(104-10780-10081 TSD-SDB NEMO #92 an 10 July 1964 \ MEMORANDUM FOR: C/WH/SA ATTENTION : Mr. Alfonso Rodriguez > FROM : TSD/OA/Specital Devices Branch ‘: SUBJECT : Identification and Purpose of Contents of “3 Box marked “Soecial Fireworks" 1. nm response to your request for an evaluation of the contents of the box marked “Special Fireworks,” the following information and conclusions are offered, ~ 2, The nailed plywood box was pried open on 24 June. It is a kit for making an incendiary device. Contents are six clear piastic, pill type bottles with white plastic tops, filled with metallic colored powders, a plastic box and lid. Two bottles are labeled "Continental Plastics Oklahoma City” on the bottoms, one marked 5 drams, the other, & drams, The other four bottles are not marked with a manufacturer's name but are stamoed "P-7" on the bottoms; one has the numbers 23 and 0 onposite each other on the bottom, the second has 16 and 0, the third, 10 and 0 and the last, 4 and 0, . ; ' 3. The box, similar to a soap box, measuring 4" X 24" x 1" and the lid measuring 4}° X 2-7/8", are either plastic or cellu- loid. In one end of the box is a round hole sealed on the in- side by a thin plece of celluloid covered with aluminum foil. A compartment is formed hy a thin viece of celluloid, 7/8" from the end with the hole. This partition is perforated with several holes and covered on one ¢ide with a layer of aluminum foil. The lid is perforated with several noles and sealed on the inside surface with what appears to be a piece of wide transparent tape. With the exception of a stamped number "1" on the inside of the bottom of the box there are no identifying marks on the box or lid. From the appearance of the box, covered on the inside with silvery particles of po.der, it must have been loaded at least once. Glue or rubber cement, probably a sealant with-water-
14-00000 proofing capabilitics, vas used to seal the lid to the box, 4. Four of the plastic bottles are marked with the number "3" on their tops, one sith number "2" and the otSer with number “h". Those marked °3" contain extremely fine silver colored . powder: the one marked “2° slightly coarser silver sovder and the bottle marked “1° a small amount of coarse pale red granules, All the bottles contain the followin: substances: Fe (iron) K (potassium) Kelg, (potassium nitrate) KClo. (potassium chlorate) KC105 (potassium perchlorate) A trace of sa* (sodium) is also present in all bottles, 5. The - following ratios have been determined: Bottle #1 Bottle #2 Bottle #3 Fe i x 2 < 3 KNOq 1 id 1 “ i KC10, 1 " 2 " 2 KC10, 1 " 2 “ 2 6. Because of the high oxygen content in each of the three mixtures they obviously are used as first fire mixes. i.e,, easily ignitable substances which in turn can ignite other harder-to-ipnite materials. In this case it appears that an ignition device (a length of safety fuse or incendiary time pencil) is inserted in the hole into the emaller compartment. The pale red mixture, tecause of its relatively high oxygen content, is probably used as 3 first fire mix in this compartment. Mixed with it may be the contents of bottle number "2", slightly less in oxygen content but higher in iron and consequently hotter burning, In the maia compar tment would be the contents of bottles number "3" high an coottnt, hottest burning of all three mixtures and relatively more <ifficult to ig- nitewere it not for the boost given by the contents of bottle number "2" As the material in the smaller compartment icnites it burns through the perforations in the partition igniting the contents of the main compartment. The heat from this combustion melts the tape covering the perforations in the lid thus allowing oxygen in the air to aid and accelerate the burning. a
14-00000 7. ‘The device may be used to start fires by surroundiag it ith combustible Secondary media such as paper, oily raczs, wood shavings, paints and turpentine in a ship’s paint locker, small metal shavines in a machine shop, excelsior in a vare- house, etc, Only when a sufficient quantity of the secordary combustible material is burning is there a reasonable chance that the primary target till be ignited. The device sight also be placed in the seat cushions of an automobile, weccsed in a corner of a vehicle engine or placed in a box of ammunition. 8, There is nothing new in the composition of this device: it appears to utilize well known principles of incendiary attack uSing suvstances that are readily available and proven as cepeud~ able in:sredients. Great care vould have to be exercised in vater- proofing an assembled device if it was planned to leave it exposed for a long period of time; several hours in a hot, damp climate would be an example of such an exposure, In the absence of actual field tests it is not possible ta determine the effectiveness of the device: how long it will burn, what proportions of the three mixtures are most effective, how it performs under various temperatures and other environmental factors, how it stands up in storage, ete. 9. When the plywood box was opened it was observed that the contents were packed in sawdust. Protruding from the sawdust vas a stubbed out filter cigarette, There was no indication of scorched sawdust. ps TSD/OA/SDB Distribution: Orig & 1 — Addressee (186