1935 Lava Flow 23rd BS UXO Bombs discovered (and other UXO's in Hawaii)

[Salvage Sailor]

Well, seems that all of the ordnance dropped by the 23rd Bombardment Squadron from Luke Field (Ford Island) on the Lava flow of 1935 did not explode.....

 

News Item: 02/20/2020 MAUNA LOA, Hawaii (HawaiiNewsNow) - Local adventurer Kawika Singson says he was hiking on the slopes of Mauna when he came upon what he calls the discovery of a lifetime.

 

"Once and awhile, people will find a little mortar round or a grenade. Well, I found a 600 pound bomb," exclaimed Singson.

 

Singson, who served in the armed forces and used to work with explosives, says he was walking through an old lava field, miles from the roadway, when he saw the object.

 

He says knew immediately he was looking at the end of a rusted military bomb.

 

 

"Half of the bomb was embedded in the lava, and I was thinking where is the other half," he said.

 

The hiking enthusiast then carefully climbed below and found a small lava tube.

 

"I went in it and that's when it really hit me. I saw the front end of the bomb sticking out of the ceiling of the lava tube. The bomb was fully intact," said Singson.

 

 

Singson says he found another bomb, just 50 feet away.

 

Seeing that the ordnance did not explode, he got out of the area fast.

 

Singson believes the bombs were dropped about 80 years ago.

 

Back in December 1935, the Army dropped 20, 600-pound demolition bombs on an erupting Mauna Loa, in hopes of diverting the lava flows that were moving fast toward Hilo town.

 

The military used that strategy again in 1942.

 

"I counted eight bomb craters. Bombs that hit the ground and exploded. And I found two bombs, so there was a total of 10 bombs within a hundred yard radius," Singson said.

 

He says he called the state Department of Land and Natural resources, and gave officials the GPS coordinates to the site.

 

 

DLNR says teams are working with the military to coordinate a plan to dispose of the suspected ordnance.

 

Singson says he's come across some unusual finds during his 30 years of hiking lava fields, but he says this one tops them all.

 

“I was scared and thrilled at the same time because I knew the gravity of what I just found,” he said.

 

1935 Lava Flow Bombings

 

[The Rooster]

Well, seems that all of the ordnance dropped by the 23rd Bombardment Squadron from Luke Field (Ford Island) on the Lava flow of 1935 did not explode.....

 

 

Am I seeing what I see on the front of that bomb? It looks like there is no fuse on it ?

Looks like the loop for hooking the bomb up and moving it around.

If thats the case, its no wonder they didnt explode.

[Wharfmaster]

Wow ! I was in Hilo just two weeks ago.

 

 

 

Wharf

[Bearmon]

I always wondered what the patch represented

[rambob]

I believe these bombs could also be rear fused and there appears to be an opening in the rear of the bomb where a fuse could have been located.

 

Bob

[manayunkman]

That’s incredible!

 

Why didn’t that ring on the nose get squashed during impact?

[Salvage Sailor]

Good question, the lava was flowing when they were dropped. Not only is the ring not squashed but they didn't melt either.

[Salvage Sailor]

I always wondered what the patch represented

 

Cold War era patch of the 23rd Bomb Squadron, which commemorates the volcano bombing as part of the unit’s official insignia — even today, the B-52H-equipped 23rd BS uses a variation of this patch.

[Thor996]

Thank you for posting this -very interesting.

[Salvage Sailor]

Good question, the lava was flowing when they were dropped. Not only is the ring not squashed but they didn't melt either.

 

Some interesting stories on this event

 

from the USGS on Mauna Loa - Volcano Watch - Did aerial bombing stop the 1935 Mauna Loa lava flow?

 

Hawaii’s volcanoes: How George S. Patton took on the lava with bombs

 

and this interesting one - not the only dud, another one was recovered years ago

 

As it was, five of the bombs were seen to strike directly into the molten lava flows, the explosions showering lava in all directions. These craters, however, were observed to immediately fill back in. The other fifteen bombs impacted along the channel margins — at least one was a dud though this wasn’t realized at the time. Nearly 40 years later, unexpectedly the dud bomb was found embedded in some volcanic rock that had flowed onward, still somehow intact. It was removed carefully ultimately made safe by USAF ordinance officers.

 

Historic Wings - Volcano Bombings with some great detailed photos of the Keystone B-6A Bombers which may be enlarged in the article

[Brian Keith]

Very interesting! Never heard of that before.

