Editing Incendiary device (section)

==Development and use in World War I==
[[File:Southend ww1 incendiary bomb.JPG|thumb|right|An incendiary bomb dropped on Southend-on-Sea in 1916]]
The first incendiary devices to be dropped during World War I fell on coastal towns in the east of England on the night of 18–19 January 1915. The small number of German bombs, also known as firebombs, were finned containers filled with [[kerosene]] and oil and wrapped with tar-covered rope. They were dropped from [[Zeppelin]] [[airships]]. On 8 September 1915, Zeppelin L-13 dropped a large number of firebombs, but even then the results were poor and they were generally ineffective in terms of the damage inflicted. They did have a considerable effect on the morale of the civilian population of the United Kingdom.<ref>[[Wilbur Cross (author)|Wilbur Cross]], "Zeppelins of World War I" page 35, published 1991 Paragon House ISBN I-56619-390-7</ref>

After further experiments with 5-litre barrels of [[Benzole|benzol]], in 1918, the B-1E [[Elektron (alloy)|Elektron]] fire bomb (German: ''Elektronbrandbombe'') was developed by scientists and engineers at the [[Griesheim (Frankfurt am Main)|Griesheim]]-Elektron chemical works. The bomb was ignited by a [[thermite]] charge, but the main incendiary effect was from the [[magnesium]] and aluminium alloy casing, which ignited at 650&nbsp;°C, burned at 1,100&nbsp;°C and emitted vapour that burned at 1,800&nbsp;°C. A further advantage of the alloy casing was its lightness, being a quarter of the density of steel, which meant that each bomber could carry a considerable number.<ref>Hanson, Neil (2009), [https://books.google.com/books?id=hbm-iibF6k0C&dq=William+Robertson++%22commander+in+chief+home+forces%22&pg=PA405 ''First Blitz''], Corgi Books, {{ISBN|978-0552155489}} (pp. 406–408)</ref> The [[Oberste Heeresleitung|German High Command]] devised an operation called "The Fire Plan" (German: ''Der Feuerplan''), which involved the use of the whole German heavy bomber fleet, flying in waves over London and Paris and dropping all the incendiary bombs that they could carry, until they were either all shot down or the crews were too exhausted to fly. The hope was that the two capitals would be engulfed in an inextinguishable blaze, causing the Allies to sue for peace.<ref>Hanson, pp. 413–414</ref> Thousands of Elektron bombs were stockpiled at forward bomber bases and the operation was scheduled for August and again in early September 1918, but on both occasions, the order to take off was countermanded at the last moment, perhaps because of the fear of Allied reprisals against German cities.<ref>Hanson, pp. 437–438</ref> The [[Royal Air Force]] had already used their own "Baby" incendiary bomb (BIB) which also contained a thermite charge.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.raf.mod.uk/rafcms/mediafiles/F1792791_5056_A318_A8F14492D41C7406.pdf |title=ROYAL AIR FORCE HISTORICAL SOCIETY JOURNAL 45 – RFC BOMBS & BOMBING 1912–1918 (pp. 12–13) |last1=Dye |first1=Peter |year=2009 |website=www.raf.mod.uk |publisher=Royal Air Force Historical Society |access-date=1 May 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140502002700/http://www.raf.mod.uk/rafcms/mediafiles/F1792791_5056_A318_A8F14492D41C7406.pdf |archive-date=2 May 2014 |url-status=dead }}</ref> A plan to fire bomb New York with new long range Zeppelins of the L70 class was proposed by the naval airship fleet commander [[Peter Strasser]] in July 1918, but it was vetoed by Admiral [[Reinhard Scheer]].<ref>Hanson, p. 412</ref>