Assateague Beach Being Surveyed After ‘Large Cache’ Found; WWII Ordnance Detonated Tuesday

ASSATEAGUE -- There was no shortage of pre-Fourth of July fireworks on Assateague Island this week after over 100 pieces of World War II era unexploded ordnance were discovered and then purposefully detonated with at least two explosions on Tuesday.

On Monday afternoon, a visitor walking along the North Ocean Beach area of the Assateague Island National Seashore discovered a single piece of interesting debris on the beach and brought the discovery to the attention of park rangers. Park rangers were able to quickly identify the strange artifact as a piece of military ordnance left over from the island’s rich history as a military test range.

Following park protocol, the Ocean City Bomb Squad was called to the island to investigate and make an assessment of the discovery. An examination of the site where the debris was found revealed an extensive cache of World War II military ordnance. The Ocean City Bomb Squad determined the size, scale and type of munitions discovered on the beach were beyond its protocol and the Emergency Ordnance Disposal (EOD) team from Aberdeen Proving Ground was brought in.
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