Military Specialists Destroy Live WWII-Era Mortar Shell Found at Alaska Museum

Military explosive specialists destroyed a World War II-era mortar round found at an Alaska museum after determining the munition was live.

The device was destroyed by detonating it at a safe place, said Capt. Brandon Browning of the 716th Explosive Ordnance Disposal.

A staff member found the Japanese mortar round last week while sorting through the collections vault at the Sheldon Museum and Cultural Center in Haines, the Anchorage Daily News reported Thursday. . .

Explosives specialists from Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson in Anchorage later determined the device was still live, the newspaper said.

The museum was considering using the shell in an upcoming exhibit featuring World War II battle art, but the item’s donation paperwork did not indicate if it had been deactivated, said Helen Alten, the museum’s director. (Read more from “Military Specialists Destroy Live WWII-Era Mortar Shell Found at Alaska Museum” HERE)

Follow Joe Miller on Twitter HERE and Facebook HERE