WWII era Yellow Water Naval Air Gunnery School

[RMHoward]

I zoomed into the 1943 pic in this one.  If you look just south of the ranges, along the east-west road, you can easily see the firing points used (along the road)  to fire into the ranges.  Note the straffing lines in the ground toward the ranges.  If i zoomed in a couple of more times, i think i can almost make out a formation of men shooting at one of firing points.  Can't be sure though.  Again, all of these roads, ranges, and firing points are still there.  
Rick

[RMHoward]

Yea Ock,
New Clay county high school being constructed near Spencer bomb site.  Its only been a few years since the bomb squad was called out to Kindlewood Dr. where they found to rockets or something similar came to the surface.  I swear, there is nothing left of brannan field though.  They plopped new subdivisions right on top of it.
Rick

[jandar]

Spencer bomb target is east of Branan Field rd (south of Kindlewood), right around where the hay farm is (currently used as pipe storage for another project). Site of a planned elementary School.

Oakleaf High School is more directly south of Cecil, west of Branan Field.

To be honest though, there is probably a lot of unexploded ordinance in this area.

[RMHoward]

1943

1999 Google Earth

According to my research and from these photos, current day Kindlewood Dr. went right through the circular bullseye of Spencer Bomb target. Notice the creeks in relation to the target area in both old and newer (1999) photos.
I believe the pipe laying equipment and hay field are a little further south of the target and Kindlewood dr.  I believe you are right about armament being all over the place.  Probably as far out as a 1/4 to 1/2 mile out.  Thats why they practiced i guess.  Sorry to disagree
Rick

[jandar]

Nah, no problem on the disagreement. You helped clear up about where the target was. I knew it was east of Branan Field, just thought it was a tad more south of Kindlewood.

[RMHoward]

Not trying to bump my own post but......today i noticed in the NAS Jax newspaper, they actually had a picture of the Yellow Water NAGS pool in use in 1943.  I never thought i would see this.  This is kind of ironic to me because i started this post by showing pictures I took of the old pool hidden in the woods.   I know this is the same pool because in old aerial photography, there was only one pool at yellow water.






Same railing from 1943 picture

[Timkin]

Hehe .. ok.. I know this will sound insane...but this area should be unearthed and restored as much as possible... This is a hell of a find..   Lee Field has next to nothing left ,evidencing that it was ever there...except the runways and one or two buildings..   There is quite alot left of this place..

As a kid I remember them wrecking the 15 old Barracks of the Lee Field Navy Base and thinking,,,what a waste..why not turn this place into something to commemorate our past when it came to our Nation's defense?

Ok... I ll go away now .....

[Vtlsgns]

Thanks RMHoward!

That is pretty cool. The photo of the pool in use is amazing. I love to see before/after shots of things like this. Look forward to more from you.

Vtlsgns

[Timkin]

So....who does this property belong to now??  This is such a cool find.. I never knew about either of these places.. and one is gone...this one still has much of it intact.

[RMHoward]

Timkin,
I believe the property is owned by a couple different groups.  I could be off here, but i think one area is owned by City of Jacksonville parks and recreation (equestrian center and trails).  Another area is owned by the Cecil Commerce center. Also, i think the Jax Economic Development Council owns part of it and is trying to encourage businesses to move in.   Another area is still owned by the Navy (just adjacent to Yellow Water Housing area).  Ironically, if you have hiked the trail leading north from the equestrian center, you will pass within feet of some of the concrete structures (butts, see pics above) and not ever know it.  They are so well camoflaged by overgrowth.  Most people who saw them, wouldnt have a clue what they were used for.  This is a great place to explore, especially in the cooler (less buggy) months.  The east-west roads in the pictures are still present and are asphault.  I have walked up on wild hogs, foxes, lots of deer and rattlesnakes out there.  You have to be careful. 
Rick

[RMHoward]

Thought i would post a few more pictures of the place, old and new.


Another recent historical picture of Yellow Water NAGS courtesy of Jax Air News


Present day picture of east-west road (same road as in picture above running behind guns)


10-12 feet high partially buried concrete sewage tank.  Huge tank probably capable of holding 100K gallons (im guessing here) completely camoflaged from road 20 yards away.  I walked by this tank on nearby road numerous times without seeing it.  I only discovered it in winter time when vegetation had decreased.


Large electrical equipment of some kind. This metal box/panel is 5-6 feet tall with some kind of an arm (on-off, or voltage regulation perhaps) coming out of it that can be adjusted, either manually or automatically.  Any help identifying this would be appreciated. This, along with other unknown structures exist within a small fenced in area adjacent to Equestrian center ball fields.  The fenced off area are marked "Danger".  For some reason, it was easier for the city to fence off the area than to dismantle this equipment.  

Enough for now.
Rick

[BridgeTroll]

Aw man... would I love a try on those twin .50's!!  Rock and Roll baybee!!

[Timkin]

Seriously..... It would be so cool to have this area cleaned up and used as a Park or some such thing , leaving alot of the Military buildings ,etc intact..  I remember as a kid a very similar swimming pool located at the former Lee Field Navy Base ... of course when they tore all of the Barracks down, most of the other buildings went as well ,and so did the Swimming pool and the little Clubhouse that adjoined it.   Its too late for Lee Field..  This place could be brought back somewhat .. and it would be so neat to have such a park on a former military site.   Of course knowing Jacksonville, this is not likely.. but still..

[RMHoward]

Timkin,
On the western end of the gunnery school near present day navy housing (Yellow water housing), was the location of the WWII skeet/trap range.  This was a large area and could accomodate many shooters at one time.  There were also 4 wooden towers here where they shot from.  This skeet/trap range was the first place students started to learn about all facets of marksmanship, leading a target, etc.  After mastering the skeet/trap they would move on to the machine gun ranges.  Long story short, the skeet/trap area has had the ground completely scraped clean in recent 2 years due to lead contamination from past shooting.  For some reason, all the machine gun ranges have escaped these clean up measures.  The machine gun ranges covered a much larger area than the skeet/trap ranges.  So, i  believe there is still extensive contamination that would have to be cleaned up. Millions of rounds of large bore .50 and .20 cal bullets are buried in those berms. This would be very expensive.  Also, many areas out here have warning signs stating UXOs may be present (some very close to navy housing).  So i dont think anyone has the money or will to make much of the place.  I think lots of it will just sit there frozen in time. When i am out there on the ranges, i am not real paranoid, but try not to contact the soil with my hands/skin. 
Rick

[Timkin]

Well its really cool to see , none the less.  I knew the reality of something like this was pretty nill.  Its cool to see the newspaper articles of the 40s and see this place, as you said , frozen in time.. Probably someday it will all be covered over and a subdivision or highway or whatever sitting right over it.. If a subdivision exists today on a nearby site, this is not unthinkable. Id love to see this place.   

Forgive my ignorance.  What is a UXO ?