The Worcester County Fire Marshal’s Office, along with the Ocean City Fire Marshal’s Office Bomb Squad and the United States Air Force 436th Civil Engineer Squadron – Emergency Ordnance Disposal team based out of Dover Air Force Base, responded to Assateague Island National Seashore shortly after 2:00 PM on Wednesday for a suspected military ordnance that washed ashore.
Maryland State Park Rangers reported the suspicious device, which triggered the response of the Fire Marshal’s Office and EOD teams to investigate.
EOD technicians determined the ordnance, which had been in the ocean for an unknown amount of time, needed to be rendered safe in place.
After clearing the beach of bystanders, the ordnance was rendered safe and the beach was reopened around 8:00 PM.
It should be noted from 1944 to 1947, during World War II, the U.S. Navy and the U.S. Army Corps used the Maryland portion of Assateague Island as a bombing and strafing range. Air crews would from Chincoteague, VA and Manteo, NC would fire practice rockets, bombs and machine guns from the air at targets on the ground.
If a member of the public observes any suspicious devices washing up on local beaches immediately report it to local authorities for further investigation.
Follow the Eastern Shore Undercover social media pages for all of your Wicomico, Worcester, and Somerset County news, events, and important information!
© 2022 Eastern Shore Undercover LLC TM/SM. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.