Jet Fuel vapor is quite explosive.
If those tanks were only 1/2 full, or less, the remainder being air...and a powerful round hits the “empty” part of the tank, there would be a big bang.
A very big bang.
Ever hear of a Fuel-Air explosive?
I don’t think much oxygen is occupying the empty part of the tank. Typically you’d need an incendiary to light them up.
Don’t ya suppose the designers of those tanks take this into consideration?
Fuel air explosions are very finicky. The air fuel ratio is critical to the yield or even an explosion at all. Jet A, JP-4 and JP-5 can put out a match without burning, even in the open ambient air.
I think if he was really interested in starting a conflagration he would have used AP and tracers.
I'll buy the theory that the hits on the tanks were overshoots in the absence of some incendiary shot evidence.
If those tanks would have blown, the noise and anarchy would have given him an unbelievable amount of time to fire into the crowd rushing back toward him.
I heard tell he had intended to escape. That alone makes me think he was certifiably nuts!