{"product_id":"original-british-wwii-coventry-blitz-german-luftwaffe-1kg-incendiary-fritz-fire-bomb-tail-section-on-wooden-base-found-at-coventry-cathedral-with-written-provenance","title":"Original British WWII Coventry Blitz German Luftwaffe 1kg Incendiary Fritz Fire Bomb Tail Section on Wooden Base Found at Coventry Cathedral with Written Provenance","description":"\u003cp\u003eOriginal Item: One-of-a-Kind. This is a very interesting original German Luftwaffe \u003cstrong\u003e1kg incendiary “Fritz” fire bomb tail section\u003c\/strong\u003e mounted to a wooden display base and accompanied by period-written provenance associating it with the bombing of \u003cstrong\u003eCoventry Cathedral\u003c\/strong\u003e during the Coventry Blitz. According to the inscriptions on the base, the fragment was associated with the attack of \u003cstrong\u003eNovember 14, 1940\u003c\/strong\u003e and was later found or collected on \u003cstrong\u003eOctober 28, 1941 \u003c\/strong\u003eby a man identified as \u003cstrong\u003eJohn Wilkenson of 20 Stareton Close, Coventry.\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eUnloaded or dummy grenades, artillery shell casings, and similar devices, which are cut or drilled in an BATF-approved manner so that they cannot be used as ammunition components for destructive devices, are not considered NFA weapons. This example is in total compliance and is NOT AVAILABLE FOR EXPORT.\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe fragment itself is the tail section from a small German Luftwaffe incendiary bomb of the 1kg class, the type used in enormous numbers during area bombing raids against British cities. Incendiaries were intended to ignite buildings and create widespread fires, often in conjunction with high-explosive bombs that damaged roofs, roads, utilities, and firefighting infrastructure. The tail assembly retains some of its original paint with heavy oxidation spotting across. The top of the wooden base is stamped:\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eCOVENTRY CATHEDRAL\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e14TH NOVEMBER\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e1940\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe bottom of the wooden base is inscribed:\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eJohn Wilkenson\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e28\/10\/41\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e20 Stareton Cls.\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eCoventry\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eWilkenson is likely the man who found the piece, and the address is likely his address, as the top states that the tail section was from a round fired at the Cathedral on November 14th. The piece measures 5 ½” tall with a 4 ¼ x 4 ¾” base.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe combination of a German incendiary bomb component, explicit \u003cstrong\u003eCoventry Cathedral \/ 14th November 1940\u003c\/strong\u003e inscription, later \u003cstrong\u003eOctober 28, 1941 \u003c\/strong\u003erecovery or ownership notation, and named Coventry address makes this a particularly evocative Home Front relic. Although the exact circumstances of its recovery cannot now be independently confirmed, the surviving written provenance provides a strong period association with one of the most significant Luftwaffe raids on Britain during WWII.\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Original Items","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":45963832197189,"sku":"ONSV26BYC016","price":595.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/1524\/1342\/files\/1CCAA746-A106-44E9-8289-5A9E355D7704.jpg?v=1791564204","url":"https:\/\/www.ima-usa.com\/products\/original-british-wwii-coventry-blitz-german-luftwaffe-1kg-incendiary-fritz-fire-bomb-tail-section-on-wooden-base-found-at-coventry-cathedral-with-written-provenance","provider":"International Military Antiques","version":"1.0","type":"link"}