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When I left Okinawa I had the USMC EOD platoon that was responsible for the Southern half of the U.S. bases (except Kadena where we helped). These were smaller bases. The platoon averaged a little over 23 callouts a week, most from WWII.
Cleaning up mines is easier than UXOs. Mines generally are close to the surface and easier to find, lots of UXOs burrowed down and later became unearthed/exposed.
A 16” dual fused shell was found on Camp Foster during housing tear down in 2003. Dependent housing had been built over the top. 140 meters from the base gas station, 220 meters from the PX, and about 40 meters from a major highway (330). That had to be blown in place, as is often done on Okinawa due to the dangers of moving UXO through heavily built up areas.
The JSDF takes care of everything that is not on a U.S. base. Doesn’t matter who dropped.
FOG
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