Posted on 06/24/2018 7:03:26 AM PDT by Eddie01
The missing machine gun that triggered the firing of a security forces chief at Minot Air Force Base, North Dakota, in May turned up in what’s probably the last place the Air Force wanted it to: stashed in an airman’s home off-base.
Minot officials announced on Wednesday that the machine gun had been recovered by Air Force Office of Special Investigation agents after obtaining a federal search warrant for the unnamed airman’s residence on June 19.
The machine gun was discovered missing during a standard weapons inventory by the 91st Missile Wing security forces on May 16, just about two weeks after airmen with the same unit reportedly lost a box of MK 19 grenades out of the back of a moving vehicle.
Security forces chief Col. Jason Beers was fired on May 23 “due to a loss of trust and confidence after a series of events under the scope of his leadership, including a recent loss of ammunition and weapons,” a 5th Bomb Wing news release said at the time. Beers landed a new job at Air Force Special Operations Command just a few weeks later.
The question remains: Why did this unnamed airman steal an M240 in the first place? Was he just some dumb kid, bored as hell with his posting at Minot and in search of some recreational fun? Or a budding arms trafficker or killer? It’s not clear, but either way, it’s not a great look for anyone involved.
I can think of a lot of worst places.
A fire cracker going off under the plugged barrel?
That photo is odd.
Airman, say hello to Leavenworth.
Does the Air Force not do the same?
from here
Yep. And the dishonorable discharge he's awarded after Leavenworth will be the gift that keeps on giving...
Me too. In fact that's about the best place it could turn up other than found in another room due to an inventory SNAFU.
Why would you need a scope to fire blanks ? lol
Uhh, right. And did they spend two weeks in the field marching every possible inch of terrain looking for the "lost" box.
LOL. Using nuclear security policy for small arms. What has the Navy come to?
That was a lot of responsibility to lose.
appears to be a belt of blanks.
A fire cracker going off under the plugged barrel?
—
Look closely - firing blanks
Probably already addressed, but- no, that M240B is equipped with a Blank Firing Adapter (BFA- the orange item at the muzzle), and is firing blank cartridges. Basically it is a plug at the muzzle with a small vent, which allows the blank round to pressurize the bore/gas system, operating the mechanism as if it was firing a round with a bullet. The flash you see is the vented propellant gases.
They are using blank ammo, the only way to get the weapon to cycle is to plug barrel.
The worst possible place would be the local mosque.
I have no idea how they treat weapon security in the air force? In the army they would know a weapon was missing immediately after they were turned in to the armory and they would know whose weapon was missing.
Yep. And the dishonorable discharge he's awarded after Leavenworth will be the gift that keeps on giving...
I would like to know a little background on this guy. Like was he an anti Trumper and had potentially a mass shooting planed?
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.