

Object Name: Tail Fin Assembly from a German B1E 1kg Elektron Incendiary Bomb Manufacturer: Conrad Werner, Schmalkalden, Thuringia, Germany (C.W.) Date of Manufacture: 1938 Place of Recovery: Kingston upon Hull, East Yorkshire, United Kingdom Material: Stamped Sheet Steel, Original Olive-Drab Rust-Inhibiting Paint

Description & Historical Context

This stamped sheet-steel tail fin belonged to a German Brandbombe 1 kg Elektron (B1E)—the primary incendiary submunition deployed by the Luftwaffe to devastate British cities during the Blitz.

While the bomb’s main magnesium-alloy body was designed to combust and melt away at a ferocious 2,000°C–3,000°C, the steel tail assemblies frequently sheared off upon impact. This example features exceptionally crisp pre-war factory markings, including the manufacturer initials “C.W.” (Conrad Werner), a prominent Production Lot/Batch Number “20”, the full year stamp “1938”, and the military inspection stamp “363” (Heerswaffenamt).

The 1938 manufacture date proves this weapon was drawn from Germany’s early pre-war stockpiles, accumulating in regional depots before being loaded into bombers years later for strategic campaigns against British targets.

The Human Story: A Child’s Prize from the Hull Blitz

Kingston upon Hull was the most severely damaged British city outside of London, enduring over 1,000 hours under air raid alerts. During the height of the attacks—most notably the catastrophic raids of March and May 1941—thousands of these incendiaries rained down simultaneously from rotating cluster containers, decimating Hull’s docks, timber yards, and residential streets.

The morning after a raid, local children frequently took to the smoking streets to hunt for “shrapnel souvenirs.” This specific fin was recovered from the debris by a young Hull schoolboy. Recognising its pristine, unburnt German markings as the ultimate prize, he safeguarded it closely, shielding the delicate steel and original factory paint from the elements for over eight decades until he reached the age of 90.

Beautifully preserved, this artefact stands as a dual witness: a stark reminder of the mechanical reality of total war, and a deeply personal symbol of childhood resilience during the home front’s darkest hours.