[RAF_Magpie]

Guys' what blew up in the Fuel tanks was NOT fuel in liquid form, but the fumes acumulated in them. See a full tank wont explode becouse there is no fumes inside. When a non sealble tank was shot , holes alowed aire (oxigen) in the tank , as the tank drew empty, it got filled with fumes, very explosive fumes, of fuel, and air.. that DID explode. The danger is as Sakagi states a most empty fuel tank full of fumes and air. In that situation the tank goes boom with the least spark.

So what lites up and goes boom if comprerssed is fuel fumes that acumulate in half empty tanks yes.... So in theory Dropt tanks should explode When almost empty and with previous holes in it that alowed the correct miscture of fuel fumes and oxigen.

And that' s why Zeros were Zippos, becouse the tanks would not seal, alowing air to fill the space left by the leaking fuel.

Absoulutly correct there Baco - its the ignition of the fumes which causes the 'tanks to go boom. For example this was believed to be the cause of the TWA 800 accident for example... Even when we're taught to refuel our G.A aircraft, we're stressed how volatile the bloody fumes are.

As for the shooting the gas tank for example - if the tanks are empty IRL and full of fumes, incendary rounds & cannon, would cause a pretty satisfactory result...

...BOOM...

As a side note, apparently its actually possible, to even put a match out in a tank of A1 jet fuel without fire happening...