Cuddeback Lake Air Force Range 2/29/08

I got a email from Terry (NVWarbirds) telling me about the Cuddeback Air Force Range. In 1967 he put in some time there while serving in the California Air National Guard. Sounded like it co ...

nobody@smugmug.com (Joe Idoni) — Sun, 02 Mar 2008 09:22:53 -0800

Joe Idoni
I got a email from Terry (NVWarbirds) telling me about the Cuddeback Air Force Range. In 1967 he put in some time there while serving in the California Air National Guard. Sounded like it co ...

This Google Earth view show most of range with the airstrip at the bottom.

nobody@smugmug.com (Joe Idoni) — Sat, 01 Mar 2008 12:10:17 -0800

Joe Idoni
This Google Earth view show most of range with the airstrip at the bottom.

Closer view of the airstrip. Did most of my searching at the target area above the east end of the runway.

nobody@smugmug.com (Joe Idoni) — Sat, 01 Mar 2008 12:10:18 -0800

Joe Idoni
Closer view of the airstrip. Did most of my searching at the target area above the east end of the runway.

Driving in on Cuddeback Road off Hwy 395.

nobody@smugmug.com (Joe Idoni) — Sat, 01 Mar 2008 18:02:14 -0800

Joe Idoni
Driving in on Cuddeback Road off Hwy 395.

After driving in on dirt roads for 6.5 miles, came upon this fenced in area with painted patterns.

nobody@smugmug.com (Joe Idoni) — Sat, 01 Mar 2008 18:02:15 -0800

Joe Idoni
After driving in on dirt roads for 6.5 miles, came upon this fenced in area with painted patterns.

When a I got home did some searching online and found out this is a USAF resolution test target.

nobody@smugmug.com (Joe Idoni) — Sat, 01 Mar 2008 18:02:16 -0800

Joe Idoni
When a I got home did some searching online and found out this is a USAF resolution test target.

After about 13.5 miles I reached the gate to the Cuddeback Lake Air Force Range.

nobody@smugmug.com (Joe Idoni) — Sat, 01 Mar 2008 18:02:16 -0800

Joe Idoni
After about 13.5 miles I reached the gate to the Cuddeback Lake Air Force Range.

There was some slabs just south of the runway.

nobody@smugmug.com (Joe Idoni) — Sat, 01 Mar 2008 18:02:17 -0800

Joe Idoni
There was some slabs just south of the runway.

This is looking down the runway from the west end.

nobody@smugmug.com (Joe Idoni) — Sat, 01 Mar 2008 18:02:18 -0800

Joe Idoni
This is looking down the runway from the west end.

Drove down the runway to the east end and found some stuff scrattered round just off the runway.

nobody@smugmug.com (Joe Idoni) — Sat, 01 Mar 2008 18:02:19 -0800

Joe Idoni
Drove down the runway to the east end and found some stuff scrattered round just off the runway.

Looks like aircraft parts.

nobody@smugmug.com (Joe Idoni) — Sat, 01 Mar 2008 18:02:20 -0800

Joe Idoni
Looks like aircraft parts.

Turned out to be a micro crash site.

nobody@smugmug.com (Joe Idoni) — Sat, 01 Mar 2008 18:02:21 -0800

Joe Idoni
Turned out to be a micro crash site.

This piece had a part number starting with prefix 59. Looked it up when I got home and came up with a AT-6.

nobody@smugmug.com (Joe Idoni) — Sat, 01 Mar 2008 18:02:23 -0800

Joe Idoni
This piece had a part number starting with prefix 59. Looked it up when I got home and came up with a AT-6.

This tire doesn't look like it came off a AT-6.

nobody@smugmug.com (Joe Idoni) — Sat, 01 Mar 2008 18:02:27 -0800

Joe Idoni
This tire doesn't look like it came off a AT-6.

It was small and had a speed rating of 210 knots, looks like it's a nose wheel from a jet.

nobody@smugmug.com (Joe Idoni) — Sat, 01 Mar 2008 18:02:29 -0800

Joe Idoni
It was small and had a speed rating of 210 knots, looks like it's a nose wheel from a jet.

Don't think that AT-6's had anti-spin drag chute. Maybe that wasn't a part number on that piece.

nobody@smugmug.com (Joe Idoni) — Sat, 01 Mar 2008 18:02:30 -0800

Joe Idoni
Don't think that AT-6's had anti-spin drag chute. Maybe that wasn't a part number on that piece.

View of the site.

nobody@smugmug.com (Joe Idoni) — Sat, 01 Mar 2008 18:02:32 -0800

Joe Idoni
View of the site.

While driving north from the runway, I saw this desert tortoise next to the road. Looks like he just came out of hibernation, there's still dirt on his back from the burrow.

nobody@smugmug.com (Joe Idoni) — Wed, 18 Feb 2009 18:08:44 -0800

Joe Idoni
While driving north from the runway, I saw this desert tortoise next to the road. Looks like he just came out of hibernation, there's still dirt on his back from the burrow.

