Test of Massive Air Force Bomb Set for Tuesday at Eglin AFB (Florida)

AP ^

[Semper911]

Mar 10, 2003

Test of 'massive' Air Force Bomb Set for Tuesday at Eglin

The Associated Press

EGLIN AIR FORCE BASE, Fla. (AP) - A conventional bomb so big that it's first name is "massive" is set to be tested for the first time at this Florida Panhandle base Tuesday.

Air Force officials Monday warned residents of communities surrounding the western half Eglin's 724-square-mile military reservation to be prepared to hear an explosion that sounds like thunder or a slamming door between noon and 5 p.m. CST although the blast will be miles away.

The loudness of the 21,000-pound "massive ordnance air burst," or MOAB, will vary depending on wind currents and some people may not hear it at all, Eglin officials said in a brief news release.

They added that the test will be conducted only under weather conditions best for minimizing the sound and inside a buffer zone to keep a shock wave and debris from the explosion inside Eglin's boundaries. The backup date for the test is Thursday during the same time frame.

MOAB is similar to but 40 percent heavier than the 15,000-pound BLU-82, billed as the world's most powerful non-nuclear bomb and known to send up a mushroom cloud similar to a nuclear weapon.

The BLU-82, nicknamed "daisy cutter," was developed during the Vietnam War to create jungle clearings for use as helicopter landing areas. It was most recently dropped in Afghanistan on caves where al-Qaida leaders were suspected of hiding.

In the Persian Gulf War, it was used to clear minefields. MOAB is expected to be ready for use this year if the test is successful.

Areas where civilians may be able to hear the blast are Mary Esther, Navarre, Holly, Holt and western Crestview.

[AF_Blue]

I'll keep an eye out for it, but local weather conditions are hazy. Others FReepers in the area probably have a better view.

[Joe Hadenuf]

Just a phrase bro, you know, an expression...LOL...

I think it's cool to......I just want to see the video!

[null and void]

Not bad! Only 15 minutes after the event...

[AmericanInTokyo]

OK. 14 minutes. That is to say, (I assume) the test was at approximately 2:00 p.m. Eastern Time. AF_Blue got his report to us in one minute flat. And then CNN ran the story at 2:16 p.m.

We are 14 minutes ahead of the 'premiere' news gathering organization, CNN.

That makes FREE REPUBLIC, the premier news gathering organization in my book!

Thanks, AFB.

[AmericanInTokyo]

How dare I rank CNN above Fox?

Correction, "Fox".

Fox is second to Free Republic. CNN is 'third' to us (depending when they will get off their asses and run the story). :-)

[null and void]

Rush just announced...

[AmericanInTokyo]

Wow. 1) Free Republic 2) Fox News 3) Rush Limbaugh. That makes CNN fourth. (If they ever show). LOL!

[Joe Hadenuf]

Joe, read AF Blue's profile. He's legit.

Uh, I know this is legitimate, even Rush was talking about it two hours ago....I just didn't think it would go off this early in their time window......

Oh and Rush just said he didn't hear it, as I believe he is broadcasting out of Florida today......I have no idea where in Florida he is.....

[AmericanInTokyo]

Right. The 'story' I refer to here is our fellow freeper down in Florida at Eglin relaying to us, some in disbelief, that he had heard it and that MOAB went off (before anyone had confirmed word). I think this is a remarkable website. Thanks.

[null and void]

Southern FL, Miami-Dade area IIRC...

[WVNan]

As Yakov would say, "Whata website!"

[Joe Hadenuf]

Yes it is.

[Joe Hadenuf]

Roger that......

[AmericanInTokyo]

Any Fort Walton Beach freepers or others in Florida near the fireworks might be pinged, and perhaps they will have reports a little later.

[Joe Hadenuf]

If you posted it I missed it...How far from the blast were you?

[Hillarys Gate Cult]

Expect to see video on this soon. The plan was to film it and show the test over in Iraq to let the Iraqis know what they're up against. There goes the last clean pair of underwear in the country.

[AmericanInTokyo]

Some people think we should have dropped and filmed one atomic bomb in 1945 in the South Pacific and sent the film in the can directly to Tokyo through the Red Cross, with a threat attached. As it was, we were at that time rather limited in nukes and time was of the essence.

I would imagine the impact of history and hindsight might be driving things here. This definitely is classic psy war to reduce as many US and civilian casulties as possible, which we all hope for, of course.

[RummyChick]

I wish we would have "tested" it in Kuwait near the border. Talk about shaking up those soldiers on the front line.

[Centurion2000]

I wish we would have "tested" it in Kuwait near the border. Talk about shaking up those soldiers on the front line.

That's probably the NEXT test site.