UXO Site selected: Dover Air Force Base Precision Bombing Range, DE
General Area: Smyrna, DE

Site Type/Program: FUDS

Location: The site, composed of 3,500 acres, is a part of the 15,978 acres Bombay Hook National Wildlife Refuge(NWR). Nearly three quarters of the landscape is low, flat, tidal marshlands less than ten feet above sea level with winding rivers and creeks.

Brief History: The United States War Department through a use permit dated 4 August 1944, acquired the site from the U.S. Department of Interior(DOI). The site was developed as a secret rocket testing range and was operated by the Research and Development Service, U.S. Army Air Force Base for air and ground rocket testing. The AAF made several improvements for operations purposes. These included two major range areas, precision (aerial rocket) range, and high explosive (rocket launch rail) range. The precision range was 2,000 yards long, bordered by a 1.5 mile tidal marsh area for aircraft rocket flight testing. The high explosive range, with a fixed rail rocket launcher located south of the precision range, was used for ground test of high explosive ammunition and rockets. The General Services Administration declared the site as excess in 1948. The use permit terminated in 1952 and control reverted to the DOI. According to the terms of the permit, the War Department cleared the area of duds in 1947 and 1948, and disposed of some of the buildings and towers. The remaining DOD installed structures were disposed of or abandoned by refuge personnel shortly after the War Department vacated the site.
Range / Site Description:

Associated Munitions:

Activities Completed: The Archives Search Report for the former Dover Air Force Base PBR was completed in September 1995 by the US Army Corps of Engineers, Rock Island District.

Issues: Approximately 75% of this site is salt water tidal marsh land and fresh water pools. Since site closure, the DOI has excavated, rebuilt, and added new dikes and freshwater pools. The Park Service desires to leave this area alone as the bald eagle, peregrine falcon and other water fowl use this area extensively throughout the year. There have been no injuries caused by OE since site closure, and a system is in place to remove the hazards as they occur. When OE is found, the NWR reports it to the nearby Dover AFB EOD. The EOD then takes care of the matter. There have been no instances where unexploded ordnance has caused any injury to anyone on the refugee. The safety threat from the general mud and deep silt along with the limited daily time periods between tidal actions will make remedial actions a very lengthy process.

Other Information: EE/CA
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Dover AFB FUDS- Click Map for Larger View
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