WWII-Era Bomb Found in Colorado

A routine construction project in Aurora, Colorado, took an unexpected turn when workers unearthed a World War II-era bomb on Monday. The cast iron military ordnance, identified as a Mark 23 Mod 1 training round, was discovered in an area that was once part of the Lowry Bombing and Gunnery Range, a site used for military training from 1938 to 1963. The Arapahoe County Sheriff’s Department confirmed that bomb squads were called to assess the situation, and X-ray examinations revealed that the device posed no immediate danger. The Mark 23 Mod 1 bomb, weighing three pounds, was primarily utilized for land target practice during the war. Although it was designed for training purposes, officials emphasized that such munitions can still be hazardous. The Colorado Department of Public Health & Environment (CDPHE) noted that the area, spanning approximately 100 square miles, has been the focus of ongoing cleanup efforts to remove remnants of military ordnance from its extensive history of use by various branches of the armed forces. In a social media post, the Arapahoe Sheriff’s office shared details of the discovery, urging the public to exercise caution around any found munitions. They reiterated that even training devices can be dangerous and should only be handled by trained professionals. The mini bomb is now secured at Buckley Space Force Base, as authorities continue to monitor the site for any further historical artifacts.