UXO Site selected: Townsend Range, GA
General Area: Townsend, GA

Site Type/Program: Air National Guard Operational

Location: Townsend Air-to-Ground Gunnery Range, GA is located in the west central portion of McIntosh County in southeastern Georgia, approximately 5 miles northwest of Townsend.

Brief History: In late 1940, the Army Air Corps acquired the land for a bombing range to be used by the 3rd and 27th Bombardment Groups at Savannah Army Air Base. The land was leased from the Union Bag and Paper Company, a timber company. By the end of 1942, the Townsend Bombing Range consisted of 12,851 acres held by lease. The lease also restricted the use of ordnance containing four pounds of black powder or less to restrict potential damage to the timber. Throughout the war, the facilities at Townsend were expanded and enhanced to serve its mission. In 1944, the range complex occupied 22,633.4 acres and consisted of three bomb targets, a rifle range, machine gun range, dive bombing range, and high and low altitude bombing ranges. The use and size of the Bombing Range was reduced after the war. 34,410 acres were declared excess, and the leases were to be terminated by 30 June 1946. By 1959, the range was controlled by Hunter Air Force Base (AFB) and consisted of only 5,110.59 acres before its evacuation was authorized. The range then went back to private ownership until 1981 when it was re-opened. The Marine Corps leased 3,882 acres from the Union Camp Corporation, and the range was manned and operated by the Georgia Air National Guard. In 1991, the Marine Corps purchased a portion of the range - 2,773 acres. Additional land was later purchased to expand the bombing range to 5,182 acres.
Range / Site Description:

MCAS Beaufort owns the Townsend Bombing Range in McIntosh County, Ga. Through an agreement with the Air Station, the Georgia Air National Guard manages and operates the day-to-day operations of the bombing range. The 5,182-acre Townsend Range is used routinely by all services to fine-tune the bombing skills of aviators. The Townsend Range, part of the Georgia Air Guard's Combat Readiness Training Center in Savannah, directs more that 3,000 training flights each year.

The following targets are available at the Townsend Bombing Range:
  • Conventional Bull's-Eye - Concentric circles of 23 meters and 46 meters. Authorized ordnance is limited to MK 76, BDU 33, MK 106, and 2.75-inch rockets
  • SAM Site - Simulated SAM site acquisition radar (SA-6/11). Authorized ordnance is limited to MK 76, BDU 33, MK 106, and 2.75-inch rockets
  • Command Post - CP surrounded by vehicles and a convoy. Authorized ordnance is limited to MK 76, BDU 33, and MK106.
  • Heavyweight Target - Heavyweight ordnance is approved for this target. Authorized ordnance is limited to MK 76, BDU 33, MK 106, inert bombs and 30mm.
  • High Angle Strafe Targets - Visually scored orange and white, two-meter square box surrounded by sand to highlight target. Laser use is not authorized.
  • Moving Target - Tethered vehicle traveling a 23-meter circular path. BDU-33, MK 76 and MK 106 are authorized.
  • Strafe Targets


Associated Munitions: Practice bombs - MK 76, BDU 33, MK 106
30mm projectiles and 2.75-inch rockets

Activities Completed: Archives Search Report (2000)

Issues: MCAS Beaufort owns the Townsend Bombing Range. Through an agreement with the Air Station, the Georgia Air National Guard manages and operates the day-to-day operations of the bombing range.

Other Information: Operational Range still in use, no cleanup or remediation planned.
If you have or know of any chanegs to the information posted about or want to donate additional images or reports on Townsend Range, GA, please email UXOInfo.com at information@uxoinfo.com

Back To UXO Site Search Page
Back to UXO Site Inventory Search Page                        UXOInfo.com Home