The need for bomb disposal became evident during WWII, and various branches of the U.S. Military, including the U.S. Army Air Forces (USAAF) and the U.S. Army Ordnance Corps, established 1942 first U.S. Army Bomb Disposal units. These units were responsible for identifying, rendering safe, and disposing of unexploded ordnance.

Well worn black crackle Zippo with U.S. Army Air Force Bomb Disposal Squad batch in the Shape of a bomb on the front along with a «B» and «D», the owner's name «Benson» and the year «1942» engraved on the front and the owner's full name «Irving Benson» and map symbol on the other side. Irving L. Benson from St. Louis, Minnesota with the Army serial number 17110968 served from 1942 in the U.S. Army Air Corps as a pilot and a member of a Bomb Disposal Squad.