We'd Like Our Bombs Back Please!
By Jeff Moffitt
@moffittjc (121736)
Gainesville, Florida
July 3, 2019 3:37am CST
I heard an interesting story on the news yesterday. A US Air Force bomber was flying a bombing mission over north Florida (practice of course, not the real thing) when the plane struck a bird. I'm sure it's quite common for both commercial and military planes to strike birds, but what made this story unusual is that the impact was hard enough that it knocked three of the bombs off the plane.
Since it was just a training mission for the bomber, the bombs were "dummy" bombs and not live ammunition. The Air Force released a statement giving a general area where the bombs might have fallen, and asked that no one touch them if they happen to find them. The Air Force then went on to say "We'd like our bombs back please!" It seems that they don't want anyone to find them and keep them as souvenirs!
Which reminds me of a story my dad told about when he was a kid growing up on the Atlantic coast of south Florida. Back during the early 40s, the island of Manalapan (just south of the town of Palm Beach) was used by the military as training grounds for jungle warfare for fighting the Japanese in the Pacific during WWII. My dad and his friends would always explore and play on the beaches of Manalapan and one day they saw something metal sticking up out of the sand. Upon closer look the realized it was the tail fin of a WWII bomb. Him and his friend dug it up and took it home. My dad says one night there was a knock at the door, and when his mom opened the door she was greeted by two Navy officers accompanied by the Military Police, and they were looking for their bomb! Needless to say, my dad was grounded for quite some time after that!
23 people like this
20 responses
@LadyDuck (472087)
• Switzerland
3 Jul 19
We still find bombs dropped during the WWII in Italy almost every day (from Germans, British and Americans). They have found one a few days ago in Switzerland, this is a Neutral country, but it was also bombed by Americans, your President personally intervened to stop the bombing here.
3 people like this
@moffittjc (121736)
• Gainesville, Florida
3 Jul 19
I read a newspaper story yesterday about some wildfires burning in France that have caused several unexploded bombs from WWI to explode. It is hard to believe that so many decades later there are still so many unexploded bombs around.
1 person likes this
@LadyDuck (472087)
• Switzerland
3 Jul 19
@moffittjc There are so many bombs still not exploded here in Europe. They have found many in Milan when they have dug for the subway. They have also found ancient Romans artifacts.
1 person likes this
@cperry2 (5608)
• Newport, Oregon
3 Jul 19
I was reading just the other day that there was a 'mysterious' explosion in a field somewhere in Germany. The officials state that it was most likely a failed WW2 bomb and that the primer rusted away setting it off. I would think that a frightening way to live, never knowing when the ground might explode right under your feet.
1 person likes this
@LindaOHio (181931)
• United States
3 Jul 19
I wonder how they knew he had found a bomb?
1 person likes this
@moffittjc (121736)
• Gainesville, Florida
3 Jul 19
@LindaOHio No, I need to check it out.
1 person likes this
@moffittjc (121736)
• Gainesville, Florida
3 Jul 19
He told me he thinks all the kids were talking about it at school and someone overheard and alerted the authorities.
1 person likes this
@LindaOHio (181931)
• United States
3 Jul 19
@moffittjc I see. Did you hear about the new invasive species in Florida? I just did a post on it.
1 person likes this
@bagarad (14283)
• Paso Robles, California
7 Jul 19
@moffittjc They used to store ammo along Pacific Coast Hwy near Long Beach, California. I remember we used to drive past the places where they keep it when I was very young.
1 person likes this
@bagarad (14283)
• Paso Robles, California
7 Jul 19
@moffittjc I imagine that during the war it was guarded. I'm not even sure they still kept ammo there by the time I was seeing it years after the year was over. Maybe just the old facilities were there. Or maybe someone gave me wrong information when I asked what those funny shapes were as we passed by.
1 person likes this
@moffittjc (121736)
• Gainesville, Florida
7 Jul 19
@bagarad It's interesting that the location of the ammo storage facility was openly known by the public. You would think they would keep it somewhere secret so no one could attempt to vandalize or sabotage the facility.
1 person likes this
@BelleStarr (61101)
• United States
7 Jul 19
I don't think we will find any bombs here in CT but I suppose there might be something from the Revolutionary War/
1 person likes this
@BelleStarr (61101)
• United States
7 Jul 19
@moffittjc lol oh yah those revolutionary war airports are the worst!!
1 person likes this
@moffittjc (121736)
• Gainesville, Florida
7 Jul 19
Just stay away from those Revolutionary War airports. There's probably all kinds of munitions buried around those airports. You know, with the Continental Army guarding them and all, like Trump said.
