Jellied gasoline

Louis F. Fieser (1899-1977) was born in Columbus, Ohio, and received his Ph.D. at Harvard University in 1924 with James B. Conant. He was professor of chemistry at Bryn Mawr College and then at Harvard University from 1930 to 1968. While at Bryn Mawr. he met his future wife, Mary, then a student. In collaboration, the two Fiesers wrote numerous chemistry texts and monographs. Among his scientific contributions, Fieser was known for his work in steroid chemistry and in carrying out the first synthesis of vitamin K. He was also the inventor of jellied gasoline, or napalm, which was developed at Harvard during World War II. 

I. M. Filling. Jellied gasoline filling developed during WWII by Standard Oil Co and used for filling incendiary bombs isobutyl methacrylate polymer 5.0, fatty acids, such as stearic acid,... 

The M-47 incendiary bomb weighed approx 70 lbs and consisted of a sheet-steel cylinder with a rounded nose and tail. It was 45" long and 8-1/8" in diameter and was filled with jellied gasoline. Originally, a Black Powder central burster was used, but it was not as satisfactory as the later model with a TNT-Tetryl burster, which was surrounded by white phosphorous used as the igniter for the gasoline gel. This bomb was initiated by a nose fuse... 

Jettisonable Airplane Fuel Tank Bombs. Another type of US incendiary bomb was the coverted auxiliary airplane fuel tank of 75 to 300 gallon capacity. They were filled with jellied gasoline and provided with a fuse and an igniter. Such bombs spread fire over a large area and were very effective against Japanese targets (Ref 10, p 239 Ref 15, part IV)... 

Gels for Flame Throwers, such as "Gelgas or "Jellied Gasoline and "Napalm are described in this Vol, under "Flame Throwers-Liquids and Gels p F56... 

Aluminum Soaps of Mixed Isobctoie Acids when mixed with hydrocarbon fuels produce jellied gasoline suitable for use in flame throwers and incendiary bombs Ref L.Cohen, USP 2,74l,629( 1956) CA 50, 11693(1956)... 

Jell [gel preferred)]—Something gelatinized (like Jello ) but spelled "jellied gasoline, (gasoline thickened with Napalm ). 

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