3 ms·
When I read the headline, I was wondering why in the world a bomb was being taxied on a runway, like on a cargo plane. However, now I'm wondering how a bomb was
by bmitc 2y ago
When I read the headline, I was wondering why in the world a bomb was being taxied on a runway, like on a cargo plane. However, now I'm wondering how a bomb wasn't discovered when the airport was built. From the video posted elsewhere in the comments, it looks like the bomb was buried under the runway. Are there no ground surveys done with radar before building a plane runway?
- opencl 2y agoThe airport was built in 1943.
- bmitc 2y agoAh, I guess that makes sense. According to a quick search, it seems ground-penetrating radar didn't reach common use until the 70s.
- 0cf8612b2e1e 2y agoYou can assume the entire airfield is about to be swept for more bombs.
- bityard 2y agoI haven't fact-checked anything about this, but this bomb (and its friends) were probably dropped here because it was an active military airport during WW2 and the US was desperate to put a dent in Japan's air power. After the war, thorough ordinance disposal was very likely a secondary consideration rebuilding the country. (And its runways.)