1 person likes this
@moffittjc (121736)
• Gainesville, Florida
7 Jul 19
@BelleStarr But thank God General Washington and his troops were able to secure them so quickly during the war!
1 person likes this
@moffittjc (121736)
• Gainesville, Florida
13 Jul 19
@DianneN There was a middle school right down the street that he went to as well (junior high school back in those days), and then for high school he went to Lake Worth High School. I think I'll try to look it up and see if the elementary and middle schools are still there.
1 person likes this
@moffittjc (121736)
• Gainesville, Florida
11 Jul 19
I'm sure all the kids were talking about it in school and someone overheard and called the authorities. By the way, my dad attended Lantana Elementary School. I wonder if it is still around these days?
1 person likes this
@DianneN (247184)
• United States
12 Jul 19
@moffittjc I'm sure they talked about it. I will have to find out if your dad's school is still there when we return. I tend to stay far away from schools these days. lol
1 person likes this
@moffittjc (121736)
• Gainesville, Florida
3 Jul 19
We have a military bombing range about 45 minutes south of where I live. There have been many times when I have driven down and parked my truck along the perimeter of the bombing range and sat and watch Navy and Air Force jets practice their bombing runs. Things like that always fascinate me.
1 person likes this
@moffittjc (121736)
• Gainesville, Florida
3 Jul 19
@Nevena83 My dad was a fighter pilot in the Navy. He fought in the Vietnam War. My whole family is military. My grandfather fought in the Korean War. I have always been fascinated with military aircraft. My fascination isn't necessarily towards the bombs they drop, but the fighter jets themselves. I don't like the fact that anyone gets killed, If I had my way, we would have world peace where we all got along and co-existed together.
2 people like this
@Nevena83 (65277)
• Serbia
3 Jul 19
@moffittjc How can that fascinate you? 
It's a weapon that kills.
It's a weapon that kills.1 person likes this
@smileyhema (4606)
• United States
4 Jul 19
Both were shocking incidents. But that was very interesting that your dad and his friend took those to home. =)
1 person likes this
@smileyhema (4606)
• United States
4 Jul 19
@moffittjc Haha! I understand.., so do I! :-)
1 person likes this
@moffittjc (121736)
• Gainesville, Florida
4 Jul 19
They were just kids, they didn't know any better! I probably would have done the same thing if I dug up a bomb somewhere!
1 person likes this
@DWDavis (25805)
• United States
4 Jul 19
A few miles north of here, down deep in the mud of a swamp, is a nuclear bomb that fell out of a B-52 back when they were stationed at the nearby airbase. In 1961, a B-52 broke up in flight over Goldsboro and its load of nukes fell to the ground. All were recovered but 1. It is still out there. In 2013, the fact that one of the bombs nearly detonated was declassified.
1 person likes this
@DWDavis (25805)
• United States
4 Jul 19
@moffittjc The triggering device was recovered. The only danger now is from the radioactive material they left behind leaching into the local groundwater. Even this isn't necessarily a danger. The device was about 180 feet down then. No telling how far down it's gone now.
If you want to learn more about such accidents, there is a book out, Broken Arrow-The Declassified History of US Nuclear Weapons Accidents. Only read it if you want to lose sleep.
1 person likes this
@moffittjc (121736)
• Gainesville, Florida
5 Jul 19
@DWDavis I figure ignorance is bliss. The less I know about what really goes on, the better. I'll just keep living in my happy little bubble and pretend everything is all roses.
1 person likes this
@moffittjc (121736)
• Gainesville, Florida
4 Jul 19
And I'm sure there is still so much we don't know about military mishaps with nukes that have happened over the past 50-60 years. We'd be absolutely terrified if we ever knew all the mishaps and near misses that have been experienced over the years.
So, is the missing nuke that is buried in the mud somewhere a live nuke? Is there any chance that it will ever detonate?
1 person likes this
@simone10 (54187)
• Louisville, Kentucky
5 Jul 19
@moffittjc that's good! It could have really been a disaster.
1 person likes this
@moffittjc (121736)
• Gainesville, Florida
5 Jul 19
Yes, but the blasting cap was removed.
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@Tampa_girl7 (50546)
• United States
27 Jul 19
@moffittjc I can't even imagine the shock of them knocking on the door.
1 person likes this
@moffittjc (121736)
• Gainesville, Florida
27 Jul 19
My grandma said that she believes the Navy went knocking door-to-door. My dad says he thinks someone at school spilled the beans to authorities. Not sure exactly how they knew.
