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Rick_Eshleman · Posted: Sun Sep 15, 2013 3:16 pm Post subject: APG and Churchville Test Area MD

APG, MD former Ordnance Museum. is:

39 deg. 29' 24.30" N by 76 deg. 08' 29.32" W on Google Earth.

Churchville, MD Test Area is:

39 deg. 35' 49.05" N by 76 deg. 14' 57.73" W on Google Earth.

Also scan at APG for Phillips AAF, an interesting area. Note that the Air Craft on the SW side of the former Museum Grounds is on a pedestal and only there within the last year. Rick

Rick_Eshleman

Any APG finds? How about 1984 M551 Sheridan modified to .50 MG target tank? Alright that was at Armed Forces Show in 1984-1986, but there are some items around the base. Rick

Costas_TT · ***Power User*** Offline Joined: Feb 15, 2012 Posts: 387

Interesting. All I had in my files was this tiny pic here. Thanks for clarifying its purpose.

Rick_Eshleman · Last edited by Rick_Eshleman on Thu Sep 19, 2013 7:25 pm; edited 1 time in total

Costas, You're welcome. They showed this M551 variant at the Main Front where the Live Fire Shows would be every Armed Forces Day Show 1984-1986. Surprising that more views of it aren't available since a pro photographer (not me of course) was invited to be up front every year! Rick

Costas_TT · ***Power User*** Offline Joined: Feb 15, 2012 Posts: 387

Well, who knows why. Anyway, I managed to find a slightly bigger pic: img11.itiexue.net/1611/16119023.jpg

Dennis_Smith · ***Power User*** Offline Joined: Mar 17, 2006 Posts: 192

Anyone know what this is?

JG300-Ascout

Using map view, identify any roads around it. Are any Boadley or Magnolia?

There two similar structures elsewhere there, one without all the support equipment. I have a suspicion, but want a little more information.

Dennis_Smith · ***Power User*** Offline Joined: Mar 17, 2006 Posts: 192

Fascinating to see all the firing range equipment at Aberdeen.

The chemistry labs at Edgewood look downright scary. That place must be the reason for the old saying "Never volunteer for anything!" Shocked

Edgewood Arsenal Experiments

JG300-Ascout

- Dennis_Smith

Fascinating to see all the firing range equipment at Aberdeen.

The chemistry labs at Edgewood look downright scary. That place must be the reason for the old saying "Never volunteer for anything!"

en.wikipedia.org/wiki/...xperiments

There was also a white phosphorous production facility at Edgewood. A pdf about it is available online. Link should be easy to find, which I did and downloaded.

There were a couple of areas at Carpenter Test Area at Fort Knox that were perfectly circular and absolutely nothing grew, ever...the barren-ness being complete near center, and radiating outward with slightly increasing growth. It was someplace we didn't hang around much. Of concern (to me) was that it was quite close to the Ohio River.

Dennis_Smith · ***Power User*** Offline Joined: Mar 17, 2006 Posts: 192

There were a couple of areas at Carpenter Test Area at Fort Knox that were perfectly circular and absolutely nothing grew, ever...the barren-ness being complete near center, and radiating outward with slightly increasing growth. It was someplace we didn't hang around much. Of concern (to me) was that it was quite close to the Ohio River.

They were probably developing defoliants.

From Wikipedia:
The Edgewood Arsenal experiments took place from approximately 1952 to 1975....the experiments involved at least 254 chemical substances, but focused on mainly on LSD, and THC derivatives...

Wow, the irony! Who could have foreseen the historical backfire that would cause?!

Rick_Eshleman

JG300Ascout, and Dennis,
If you check my XM800 photos in here (under my photos, all public) you'll see the white "bubble" building in the background. Not the same as both views that You guys sent in, though similar. That bubble building was on Munson Automotive course at APG. It's also very clear from above now. Until this past May, all of APG and Edgewood, MD was "foggy" or blacked out, now You can see everything. Note that there are 4 tanks displayed near the Main Front, and Spesutie Island has some hulls and turrets shown.
As for the circular areas where nothing grows, they might be charcoal circles. When I used to hike in Kings Gap, PA, near Carlisle, there were many old charcoal "circles" where nothing grew in the middle, but along the outer edges things grew OK. A charcoaler would burn logs stacked in a circle (in the 1800's) to sell to Iron Mills and after many of these circles were used over and over, they still have little growth to this day. There is always the possibility that Ft Knox did test defoilents there, but check to see if there was an iron industry nearby.
A lot of old Edgewood has been intentionally destroyed over the years. Mainly to get rid of old Chemical Warfare facilities and thousands of rounds of ammo. I remember hearing about the old "acid" (LSD) tests at Edgewood.
Might as well check Ft. Knox Ranges from above. Who knows what still might be there. Rick

JG300-Ascout

Dennis and Rick...

Probably not defoliants that I saw. I've seen defoliant effects up close and personal. Kills a lot, but not everything...and ground cover recovers. It's rather like a wildfire, but without the burn marks. I took numerous pics of Ranch Hand treated areas in VN when it was "fresh" (a year or three post treatment). Roy will also be familiar with these areas.

Charcoal circles are from the activity of what, in some countries, are called "carboneros". Had an ex brother-in-law who had some legal issues with this in S. America where law prohibited it (it's inherently destructive of forests for not a very good reason). Product is high carbon coal or coke-like burned wood product used in high temp furnaces for everything from cooking/heating/smelting. Invariably, there will be indications of fire or a furnace.

Dennis_Smith · ***Power User*** Offline Joined: Mar 17, 2006 Posts: 192

Rick, thanks for notifying that Aberdeen is visible on GE! Those "bubble buildings" sure use up a lot of tank turrets.

Thanks for the PDF, JG300Ascout. Extremely eye opening! Shocked

Might as well check Ft. Knox Ranges from above.

I hope you'll start that thread, Rick. I've been studying those photos that Gary and Don posted on their "Ghosts of Ft. Knox" for a long time!

JG300-Ascout

I also wonder about a couple of the domed facilities possible utility is testing tanks for CBR/NBC integrity when sealed.

Rick_Eshleman

Dennis, I looked at the Ft. Knox Google Earth and it's 3 years old. Still lots of interesting items on the ranges. I figure Don or Gary will start a thread for there, as they can see up close what Knox has.
Thanks for checking out Aberdeen, there's a lot hidden there.
JG300-Ascout, Thanks for Your help and input, I vaguely remember that You're right in that the "Dome" buildings were for checking CBR/NBC pressures out to see if the vehicle was able to withstand those attacks. I do have a 1988 bus tour on video (of Munson Test Site) where it is mentioned, just a matter of reviewing it. Rick

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