Live artillery round discovered near Snake River

Wednesday, April 10, 2013

Authorities warn never to touch old ordnance found in the desert.

An airman from Mountain Home Air Force Base who was out walking his dog in an area on the Snake River known as Hole 13 on Saturday, discovered what he knew from his military training was an artillery round that was over the cliff near the Snake River.

The airman reported his finding to Elmore County Sheriff's dispatch. County deputies and a BLM ranger responded. Deputies requested the assistance from Mountain Home Air Force Base's explosive ordinance disposal unit. Bomb technicians from the base determined that the device was a M107 155mm artillery round that contained l5 pounds of high explosives. The device had a live fuse that was still intact. The round was deemed too unstable to be removed and was destroyed by EOD teams on site.

The bomb technicians told the deputies that to the best of their knowledge, Mountain Home Air Force Base has not used any live artillery rounds like that since the 1960s.

The Elmore County Sheriff's Office reminded the public that when "you are out in the desert or on public land and you discover something looks like an artillery round or looks like military type items, you are encouraged not pick it up, shoot at it or attempt to keep it as a souvenir. You should contact your local Law Enforcement Agency."

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Anyone know where this Hole 13 is close to? I asked locals that have lived here their entire life and say they know the river well, but none have heard of this. Just looking for a general area so that we can be on the lookout if in the general area. Do not need an exact area nor expecting that.

-- Posted by B Mullen on Wed, Apr 10, 2013, at 4:36 PM
I was the one who found it, it was off of gravel pit road 1.1miles off the highway, I walked over to the edge of the cliff that looks into the canyon, and I spotted it 200yd down, near the river. Took a grid coordinate reading and contacted authorities.

-- Posted by Patchett on Thu, Apr 11, 2013, at 10:20 AM
Thanks. Have friends that go in that area all the time and will remind them to keep an eye out.

-- Posted by B Mullen on Thu, Apr 11, 2013, at 10:28 PM

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