1 person likes this
@just4him (317277)
• Green Bay, Wisconsin
2 Aug 19
@moffittjc I'm sure someone is out looking for them. It's good they're not 'live' bombs.
1 person likes this
@moffittjc (121736)
• Gainesville, Florida
3 Jul 19
It was a training bomb, so most likely had a blasting cap but no explosives inside.
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@JudyEv (342260)
• Rockingham, Australia
4 Jul 19
@moffittjc That's a bit reassuring.
1 person likes this
@moffittjc (121736)
• Gainesville, Florida
4 Jul 19
@JudyEv There is a national forest nearby where I used to camp and hunt at for years. In the middle of the forest is a Navy bombing range, but apparently back in WWII the entire forest was used as a bombing range. There was many times when I was out hunting that I came across signs in the middle of the forest that said "Danger: unexploded bombs!" I always thought it would be cool to find one, but I never did.
1 person likes this
@HazySue (39268)
• Gouverneur, New York
3 Jul 19
How in the world did they know someone found a bomb. Your father's little adventure could have ended with a bang, luckily it didn't. It's a good thing the bombs the Air Force lost were "dummies". I wonder what kind of bird it was that was big enough to knock three bombs off the plane.
1 person likes this
@moffittjc (121736)
• Gainesville, Florida
3 Jul 19
From what my dad said, the kids must have talked about it at school (you know how hard it is for kids to keep secrets), and someone must have overhead and reported it to military officials. Luckily, my dad gave the bomb back, and the military officials gave him a stern lecture, but did not pursue further action. Times are different now. Had it happened in the current day, he probably would have been arrested by Homeland Security and charged with terrorism or something.
1 person likes this
@HazySue (39268)
• Gouverneur, New York
3 Jul 19
@moffittjc He was lucky. Is it me or are they overreacting a tad?
1 person likes this
@moffittjc (121736)
• Gainesville, Florida
4 Jul 19
@HazySue All in the name of safety I guess.
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@cperry2 (5608)
• Newport, Oregon
3 Jul 19
That's interesting. Good thing they were dummy bombs. I wonder why the military is so worried about dummy bombs being taken for souvenirs though. It's not like there would be any top secret stuff involved. Unless they are real bombs in every other way with only the explosives removed. Just seems weird.
1 person likes this
@moffittjc (121736)
• Gainesville, Florida
4 Jul 19
It might be because they don't want the design of the bombs falling into the wrong hands. Engineers could reverse engineer the bombs and learn our secrets of how our explosive ordinances work.
1 person likes this
@cperry2 (5608)
• Newport, Oregon
5 Jul 19
@moffittjc That would fit if the ones they call dummy are real in every respect except they do not have explosives.
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@cperry2 (5608)
• Newport, Oregon
6 Jul 19
@moffittjc That would be my guess as well.
1 person likes this
@rsa101 (38166)
• Philippines
3 Jul 19
Wow they were able to trace it to their homes. How did they know that you got one of the tail fin of the bomb. Where you telling them to your neighbors that is why they got your father with it. Why would they ground your father if that was just a tail fin and would not pose any danger since its just dummy bombs.
1 person likes this
@rsa101 (38166)
• Philippines
4 Jul 19
@moffittjc oh that’s what caught your dad.
1 person likes this
@moffittjc (121736)
• Gainesville, Florida
3 Jul 19
It was an entire bomb, not just the tail fin. My dad thinks some of the neighborhood kids were talking about it at school and someone overheard and alerted authorities.
1 person likes this
@snowy22315 (182344)
• United States
4 Jul 19
@moffittjc You're rightnd I be there are some they don't know about as well.
1 person likes this
@moffittjc (121736)
• Gainesville, Florida
4 Jul 19
What is really scary is all the stuff we don't know (meaning the stuff the military doesn't tell us) about what kind of bombs are out there that have been lost as the result of an accident or other means.
1 person likes this
@louievill (28851)
• Philippines
3 Jul 19
Finders keepers lol! They should post some kind of reward for finding it or for any information and it's gonna be back in no time.
1 person likes this
@moffittjc (121736)
• Gainesville, Florida
3 Jul 19
It would be nice if they offered a reward, but I'm sure instead they will use the threat of arrest to scare people into giving the bombs back if they find them.
One interesting thing is, they didn't specify how big these bombs were.
1 person likes this
@wolfgirl569 (108301)
• Marion, Ohio
3 Jul 19
Hope they find the bombs even if they are fake.
1 person likes this
@moffittjc (121736)
• Gainesville, Florida
3 Jul 19
I hope I find them first so I can have a new souvenir! haha
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