WASHINGTON –
A Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency investigation team searching for evidence related to a missing World War II B-17 bomber encountered an unexpected reminder that the legacy of war can remain hidden for decades.
During a recent investigation mission in Germany, DPAA personnel conducted survey operations at a potential aircraft loss site connected to a missing U.S. Army Air Forces B-17 bomber. While the mission’s objective was to locate evidence associated with the aircraft and its crew, the team instead uncovered a different piece of wartime history buried beneath the forest floor.
As the team conducted a systematic metal detector survey of the area, they identified a large metallic signature among dozens of smaller readings. As team members carefully excavated the site, they quickly realized the object was much larger than initially expected.
“When we exposed the metal surface, we identified the nose of a bomb,” said Sgt. 1st Class Aaron Sanderson, the team’s Explosive Ordnance Disposal Noncommissioned Officer in Charge. “At that point, we immediately implemented our preplanned UXO (unexploded ordnance) procedures.”
The discovery brought the team’s investigation operations to a temporary halt. Following established safety protocols, personnel moved to a designated safe area while Sanderson conducted an initial assessment of the ordnance. Based on the exposed diameter, he estimated the item could be a large aerial bomb weighing between 250 and 500 pounds.
The team promptly notified the appropriate German authorities and coordinated with a local German EOD unit. While awaiting their arrival, investigators shifted their efforts to other portions of the search area and continued mission-related work at a safe distance.
The following day, German EOD specialists arrived with additional personnel and equipment, including a small excavator. Working alongside the German team, Sanderson assisted in exposing the remainder of the ordnance, which had become embedded beneath tree roots after decades underground.
Once fully uncovered, the bomb was positively identified as a British 500-pound Mark IV aerial bomb dating to World War II.
“The bomb was buried at an angle and partially trapped beneath two trees,” Sanderson said. “The excavator was critical in helping us safely expose the tail section and access the fuse.”
After establishing a safety exclusion zone, German EOD personnel conducted render-safe procedures and successfully removed the bomb’s tail fuse. The fuse was safely detonated on-site before the bomb itself was removed from the area.
The operation required close coordination among DPAA personnel, German EOD specialists, local authorities, and law enforcement officials. Team members also assisted with setting up road closures around the exclusion zone to ensure public safety while disposal operations were underway.
According to Dr. Nicole Eilers, the mission’s team leader, the discovery highlighted the importance of preparation and strong partnerships with host-nation organizations.
“Although I have never been on a team that found an item this large during a mission, it is always a possibility when working in Germany,” Eilers said. “We were fortunate to have an experienced EOD technician on the team and established contacts with the appropriate German authorities. Once the item was identified, coordination with our German partners was seamless, and they disposed of it safely.”
For Sanderson, one of the most notable aspects of the discovery was not the size of the bomb but its location.
Unlike many unexploded ordnance finds that occur in remote regions, this bomb was discovered near a heavily used recreational area frequented by hikers, runners, and horseback riders. Its location underscored the continuing impact World War II can have on communities across Europe more than 80 years after the conflict ended.
“Finding unexploded ordnance wasn’t part of our mission,” Sanderson said. “But being able to help identify and mitigate a hazard that could have posed a risk to the local community was incredibly rewarding.”
With the bomb safely removed, the DPAA team resumed its investigation. Their work ultimately led to the successful location of the B-17 wreckage they had been searching for, allowing the mission to continue in support of DPAA’s enduring commitment to providing the fullest possible accounting for missing U.S. personnel.
The incident serves as a reminder that field investigations often present unexpected challenges. Through detailed planning, disciplined risk management, and strong partnerships with host-nation organizations, DPAA teams remain prepared to safely navigate those challenges while carrying out their mission around the world.