100 WWII Bombs Discovered in U.S. Embassy in Philippines

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mekender
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100 WWII Bombs Discovered in U.S. Embassy in Philippines

Post by mekender »

http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,482525,00.html
MANILA, Philippines — Construction workers accidentally unearthed about 100 bombs from World War II in the U.S. Embassy compound in the Philippine capital, but the explosives posed no immediate danger, police said Saturday.

The heavily corroded mortar bombs and artillery shells will be taken to an aerial bombing range in the northern Philippines for disposal, police Senior Superintendent Pablo Francisco Balagtas said.

It was not immediately clear if the ordnance was American or Japanese, Balatagas said.

U.S. Embassy spokeswoman Rebecca Thompson said workers found the bombs Friday as they were digging the foundations for new visa and veterans' facilities at the seaside embassy. Workers and staff were immediately evacuated as a safety precaution while the police bomb squad removed the explosives, Thompson said.

Normal embassy operations resumed Saturday, she said.

Manila was the scene of heavy fighting between U.S. and Japanese forces during the liberation of the Philippines in 1945, and war-era explosives are often found in the city.
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Cybrludite
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Re: 100 WWII Bombs Discovered in U.S. Embassy in Philippines

Post by Cybrludite »

Given they were able to move them, I'm guessing the shells were ours. A lot of the WWII Japanese stuff still used picric acid for the explosive, and picric acid becomes less stable than a red-headed ex-girlfriend during "that time of the month" when in contact with rusty metal.
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