Thanks for posting this info and photos. Would be really neat if they can be made safe and cut out to display. I wonder if the heat "cooked out" the explosive charge when it didn't immediately explode.

BKW

[otter42]

The article says they dropped practice bombs first. Could the one found in the lava tube with the ring on the nose be one of the practice bombs?

[Salvage Sailor]

Latest UXO's being neutralized in Hawaiian waters

 

Lanikai Beach (Oahu) off of Bellows Airfield

 

Water erupts just off Lanikai Beach, Oahu, Hawaii, from the controlled detonation of two World War II-era gravity bombs by Navy ordnance experts. (Charles Oki/U.S. Navy)

 

....and today OPERATION KANEOHE BAY RESPONSE - Navy to detonate unexploded ordnance in Hawaii Thursday, warns mariners to avoid Kaneohe Bay

 

HONOLULU — The Department of Land and Natural Resources is warning mariners and others to stay clear Thursday of the Sampan Channel area of Kaneohe Bay while the U.S. Navy detonates one of two unexploded ordnance from about 13 feet of water.

After the recent discovery of the munitions, DLNR’s Division of Aquatic Resources asked the Navy’s Mobile Diving and Salvage Unit One Detachment Explosive Ordnance Disposal to dispose of them.

 

To ensure the public’s safety, DLNR and Marine Corps Base Hawaii will be patrolling outside the perimeter of the bomb site, which will have a 2, 100-foot security cordon around it, while the detonation occurs.

 

A half hour after the first of the two bombs is detonated in place, the security cordon will be lifted. An all clear will be given no later than early afternoon.

 

The second unexploded ordnance will be removed from the water and taken elsewhere for disposal.

 

“The U.S. Military will be conducting hazardous operations approximately 50 yards west of Marker #5 in the Sampan Channel Kaneohe Bay, Oahu on August 26th from 8:00 a.m. until 5:00 p.m. Vessel operators and recreational waterway users are advised to keep clear and maintain a distance of at least 700 yards, in all directions from position 21°27’18”N, 157°47’26”W. Law enforcement surface craft will be equipped with appropriate signals and markings and can be reached on VHF-Ch 16 and 82A.”

 

 

The Schooner just upassed her anchor and is heading for open water to clear the area.  That's Gilligan's (Cocoanut) Island in the Bay - Moku O Lo'e.  "Jurassic Park" is in the background (Kualoa Ranch), the Sampan channel is just to the right in this photo as is MCBH Kaneohe Bay airfield.

 

 

 

More photos of the latest 'BOOM' when available.

 

UXO's here, UXO's there, UXO's always about - Just another day on the old battlefields of the World Wars.

 

[Salvage Sailor]

BOOM!!!  Courtesy of (MDSU-1) Mobile Diving and Salvage Unit One, Alpha Docks, Pearl Harbor Naval Station

 

 

Navy successfully removes 2 unexploded munitions from Kaneohe Bay

 

HONOLULU (KHON2) — The U.S. Navy successfully removed two unexploded munitions from Kaneohe Bay on Thursday, Aug. 26, and one removal sent a blast of water about 40 feet in the air.  That munition was believed to be at least 50 years old and was found resting in the sand in about 13 feet of water.  Officials decided to detonate the first munition in place because it was considered dangerous.

 

A second unexploded ordnance — described as a 1,000-pound bomb — was unarmed, so officials floated it to the surface, towed it to shore and then trucked it to another location.

 

A 2,100-foot security perimeter was set up during the operation and the all-clear has since been given.

 

[Salvage Sailor]

They're still out there...

 

Kihei Maui, 2014

This afternoon at Sugar Beach on Maui a diver made a surprising discovery.  Swimming about 20 feet from shore the male party found what seemed to be an unexploded ordnance. He brought the object to shore put it on the sand, he then proceeded to call the police.

 

Maui police received the call shortly after 2 p.m. this afternoon. Upon arrival and inspection, authorities blocked off an area about 100 feet in all directions from the ordnance.  The scene was later turned over to the Department of Land and Natural Resources (DLNR).  DLNR has notified the Explosive Ordnance Disposal team, who is scheduled to inspect and dispose of the object tomorrow.  Until the assessment, officers will monitor the restricted area whose barriers are 100 feet in all directions.

