Tomales Bay Abbotts Lagoon Bombing Range ... - Corpsfuds.org

More documents

Recommendations

Info

IYPR, Tomales Bay Bombing Target SITE HISTORY: During and after World War 11,Point Reyes hosted training in skip bombing, dive bombing, landing barge practice, and air sea rescue. Dive bombers operating from Hamilton Army Air Field (AAF), Santa Rosa AAF, and Naval Air Station (NAS) Alameda practiced in the waters of Drakes Bay, Abbott's Lagoon, and Tomales Bay. The pilots also frred at towed and fixed targets on the high seas west of Tomales Point. Tomales Bay Bombing; Tarpet: A bombing target was located very near or on Hog Island in Tomales Bay. The water-borne target was constructed in Tomales Bay (Lat. 38' 12' 20.839" North, Long. 122' 56' 10.349" West) under Contract Noy 4165. The danger zone for this target was 750 yards in radius and was located 2,000 yards, 129 degrees true from the southwesterly extremity of Tom Point. See Figure 2 for the layout of Tomales Point/Abbotts Lagoon and the neighboring areas (Techlaw Inc., Preliminary Assessment Report, Drakes Bay, 31 July 1998). Navy aircraft used two types of practice bombs at this range. The first type was a miniature (three to five pound) bomb with a marker charge similar to a shotgun shell. The second was a water bomb consisting of a light metal shell filled with water. No explosives were used. A U.S. Army corps of Engineers(USACE) representative concluded that missiles' dropped in the bay would have sunk into the mud to a depth sufficient to preclude endangering any small craft navigating the area. It was determined that no further precautionary measures were necessary (Techlaw Inc., Preliminary Assessment Report, Drakes Bay, 31 July 1998). In 1952, when the Crows Landing, California target ranges were to be activated, the Government initiated action to cancel the lease for the ground rights to the Tomales Bay Bombing Target (Baker One). A storm sank the target at Tomales Bay, so no restoration was anticipated. On 21 May 1952 the Air Space Subcornmittee(Bureau of Aeronautics), Western District canceled the air space danger areas covering the Tomales Bay Bombing Target. Since no hazardous exposure pathway exists, no Department of Defense Action is Indicated (NDAI) for this area. 2
IPJPR, Tomales Bay Bombing Target Abbott's Lagoon Bombing Target: On 19 March 1941, the commanding officer at NAS Alameda requested that a permit be granted by the State Lands Commission (SLC) authorizing the Navy to use the southern portion of Abbott's Lagoon for dive bombing practice. On 4 April 1941, the SLC consented to the use of Abbott's Lagoon for dive bombing practice by the United States. Revocable Permit No. 40 took effect on 4 April 1941 and ended 4 April 1946, giving the United States the legal right to use the southern portion of the lagoon. The target area was approximately one half mile in diameter. NAS Alameda referred to the bombing target in the southern finger of Abbotts Lagoon as "Bombing Target Number Two." According to U.S. Navy records, the State of California permitted the Navy the use of this portion of Abbotts Lagoon for the construction and maintenance of target facilities in connection with bombing activities at NAS Alameda under permit number Noy(R)-54848 (Techlaw Inc., Preliminary Assessment Report, Drakes Bay, 31 July 1998). Pilots from the U.S. Army and U.S. Navy dropped practice bombs at this pyramid shaped target. The sides of the target were approximately 25 feet long, and it was anchored in the middle of the southern portion of the lagoon. Practice bombs that struck the target left white stains that washed away when it rained (Techlaw Inc., Preliminary Assessment Report, Drakes Bay, 3 1 July 1998). During the 1940s, Mr. Charlie Zetterquist, a longtime resident of the area whose father worked at the Point Reyes Lighthouse in the 1930s and 40s, found practice bombs approximately one foot long that were used at this range. The bombs had hollow wooden bodies, lead tips, and tin fins. Mr. Zetterquist also found hollow metal bombs approximately two feet long. These practice bombs were found on Point Reyes Beach and on the sandy bottom of the lagoon after it had drained. The water level in Abbotts Lagoon drops significantly when storms break down the sand bar that encloses the lagoon. On 13April 1946, a resolution was adopted by the SLC authorizing the issuance to the U.S. Navy of a five year permit with no renewal privilege, thus extending the use of the Abbotts Lagoon Bombing Target through 3 April 195 1. In 195 1, the permit was once again extended for five years ' through 3 April 1956. In 1952, when the Crows Landing Target Ranges were to be activated, the Government initiated the cancellation of the lease for the ground rights to the Abbott's Lagoon Bombing Target. On 21 May 1952, the Air Space Subcommittee(Bureau of Aeronautics), Western District canceled the air space danger areas covering the Abbott's Lagoon Bombing Target. It 3
Page 1: SITE NAMES: Tomales Bay Bombing: Ta
Page 5 and 6: INPR, Tomales Bay Bombing; Target 5
Page 7 and 8: DEFENSE ENVIRONMENTAL RESTORATION P
Page 9 and 10: \EDPUBLIC\ENV~RONMENTAL\EDS\PROJECT

Tomales Bay Abbotts Lagoon Bombing Range ... - Corpsfuds.org

You also want an ePaper? Increase the reach of your titles

Delete template?

Save as template?