A WWII-era U.S. Navy practice bomb was discovered on the Parajo Dunes in California after powerful storms caused massive waves along the coast. The bomb, covered in sea debris, was determined to be an inert military ordnance. The Santa Cruz County Sheriff bomb team and personnel from Travis Air Force Base responded to the scene and safely removed the artifact. The bomb, a U.S. WWII era Navy practice bomb, model Mk 15, Mod 2, was later transported to Travis AFB for further examination. Fortunately, it was found to be free of explosives.
While artifacts of war are rare on U.S. shores, this incident highlights the potential risk of detonation from discarded munitions. The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration warns that such devices can still pose a threat even decades after their disposal. In 2002, the U.S. Navy’s Explosive Ordnance Disposal Detachment discovered an underwater field of munitions off the coast of Oahu, Hawaii. Last year, military personnel detonated two 100-pound World War II-era gravity bombs and removed other ordnance in Hawaii.
The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers has identified over 400 underwater environments used as defense sites containing unexploded ordnances, leading to the discovery of munitions on beaches across the country. Congress took action in 1972 by passing the Marine Protection, Research, and Sanctuaries Act, which banned the disposal of munitions and pollutants in the ocean.
Exposure to military munitions has resulted in fatalities and severe injuries, including chemical exposures and health effects. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency acknowledges the dangers associated with these munitions, some of which are related to chemical warfare agents.
The discovery of the WWII-era bomb serves as a reminder of the lasting impact of war and the ongoing efforts to ensure the safety of coastal areas.
