They Called His "Laundry Soap" Fuel Stupid — Until It Burned Down A Cave Complex In Seconds

#ww2history #napalm #flamethrower

In March 1945, Lieutenant James Burnside faced an impossible choice on Iwo Jima: Follow regulations and watch his men burn alive in failed cave assaults, or risk a court-martial to attempt a "forbidden" fuel modification.

The Problem: Standard flamethrower fuel evaporated in 6 seconds. Japanese defenders simply waited it out behind blast walls, then counterattacked. The Marine casualty rate for cave clearing was 40%.

The Risk: Burnside devised a radical, unauthorized modification using Fels-Naptha laundry soap shaved into gasoline. It was a mixture that military chemists deemed dangerously unstable—and his commanders deemed illegal.

In this video, we uncover:
The fatal flaw in standard flamethrower fuel that left Marines vulnerable in cave warfare.
The specific "laundry soap experiment" that sparked a standoff with command.
Whether Burnside's improvised napalm resulted in the Horseshoe's capture or a catastrophic explosion.

They Called His "Laundry Soap" Fuel Stupid — Until It Burned Down A Cave Complex In Seconds

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⚠️Disclaimer: This video presents dramatized storytelling based on historical WW2 events researched from publicly available sources. While we strive for accuracy and engaging narratives, some details may be simplified or contain inaccuracies. This content is for entertainment purposes and should not be cited as an academic or authoritative historical source. For verified historical information, please consult professional military historians, official archives, and peer-reviewed publications.