 

 

Around 8:15 a.m., the Maui Police Department and the Explosive Ordnance Disposal (EOD) team of Oahu met at Sugar Beach in North Kihei to coordinate the removal of the unexploded ordnance.

 

After assessment,  the ordnance was classified as an M301A3 81 millimeter mortar illumination round. After classification the round was taken to the Ukumehame Firing Range for safe detonation.

 

...and this week, wedged in a tree near the Kihei Police Station - This one was LIVE

 

 

The Maui Police Department reports that on Wednesday, December 8, 2021, Haleakala Ranch Security personnel contacted them after locating an unexploded ordnance, which appeared to be a mortar wedged in the trunk area of a tree in the field area inland of Piilani Highway and south of the Kihei Police Station. Army EOD was contacted and made aware of the finding. Due to the area being isolated and secured by fences and locked gates, arrangements were made to fly out on Thursday, December 9, 2021, to render the mortar safe.

 

On Thursday, December 9, 2021, Army EOD removed the mortar from the tree, and upon further inspection, found it to be a live 60 MM High Explosive mortar with the safety pin and primer still intact. Army EOD also reported the high explosives were beginning to seep out as the mortar was rusty and eroding.

 

The mortar was taken to a location further away from the Kihei Police Station, where it was rendered safe without incident.

 

 

"Aloha and Welcome Visitors, E komo mai, enjoy your visit to our island paradise, but please do not approach the Monk Seals......and the Mortar rounds, bombs, miscellaneous UXO's...."

 

[Salvage Sailor]

The Army Corps says one central message for residents is the importance of safety.

They teach the 3 Rs:

• Recognize that what’s found is a potential hazard.
• Don’t pick it up. Retreat Away.
• Then report it immediately by calling 911.

Sprinkler head?  Uh, no...

 

This before and after photo shows a seemingly innocuous piece of metal turned out to be a mortar.(Army Corps of Engineers)

 

 

In 2002, a student discovered a hand grenade in the Waimea Middle school’s garden. It was the first of three found on the campus.  Across the entire site, crews found a total of 27 unexploded ordinances.  Technicians are now retracing the steps that crews took two decades ago ― and they’re still finding explosives.

 

“We found four additional hand grenades and three practice land mines,” Zulick said.  How long until that one site is completely cleared?

Up to a decade, the Army Corps estimates.

 

In the last 20 years, the Army Corps of Engineers has recovered more than 2,700 unexploded ordnances in the Waikoloa Maneuver Area. Officials believe there are thousands more explosives still out there.

 

”These munitions are relatively inert as long as they’re not disturbed,” said state Department of Health Environmental Specialist Sven Lindstrom. “If they’re picked up if, you bang on them or hit them, that’s when you could potentially set one of these things off. Digging in the ground is a big cause for concern for us.”

 

Perhaps the most significant challenge: The Waikoloa Maneuver Area is massive. As in the size of 100,000 football fields massive. It spans from the popular resort area in Waikoloa east to Waimea and beyond.

 

Every inch of it must be meticulously surveyed.

 

[Salvage Sailor]

OOPS!  The Army built it's Hawaii R & R campsite on a live bombing range at Bellows Field?

 

 

News Item:  Popular beach campsite to close for exhaustive unexploded munitions review after 25-pound bomb is found

 

 

No digging restrictions are in currently in place for the 24 acre parcel outlined in red. Officials are planning to close the Menehune campground for the entire month of August so technicians can sweep the area using high tech metal detectors.

 

[Salvage Sailor]

The area is one of four munitions response sites currently being investigated at Bellows Air Force Station.

 

The military says it recently unearthed six WWII-era mortars and grenades in Waimanalo, scattered throughout an area some residents use as a beach access.  State health officials are calling the hidden hazards a threat to public safety.

 

The site sits at the southernmost point of Bellows Air Force Station, north of Waimanalo Bay State Recreation Area.

 

While it’s supposed to be off limits to the public, the military says its no trespassing signs do little to keep people out. HNN Investigates confirmed the area is often frequented by hikers, the homeless and off-roaders.  But state health officials and the military warn it’s not a safe place to wander.

 

Technicians recently discovered the six World War II-era munitions on the approximately 140-acre site, which was once at the center of an urban warfare training camp.  Despite cleanup efforts that started decades ago, officials believe there are likely still more bombs out there.

[Salvage Sailor]

Waimanalo Gunnery Range (Bellows Field, Oahu)

Established 1917