WW2 Bombs Cleared from Solomon Islands

[TS]

Just came across this in the NZ Herald.
I guess things like this are all over the Pacfic on Islands that they have not even looked at... As we all know they are still digging them up in France from W.W.1.



WWII bombs cleared in Solomon Islands
By Kurt Bayer @kurtbayerapnz Email Kurt 11:38 AM Wednesday Jul 17, 2013

The demolition of the WWII munition breaches the surface in the shallow bay Four tonnes of unexploded World War Two bombs, mortars, projectiles and grenades have been cleared by New Zealand Defence Force experts in Solomon Islands.

The crack team found hundreds of unexploded weapons nestled among villagers homes and surrounding jungle before safely detonating them.

NZDF commander Trevor Leslie led the multi-national military Operation Pukaurua with more than 150 personnel from New Zealand, Solomon Islands Police, Australian Defence Force, the United States and Canadian Navies.

The team found more than 1500 90mm high explosive projectiles off Sasavele Island alone.

"We then shifted our focus to Rendova, which was cleared of all known ordnance, and then turned our attention to the village of Munda, where we found explosives around peoples' homes and in the surrounding jungle," said Commander Leslie.

"It's a tough job, but at the same time it's a fantastic adventure. I was in the middle of the tropics, blowing up bits of old bombs and making a community a safer place to live in."

- APNZ

[raymond]

Jul 17, 2013 13:49:12 GMT 12 TS said:

I guess things like this are all over the Pacfic on Islands that they have not even looked at... As we all know they are still digging them up in France from W.W.1.

We were over there late 80's/early 90's (with 3 Sqn)and there was an Ozzie army W/O working full time collecting munitions with a team of locals, he said the stuff was everywhere even in the trees. He had cleared a quite a bit but said that he hadnt even looked at the main battle areas ie bloody ridge. Not only was it everywhere on land but also in the seas around the place and there were unexploded bombs by the oil pipeline they use to discharge from tankers. This guy would drive up in his old landrover with a load of munitions rolling around the back and then off to the end of the runway somewhere and blow it up!