The RAF Fauld explosion was a military accident which occurred at 11:11am on Monday, 27 November 1944 at the RAF Fauld underground munitions storage depot in Staffordshire, England. It was one of the largest non-nuclear explosions in history and the largest on UK soil.
Between 3,500 and 4,000 tonnes (3,900 and 4,400 tons) of ordnance exploded, mostly high explosives. The explosion crater has a depth of 100 feet (30 m) and a maximum width of 1007 feet (307 m) although different sources have exaggerated this size.[1] The crater is still visible just south of Fauld, to the east of Hanbury, Staffordshire. It is now known as the Hanbury Crater.[2][3][4]
A nearby reservoir containing 450,000 cubic metres (16,000,000 cu ft) of water was obliterated in the incident, along with several buildings including a complete farm. Flooding caused by the destruction of the reservoir added to the damage caused by the explosion.[5]
The exact death toll is uncertain; it is believed that about 70 people died in the explosion and resulting flood.[4]
^Cite error: The named reference Hardy was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
^Rowe, Mark (29 August 2008). "World's largest-ever explosion (almost)". BBC Stoke. Archived from the original on 23 February 2020. Retrieved 1 April 2019.
^Waltham, Tony (2001). "Landmark of geology in the East Midlands: The explosion crater at Fauld" (PDF). Mercian Geologist. 15 (2): 123-125. Archived (PDF) from the original on 6 August 2020. Retrieved 1 April 2019.
^ abGoddard, Jane (6 October 2014). "Bygones: Book coincides with 70th anniversary of giant explosion at RAF Fauld, near Burton". Derby Telegraph. Archived from the original on 11 July 2015. Retrieved 1 April 2019.
^Reed, John (1977). "Largest Wartime Explosions: 21 Maintenance Unit, RAF Fauld, Staff. November 27, 1944". After the Battle. No. 18. Essex: Battle of Britain International Limited. pp. 35–40. ISSN 0306-154X.
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