UXO Causes Temporary Airport Closure

Bari, Italy Authorities at the Palese Airport temporarily closed the runways when a construction crew found an unexploded WWII era U.S. bomb buried near one their runways. EOD was called in to respond and identified the UXO as a WWII era 500-lbs bomb. It is believed that the bomb was a result of allied air raids that occurred between 1942 and 1943. EOD safely removed the bomb and disposed of it through a controlled detonation. The runways were re-opened shortly after the hazard was removed.

Homeowners Find WWII Era Grenade in Garden

Ballart, Australia Homeowners moving soil in their garden came across an old hand grenade. Initially the couple thought it was a potato but after removing some of the soil from around the item, they quickly discovered that it was no potato they were holding. After realizing what they had found was a hand grenade, the couple called the police who responded with an Australian Defence Force bomb disposal team. EOD identified the grenade as an un-fuzed WWII era British No. 36 high-explosive filled grenade. EOD safely transported the grenade to Melbourne for proper disposal.

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Buried Munitions Cache Found In Residential Garden

St. Margarets, United Kingdom construction workers digging in the garden of a residential lot uncovered a small cache of munitions. The workers called the police who responded with a Royal Army EOD from Shornecliffe Barracks. EOD identified the munitions as live anti-tank grenades (quantity not reported) and another dozen WWII era mortar shells. Fifty rounds of small arms ammunition was also found buried in the garden.

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Grenade Found on Vacant Lot

Gainesville, Georgia A local resident clearing debris and trash from a vacant property uncovered a hand grenade. Not knowing if the grenade was real or a fake toy grenade, the man promptly called the police to report the find. The local sheriff's office responded along with the fire department. The fire department confirmed the grenade was of military origin and also determined the grenade's fuze and spoon were still intact. Since the grenade was a live military UXO, the Army EOD unit from Fort Stewart was called to provide support. EOD responded and safely transported the grenade from the area for proper disposal. EOD identified the UXO as a live WWII era MK II hand grenade. Authorities are unsure how the grenade ended up at the property.

Fishing Trawler Nets Unexploded Sea Mine

Port Seton, Scotland The captain of a fishing trawler brought up an old sea mine in his nets while fishing approximately three miles from Inchkeith island. The captain reportedly dragged the sea mine closer to shore before calling the Coastguard to report the find. The Coastguard responded with a Royal Navy EOD Dive team based out of Faslane Naval Base for technical support. EOD identified the sea mine as a live WWII era British Mark 9 bottom mine. EOD setup a counter charge to detonate the sea mine about a mile off shore from Port Seton. Following the safe detonation of the sea mine the Coastguard issued a reminder notice to mariners of potential for WWII era UXO in the area and instructed boaters to report any munitions finds to the Coastguard.

WWII Era Sea Mine Found By Divers

Dorset, England Commercial divers working in just over 60 feet of water in Swanage Bay found a munition item on the sea bed. The munition was located approximately 1-mile offshore from Ballard Point. The divers called the Coastguard who responded and set up an exclusion zone around the area before calling in a British Royal Navy EOD team for support. A Royal Navy EOD team from Devonport Naval Base responded to provide technical support to the munitions discovery.

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UXO Disposal Response Results in Potential Mustard Exposure

South, Wales Two British Army EOD Technicians that took part in a controlled detonation of a discovered UXO have reportedly been treated for mustard agent exposure. The unexploded WWII era projectile was discovered on a beach on the Gower Peninsula. EOD responded and decided to conduct a controlled detonation in place to dispose of the UXO. The disposal operation went off as planned however, three days later, two of the EOD Technicians involved in the disposal operation reported experiencing blisters on their skin indicative of mustard exposure. The two technicians were treated at a hospital and subsequently released.

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Swimming Pool Construction Results in Ordnance Find

Satellite Beach, Florida A construction crew digging to build a pool in a residential property uncovered a munition item. The workers called the police to report the find and alerted the homeowner to evacuate the house. The police responded and carefully moved the bomb away from the residence after evacuating several neighbors. The police called the military for support and an EOD team from Patrick AFB was dispatched to the scene.

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Man Uncovers UXO in Garden and Washes It In Kitchen Sink

Exeter, United Kingdom A 32-year old man digging in his back garden uncovered what he thought was an old lawn mower part. Curious as to what exactly the item was, the man decided to take it in his house where he proceeded to wash the dirt off the item in his kitchen sink. The man then left the item near the sink to dry off as he researched the Internet to see if he could identify the newly found object. After some searching, the man suspected that the item was a munition. Not sure exactly what to do, the man decided that he would put the munition back in his garden before calling the police to report the find.

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WWII Crash Site Excavation Results in UXO Find

Ebberston, United Kingdom A group working under an active permit to excavate the crash site of a WWII era British bomber uncovered one of the plane's 500 lbs bomb. The group called the Royal Air Force who dispatched an EOD team to investigate the find. Due to the condition of the unexploded bomb, EOD decided to conduct a blow in place operation. To limit potential damage to nearby buildings including a large greenhouse, EOD spent approximately two full days preparing the site for the disposal operation by surrounding the bomb with one ton sandbags to limit the fragmentation. Nearby roads were closed and residents were evacuated during the disposal operation.

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