The first thing I notice when I got to the target area was a lot of 20mm bullets scattered all over.

nobody@smugmug.com (Joe Idoni) — Sat, 01 Mar 2008 18:02:34 -0800

Joe Idoni
The first thing I notice when I got to the target area was a lot of 20mm bullets scattered all over.

There was also a few pieces of practice bombs.

nobody@smugmug.com (Joe Idoni) — Sat, 01 Mar 2008 18:02:35 -0800

Joe Idoni
There was also a few pieces of practice bombs.

Pieces from MK-106 bomb.

nobody@smugmug.com (Joe Idoni) — Sat, 01 Mar 2008 18:02:36 -0800

Joe Idoni
Pieces from MK-106 bomb.

I could make out two types of practice bombs in the area. The 25 pound MK-76 and 5 pound MK-106.

nobody@smugmug.com (Joe Idoni) — Sun, 02 Mar 2008 11:27:53 -0800

Joe Idoni
I could make out two types of practice bombs in the area. The 25 pound MK-76 and 5 pound MK-106.

Fins from a MK-106.

nobody@smugmug.com (Joe Idoni) — Sat, 01 Mar 2008 18:02:37 -0800

Joe Idoni
Fins from a MK-106.

Lot of fragments in the area.

nobody@smugmug.com (Joe Idoni) — Sun, 02 Mar 2008 11:18:37 -0800

Joe Idoni
Lot of fragments in the area.

When I found this piece didn't know what it was from. Latter figured out it is a piece of fin from a 2.75 inch rocket.

nobody@smugmug.com (Joe Idoni) — Sat, 01 Mar 2008 18:02:39 -0800

Joe Idoni
When I found this piece didn't know what it was from. Latter figured out it is a piece of fin from a 2.75 inch rocket.

The target area only had bullets small pieces of stuff remaining, so hiked out to see what was off away from the target. Found this MK-76 about a hundred yards into the desert.

nobody@smugmug.com (Joe Idoni) — Sat, 01 Mar 2008 18:02:40 -0800

Joe Idoni
The target area only had bullets small pieces of stuff remaining, so hiked out to see what was off away from the target. Found this MK-76 about a hundred yards into the desert.

Was finding so many of these MK-76 bombs that I got bored with them.

nobody@smugmug.com (Joe Idoni) — Sat, 01 Mar 2008 18:02:41 -0800

Joe Idoni
Was finding so many of these MK-76 bombs that I got bored with them.

Found about ten of these but didn't know what they were from.

nobody@smugmug.com (Joe Idoni) — Sat, 01 Mar 2008 18:02:43 -0800

Joe Idoni
Found about ten of these but didn't know what they were from.

Another one, was thinking that they were the tip of a rocket's warhead. Looks like they had exploded.

nobody@smugmug.com (Joe Idoni) — Sat, 01 Mar 2008 18:02:44 -0800

Joe Idoni
Another one, was thinking that they were the tip of a rocket's warhead. Looks like they had exploded.

Thought it was cool when I found this and picked it up. About two seconds later realized that it looked like a rocket warhead and put it down, took this photo and walked away really fast. Lo ...

nobody@smugmug.com (Joe Idoni) — Sat, 01 Mar 2008 18:02:48 -0800

Joe Idoni
Thought it was cool when I found this and picked it up. About two seconds later realized that it looked like a rocket warhead and put it down, took this photo and walked away really fast. Lo ...

Found this fin that I recognized as coming from a 2.75 inch Mighty Mouse rocket. Was finding more interesting stuff away from the target area. Found six fins while looking around.

nobody@smugmug.com (Joe Idoni) — Sat, 01 Mar 2008 18:02:45 -0800

Joe Idoni
Found this fin that I recognized as coming from a 2.75 inch Mighty Mouse rocket. Was finding more interesting stuff away from the target area. Found six fins while looking around.

This photo was taken about a year ago on the hike to the Pinto Peak Hellcat. We found this 2.75 inch Mighty Mouse rocket near the peak. That's how I recognize the fin I just found.

nobody@smugmug.com (Joe Idoni) — Sat, 01 Mar 2008 18:02:46 -0800

Joe Idoni
This photo was taken about a year ago on the hike to the Pinto Peak Hellcat. We found this 2.75 inch Mighty Mouse rocket near the peak. That's how I recognize the fin I just found.

Started finding 20mm shell casings about 300 yards from the target area.

nobody@smugmug.com (Joe Idoni) — Sat, 01 Mar 2008 18:02:47 -0800

Joe Idoni
Started finding 20mm shell casings about 300 yards from the target area.

There was also links from the ammo belt.

nobody@smugmug.com (Joe Idoni) — Sat, 01 Mar 2008 18:02:47 -0800

Joe Idoni
There was also links from the ammo belt.

After finding about 50 of these 25 pounders, found one with lettering on it.

nobody@smugmug.com (Joe Idoni) — Sat, 01 Mar 2008 18:02:49 -0800

Joe Idoni
After finding about 50 of these 25 pounders, found one with lettering on it.

Closer look at the lettering.

nobody@smugmug.com (Joe Idoni) — Sat, 01 Mar 2008 18:02:50 -0800

Joe Idoni
Closer look at the lettering.

