British Special Operations Executive (SOE): Tools and Gadgets Gallery
Incendiary suitcase
These incendiary suitcases were intended to provide security for secret documents, and act as a booby trap for any snooping enemy soldier or secret policeman. They also came in the form of briefcases. To open the case safely, the SOE agent had to make sure that the right hand lock was pressed down and held to the right. If this wasn't done, the left hand lock would fire the charges when anyone attempted to click it open.
The exploding cases could also be hazardous to members of the SOE. One briefcase exploded unexpectedly and injured an SOE agent, David Smiley, in Thailand. He was severely burnt by the explosion, but after treatment returned to active service.
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