76mm Bullet Scare at the Black River Academy Museum

76mm Bullet Scare at the Black River Academy Museum

Director Georgia Brehm, with a museum volunteer, discovered a 76 mm anti-aircraft gun bullet, not fully detonated, amongst artifacts recently donated to the museum.  Brehm called the Ludlow police, who, upon inspecting the bullet, decided this was an emergency case for the National Guard.

Chris Derringer, Steven Heffernan and David Lowder from the Explosive Ordinance Disposal Unit responded.  They are part of the 158^thFighter Wing stationed in Burlington, VT.  They noted that the timer, set at 6 ½ seconds, had not gone off, pellets were still in the nose, but specific grooves indicated it had been fired.  A total uncertainty as to the gun powder having been removed dictated that the bullet be detonated/destroyed at one of the National Guard’s safe sites.  The museum is waiting the results, live or not.  We will keep you posted.