Free Republic
Browse · Search
News/Activism
Topics · Post Article

Skip to comments.

U.S. Air Force Drones Wash Ashore On Ala. Beaches
Local 6 News ^ | 4-11-2008

Posted on 04/11/2008 5:47:48 AM PDT by Cagey

FORT MORGAN, Ala. -- Several unmanned military drones with U.S. Air Force markings washed ashore in Alabama and forced the closure of a portion of at least one beach.

Two men on spring break in the area found the first 20-foot-long drone on the shore near Fort Morgan.

An official said the drone was a target that was apparently shot down in the Gulf of Mexico as part of a weapons system evaluation program, WKRG reported.

Beachgoers first thought the drone was a swimmer in distress or a downed aircraft.

"We couldn't tell what it was a first," a beachgoer said. "You could just see little parts of it. A wave would come and then you would see another part."

A guard was posted to protect to protect the drone at the beach.

A second drone was also found Thursday at the end of Cabana Beach, according to the Press Register newspaper.

The second discovery was near the Plantation subdivision.

An official said it was not known exactly when the drones went down but exercises usually occur 40 to 70 miles offshore.

Both had barnacles on them, suggesting they had been in the water for some time, an official said.

The drones did not pose a danger to beachgoers, officials said.

Watch Local 6 News for more on this story.


TOPICS: News/Current Events; US: Alabama
KEYWORDS: mqm107
Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first 1-2021-27 next last

Two men on spring break in the area found the bright-orange drone on the shore near Fort Morgan. WPMI image.

1 posted on 04/11/2008 5:47:48 AM PDT by Cagey
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | View Replies]

Crazier things have washed up on the beaches during spring break.


2 posted on 04/11/2008 5:49:00 AM PDT by Cagey
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Cagey
Stupid to give it back. Ebay!!!
3 posted on 04/11/2008 5:50:50 AM PDT by mad_as_he$$ (John McCain - The Manchurian Candidate? http://www.usvetdsp.com/manchuan.htm)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Cagey

Oh, I thought WKRP was reporting on downed turkeys.


4 posted on 04/11/2008 5:51:18 AM PDT by mtbopfuyn (The fence is "absolutely not the answer" - Gov. Rick Perry (R, TX))
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Cagey

The drone in the picture doesn’t look very “shot down” to me. Must’ve been a miss.


5 posted on 04/11/2008 5:51:43 AM PDT by BikerJoe
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Cagey

I’m surprised they did not call it a missile or a bomb.


6 posted on 04/11/2008 5:59:22 AM PDT by ryan71
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: mad_as_he$$

That sucker would have been hanging up in my family room.


7 posted on 04/11/2008 6:04:55 AM PDT by am452 (In order to ensure the quality of your patriotism, your conversation may be monitored.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 3 | View Replies]

To: BikerJoe
Must’ve been a miss.

Hope so. Otherwise, the AF owes someone an apology.
8 posted on 04/11/2008 6:05:28 AM PDT by Thrownatbirth (.....Iraq Invasion fan since '91.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 5 | View Replies]

To: Cagey
An official said the drone was a target that was apparently shot down in the Gulf of Mexico as part of a weapons system evaluation program, WKRG reported.

Actually, that looks like one of the drones that got away.

Is that one of the old Regulus missiles that was converted to target drone duty, or are we building new drones these days?

9 posted on 04/11/2008 6:16:43 AM PDT by gridlock (Proud McCain Supporter since February 8, 2008.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: am452

I got a spot in the garage that could use fillin’.


10 posted on 04/11/2008 6:18:12 AM PDT by gridlock (Proud McCain Supporter since February 8, 2008.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 7 | View Replies]

To: Cagey
Global Warming is causing the drones to beach themselves!

Obviously, it is Bush's Fault!

11 posted on 04/11/2008 6:31:57 AM PDT by Redleg Duke ("All gave some, and some gave all!")
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Cagey

Looks like a Cold War era Bomarc less wings and horizontal stabilizer


12 posted on 04/11/2008 6:39:50 AM PDT by fso301
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Redleg Duke

LOL!


13 posted on 04/11/2008 6:45:01 AM PDT by Cagey
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 11 | View Replies]

To: Cagey
Looks like a BQM-167 Skeeter.


14 posted on 04/11/2008 6:46:06 AM PDT by Yo-Yo (USAF, TAC, 12th AF, 366 TFW, 366 MG, 366 CRS, Mtn Home AFB, 1978-81)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Yo-Yo

Sweet . . . I want one.


15 posted on 04/11/2008 6:50:22 AM PDT by oldsaw
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 14 | View Replies]

MQM-107

They say there's wreckage washing up
All along the coast
No one seems to know too much
Of who got hit the most
Nothing has been spoken
There's not a lot to see
But something has been broken
That's how it feels to me

We had a harmony
I never meant to spoil
Now it's lying in the water
Like a slick of oil
The tide is running out to sea
Under a darkening sky
The night is falling down on me
And I'm thinking that I should

Head on home
Been gone too long
Leave my roaming
Beachcombing

Little wild kitten out hunting
To see what he can get
You're in a big city now
Won't stop growing yet
The sun is going down smoking
A flaming testament
Something has been broken
And it feels permanent

Little seabird flying
He knows where he wants to go
Guess I ought to pack my stuff
And do the thing I know
I turn around and head on back
Along the old sea wall
I felt something give and crack
And now I'm sorry that's all

Head on home
Been gone too long
Leave my roaming
Beachcombing

Mark Knopfler "All The Roadrunning"

16 posted on 04/11/2008 6:50:36 AM PDT by A.A. Cunningham
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: A.A. Cunningham

Dude.......where’s my drone?


17 posted on 04/11/2008 6:54:31 AM PDT by nascarnation
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 16 | View Replies]

To: Yo-Yo
Let's try again (the refresh trick didn't work this time!)

Looking at the shape of the tail, I don't think it's an MQM-107.

18 posted on 04/11/2008 6:59:57 AM PDT by Yo-Yo (USAF, TAC, 12th AF, 366 TFW, 366 MG, 366 CRS, Mtn Home AFB, 1978-81)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 14 | View Replies]

To: oldsaw
Sweet . . . I want one.

From the Composite Engineering Website:

"If interested in placing an order, please call to discuss your requirement with a salesperson."

19 posted on 04/11/2008 7:02:14 AM PDT by Yo-Yo (USAF, TAC, 12th AF, 366 TFW, 366 MG, 366 CRS, Mtn Home AFB, 1978-81)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 15 | View Replies]

To: Cagey
I pictured a bunch of majors and colonels with big bellies, white pasty legs, and shoes with black crew socks - all grilling in the sun, contemplating that they'd never get their star.




Washed-up drones.
20 posted on 04/11/2008 7:18:33 AM PDT by NonValueAdded (Who Would Montgomery Brewster Choose?)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]


Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first 1-2021-27 next last

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.

Free Republic
Browse · Search
News/Activism
Topics · Post Article

FreeRepublic, LLC, PO BOX 9771, FRESNO, CA 93794
FreeRepublic.com is powered by software copyright 2000-2008 John Robinson