While diving around
Falmouth Bay recently, looking for the old WWII degaussing field he
had seen before, Mark Milburn came across what he thought was a
possible bomb. He had seen a similar one before, which he had
reported to the Explosive Ordnance Disposal Unit (EODU), who then
came to detonate the device. The co-ordinates were stored, there was
no way of acquiring an exact position without attaching something to
the device, with a straight line to the surface. Mr Milburn returned
with some volunteer divers, to help re-locate the suspected bomb.
They would also film, photograph and measure it. Then the images
could be shown to the EODU, in the hope they could identify it.
Falmouth Bay recently, looking for the old WWII degaussing field he
had seen before, Mark Milburn came across what he thought was a
possible bomb. He had seen a similar one before, which he had
reported to the Explosive Ordnance Disposal Unit (EODU), who then
came to detonate the device. The co-ordinates were stored, there was
no way of acquiring an exact position without attaching something to
the device, with a straight line to the surface. Mr Milburn returned
with some volunteer divers, to help re-locate the suspected bomb.
They would also film, photograph and measure it. Then the images
could be shown to the EODU, in the hope they could identify it.
They waited until some
favourable weather came along. Conditions were not ideal, but the
divers descended to look for the object. The device took a while to
relocate, due to the in water visibility. Once relocated, the
remaining dive time was short, the visibility wasn't great and the
surface conditions were worsening. The dive was called off, they
would have to return.
favourable weather came along. Conditions were not ideal, but the
divers descended to look for the object. The device took a while to
relocate, due to the in water visibility. Once relocated, the
remaining dive time was short, the visibility wasn't great and the
surface conditions were worsening. The dive was called off, they
would have to return.
A few days later, the
weather forecast was good, so they planned their returned. On
arrival, the surface conditions were greatly improved compared to
their last visit. Mr Milburn and his buddy, Sue Barnes, descended to
the sea bed. Within five minutes they were on the device, they
photographed and filmed the object before Mr Milburn marked the site
with a buoy. After their dive, the second buddy pair of David Gibbins
and Katrina Mace, went down, to take even more photographs. After the
dives, they all discussed what they had seen. They all believed it
was highly probable that it was a parachute mine, possibly a type GC
with it's end cap still in place. They arrived back late that
evening, so waited until the following morning to contact the
authorities.
weather forecast was good, so they planned their returned. On
arrival, the surface conditions were greatly improved compared to
their last visit. Mr Milburn and his buddy, Sue Barnes, descended to
the sea bed. Within five minutes they were on the device, they
photographed and filmed the object before Mr Milburn marked the site
with a buoy. After their dive, the second buddy pair of David Gibbins
and Katrina Mace, went down, to take even more photographs. After the
dives, they all discussed what they had seen. They all believed it
was highly probable that it was a parachute mine, possibly a type GC
with it's end cap still in place. They arrived back late that
evening, so waited until the following morning to contact the
authorities.
Early Wednesday
morning, Mr Milburn called the MCA, they requested some photographs.
The MCA then passed them onto the EODU. On seeing the images, the
EODU contacted Mr Milburn and stated that it needed looking at, to
see if it was indeed a potentially dangerous device. They were
loading up and would be down within two hours.
morning, Mr Milburn called the MCA, they requested some photographs.
The MCA then passed them onto the EODU. On seeing the images, the
EODU contacted Mr Milburn and stated that it needed looking at, to
see if it was indeed a potentially dangerous device. They were
loading up and would be down within two hours.
The EODU arrived at
Maenporth Beach, the closest place the device to launch their boat.
After some starting issues, they made their way out. One of their
divers went in. We all waited to find out what the device was. Time
passed slowly on that cold afternoon. Eventually the diver came up,
the boat returned. The C.O. stated that it was in fact a parachute
mine, type GC. There was not enough daylight to continue with a
disposal, they would have to return the following morning.
Maenporth Beach, the closest place the device to launch their boat.
After some starting issues, they made their way out. One of their
divers went in. We all waited to find out what the device was. Time
passed slowly on that cold afternoon. Eventually the diver came up,
the boat returned. The C.O. stated that it was in fact a parachute
mine, type GC. There was not enough daylight to continue with a
disposal, they would have to return the following morning.
On Thursday morning,
the EODU left Falmouth on their boat, followed by the RNLI, the
harbour master and the harbour pilot. The EODU sent a diver down,
while the other boats kept all other vessels at bay. On the shore at
Maenporth, several dozen people waited patiently for the detonation.
The EODU's boat moved away. A small column of water shot up, followed
a few seconds later by a short bang. Everyone looked at each other,
“was that it?” was heard echoed amongst the onlookers. Surely
not? Compared to the last detonation five years ago, this was a bit
of a damp squib. Everyone kept watching and recording. The EODU
returned to the location, a diver descended. Fifteen minutes later,
all the boats were off, that was it. The MCA told us, that the EODU
had declared that it was now safe.
the EODU left Falmouth on their boat, followed by the RNLI, the
harbour master and the harbour pilot. The EODU sent a diver down,
while the other boats kept all other vessels at bay. On the shore at
Maenporth, several dozen people waited patiently for the detonation.
The EODU's boat moved away. A small column of water shot up, followed
a few seconds later by a short bang. Everyone looked at each other,
“was that it?” was heard echoed amongst the onlookers. Surely
not? Compared to the last detonation five years ago, this was a bit
of a damp squib. Everyone kept watching and recording. The EODU
returned to the location, a diver descended. Fifteen minutes later,
all the boats were off, that was it. The MCA told us, that the EODU
had declared that it was now safe.
Bemused about the
events, we discussed what had happened. We can only assume that the
mine came down so fast, without the parachute deploying, that it
damaged the internal working and cracked the watertight casing.
Seventy five years of salt water ingress, may have caused the
explosives to be harmless.
events, we discussed what had happened. We can only assume that the
mine came down so fast, without the parachute deploying, that it
damaged the internal working and cracked the watertight casing.
Seventy five years of salt water ingress, may have caused the
explosives to be harmless.
After the detonation Mr
Milburn said “I suppose I should now go and look for the other two
I have previously seen now”.
Milburn said “I suppose I should now go and look for the other two
I have previously seen now”.
