BRITAIN'S BULLSEYE BOMBERS; Toxic darts to hit Nazi troops.

Byline: ALLISON MARTIN

BRITISH forces considered showering Nazi soldiers with fatal poison darts in the Second World War, revealed archives yesterday.

The lethal attack, raining down from aircraft in cluster bombs, would have led to collapse in five minutes - and death within half an hour.

Assessing their impact, the report notes: "If penetrating flesh, will cause death if not plucked out in 30 seconds." And a comment scrawled in the margin casually observes: "I doubt whether the darts can be plucked out. The paper tail would come off." The file, Research Into Use Of Anthrax And Other Poisons For Biological Warfare, was developed between 1941 and 1945.

National Archives historian Mark Dunton said it provided a "fantastic insight". He added: "To our sensibilities it seems shocking, there's a real sense of viciousness. It shows the Allies were prepared to consider anything, no matter how gruesome, for victory."

Dropped from altitude, the grooved zinc alloy darts could go through two layers of clothing and penetrate flesh "for six inches or until stopped by bone". It predicted a soldier lying in the open would have a 90% chance of being struck.

But the darts were never used after being judged "uneconomical" - and would only kill a small percentage of people.

30mins

time it would take an enemy soldier to die. They would collapse after five minutes - and suffer convulsions first

SALUTE TO HERO REG, 14

BRITAIN'S youngest Second World War hero killed in action is to have a special headstone put on his grave.

Reggie Earnshaw, of Ganton, Edinburgh, lied about his age to join the Merchant Navy. He served as a cabin boy on the SS North Devon and died - aged 14 years and 152 days - when the ship was bombed on July 4, 1941.

Shipmate Reggie Alf Tubb, 86, of Swansea, said yesterday: "I never forgot him - he was a great little pal."

CAPTION(S):

Darts land on enemy troops and the poison causes death within 30 minutes Airplane drops bomb which splits open releasing hundreds of poison darts