UXO Site selected: Grey Goose Island, Canada
General Area: , Canada

Site Type/Program: Canadian UXO Legacy

Location: Grey Goose Island is located 65 kilometers northwest of Chisasibi, Quebec, in the northeastern sector of James Bay, Canada. Grey Goose Island is part of Nunavut.

Brief History: At the height of the Cold War, Canada granted the United States use of a section of James Bay for the purpose of bombing and gunnery training. From 1958 to 1965, Grey Goose Island, which is at the center of this section of James Bay, was used as the target for high altitude photo reconnaissance practice using the RB-52C Stratofortress. 150-lb M120 photoflash bombs, dropped from high altitude, were set to explode at medium altitude. These bombs produced a very bright light for a fraction of a second, which allowed for photography of ground based targets. In addition, the bombers may have dropped practice bombs and fired small caliber machine gun rounds in the area. In 1965, the range ceased to be used. In the interests of public safety, it has since been retained by Canada’s Department of National Defence (DND) because of the possibility that unexploded explosive ordnance (UXO) such as photoflash bombs and other munitions may still remain in the area.
Range / Site Description:

Associated Munitions: Bombs: 150-lb M120 photoflash bombs. If these heavy bombs failed to explode in the air as intended, they may have penetrated the surface of the island or the surrounding seabed to a substantial depth; Practice Bombs: 11½ or 16½-lb practice bombs.

Activities Completed:

Issues:

Other Information: Limited information exists on the extent to which Grey Goose Island was used for bombing practice and no information has yet been obtained concerning the amount of UXO that may remain on the Island. Steps being taken to mitigate risks to the public are as follows: * DND is conducting a community visit to nearby Chisasibi in order to gather anecdotal information from elders and perform a site reconnaissance of Grey Goose Island; * A community meeting is planned for the summer of 2006 to increase public awareness of UXO; and * Once historical research is completed, a decision will be made regarding the need for future site investigation work using geophysical survey technology.
If you have or know of any chanegs to the information posted about or want to donate additional images or reports on Grey Goose Island, Canada, please email UXOInfo.com at information@uxoinfo.com

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