On Wednesday, Eglin Air Force Base, along with other partners, safely disposed of three World War II-era bombs found recently in the Choctawhatchee Bay.
- Lt. Col. Chad Hogue, Commander of the 96th Wing Civil Engineering Squadron, spoke with the media ahead of yesterday’s operation that took place in a section of the bay that was historically part of the Eglin range.
“Contract drivers performing restoration work, as part of and support for the United States Army Corps of Engineers, discovered three World War II-era unexploded ordnance items in the Choctawhatchee Bay,” Hogue said. “This is part of the Air Force funded restoration program.”
The bomb disposal operation was a collaborative interagency effort to ensure public safety, protection of property and the environment, according to Hogue.
Disposal of old munitions can be unpredictable. While some bombs over 80 years old are inert, some remain volatile.
- “It is certainly humbling to appreciate the historical perspective where these unexploded ordnance items came from being that they are World War II-era unexploded ordnance items,” Hogue said. “When we plan operations, we always take in worst case scenarios as we must plan that these items are still viable.”
Navy explosive ordnance disposal technicians handled the disposal operation. The first bomb went off around 12pm, followed by the second around 1pm. The final bomb was disposed of around 2:45pm.
Hogue said removal of old munitions when discovered is an important ongoing effort to ensure public safety.
“We have an obligation to help remediate explosive hazards,” he said. “The importance of today is to ensure public safety and safety of the responders, as well as property and the environment. So the importance of today’s operation is safe disposal of the unexploded ordnance items.”