After looking around the open desert for a couple of hours, I drove west about a half a mile to a clearing. Found about ten piles of 20mm bullets. There must have been targets set up here.

nobody@smugmug.com (Joe Idoni) — Sat, 01 Mar 2008 18:02:51 -0800

Joe Idoni
After looking around the open desert for a couple of hours, I drove west about a half a mile to a clearing. Found about ten piles of 20mm bullets. There must have been targets set up here.

Most of the bullets were in fragments.

nobody@smugmug.com (Joe Idoni) — Sat, 01 Mar 2008 18:02:52 -0800

Joe Idoni
Most of the bullets were in fragments.

Closer look at one of the bullets. Think that these might have been high explosive incendiary rounds. Looks like it exploded more than impact damage. Most of the bullets in this area looked ...

nobody@smugmug.com (Joe Idoni) — Sat, 01 Mar 2008 18:02:53 -0800

Joe Idoni
Closer look at one of the bullets. Think that these might have been high explosive incendiary rounds. Looks like it exploded more than impact damage. Most of the bullets in this area looked ...

Was finding tips from the bullets in the area. Couldn't figure out why they looked in such good shape.

nobody@smugmug.com (Joe Idoni) — Sat, 01 Mar 2008 18:02:54 -0800

Joe Idoni
Was finding tips from the bullets in the area. Couldn't figure out why they looked in such good shape.

The only non 20mm bullet I found was this 50 cal. Must be a armor piercing, it was made from steel.

nobody@smugmug.com (Joe Idoni) — Sat, 01 Mar 2008 18:02:55 -0800

Joe Idoni
The only non 20mm bullet I found was this 50 cal. Must be a armor piercing, it was made from steel.

Looks like the top of a 2.75 rocket. The threads from the warhead are still in the tube.

nobody@smugmug.com (Joe Idoni) — Sat, 01 Mar 2008 18:02:55 -0800

Joe Idoni
Looks like the top of a 2.75 rocket. The threads from the warhead are still in the tube.

This stuff looked more like crash site wreckage.

nobody@smugmug.com (Joe Idoni) — Sat, 01 Mar 2008 18:02:56 -0800

Joe Idoni
This stuff looked more like crash site wreckage.

There was six 20mm chasing still in the link belt.

nobody@smugmug.com (Joe Idoni) — Sat, 01 Mar 2008 18:02:57 -0800

Joe Idoni
There was six 20mm chasing still in the link belt.

This blob of melted aluminum had bullets and shell casing in it.

nobody@smugmug.com (Joe Idoni) — Sat, 01 Mar 2008 18:02:58 -0800

Joe Idoni
This blob of melted aluminum had bullets and shell casing in it.

Close up of the bullets and casings.

nobody@smugmug.com (Joe Idoni) — Sat, 01 Mar 2008 18:02:59 -0800

Joe Idoni
Close up of the bullets and casings.

Out of all the little bombs I found, this is the only one that still had it's suspension lug in place.

nobody@smugmug.com (Joe Idoni) — Sat, 01 Mar 2008 18:03:00 -0800

Joe Idoni
Out of all the little bombs I found, this is the only one that still had it's suspension lug in place.

It was getting late, so decided to check out the large target areas to the north. This is the southern one.

nobody@smugmug.com (Joe Idoni) — Sat, 01 Mar 2008 18:03:01 -0800

Joe Idoni
It was getting late, so decided to check out the large target areas to the north. This is the southern one.

More MK-76's.

nobody@smugmug.com (Joe Idoni) — Sat, 01 Mar 2008 18:03:01 -0800

Joe Idoni
More MK-76's.

This cover is marked "FF 2.75 IN ROCKET CONT M518".

nobody@smugmug.com (Joe Idoni) — Sat, 01 Mar 2008 18:03:03 -0800

Joe Idoni
This cover is marked "FF 2.75 IN ROCKET CONT M518".

There was a few of these trenches at this site.

nobody@smugmug.com (Joe Idoni) — Sat, 01 Mar 2008 18:03:04 -0800

Joe Idoni
There was a few of these trenches at this site.

Lot of little bombs.

nobody@smugmug.com (Joe Idoni) — Sat, 01 Mar 2008 18:03:06 -0800

Joe Idoni
Lot of little bombs.

Think that this might be a flare.

nobody@smugmug.com (Joe Idoni) — Sat, 01 Mar 2008 18:03:07 -0800

Joe Idoni
Think that this might be a flare.

I took a different route out than I used driving in. Decided to drive across the Cuddeback Lake bed. That's it up ahead.

nobody@smugmug.com (Joe Idoni) — Sat, 01 Mar 2008 18:03:10 -0800

Joe Idoni
I took a different route out than I used driving in. Decided to drive across the Cuddeback Lake bed. That's it up ahead.

When I got to the lake bed the road disappeared. There was tire tracks heading in all directions. I used the GPS and headed to where it showed a road was on the other side. The surface has h ...

nobody@smugmug.com (Joe Idoni) — Sat, 01 Mar 2008 18:03:11 -0800

Joe Idoni
When I got to the lake bed the road disappeared. There was tire tracks heading in all directions. I used the GPS and headed to where it showed a road was on the other side. The surface has h ...