US warplane 'bombs' Yorkshire (From Gazette & Herald)

US warplane 'bombs' Yorkshire

AN American fighter aircraft dropped a dummy bomb on Yorkshire by mistake, the US Air Force has confirmed.

The bomb, which weighed 25 pounds, was dropped during a military training session last Thursday over the Skiff Lane industrial estate at Holme-upon-Spalding-Moor, south-east of York.

The jet was an F-15E Strike Eagle (similar to the one pictured) based at RAF Lakenheath in Suffolk. A spokesman confirmed that the bomb had been dropped at 5.15pm on January 8.

He said: "There were no injuries, limited property damage, and the inert munition was recovered.

"Trained and experienced base personnel, including the Ministry of Defence and local constabulary authorities, responded to the scene and an investigation team is determining the cause the incident."

A Humberside Police spokeswoman said officers had helped in the search for the bomb.

Yorkshire Campaign for Nuclear Disarmament (CND) reacted angrily to news of the accidental bomb drop.

Yorkshire CND spokesperson Neil Kingsnorth said: "It's bad enough that Yorkshire has to put up with the US's military interference with its Menwith Hill and Fylingdales military bases, without them dropping bombs on us. We would like further information on why this bomb fell and whether the US ever flies practice runs over Yorkshire with live bombs. This could pose a very real threat to the people of Yorkshire and more information is needed."

Coun Doreen Engall, Howdenshire ward councillor for East Riding of Yorkshire council, lives in Holme-upon-Spalding-Moor.

She said: "I was absolutely appalled when I heard about this. This bomb could have dropped on a farmhouse - to me it's totally unacceptable. I was very shocked and angry that this could happen. Forget the fact that this bomb was not explosive - the point is it made a fairly deep hole. The impact could have caused enormous damage.

"This site used to be an airfield, and in all those years there was never a bomb dropped on it. We have got to have reassurances that this should never have happened."

Michael Bramley, who farms at Wholsea Farm on Skiff Lane, did not hear the bomb drop last Thursday. He said: "I suppose it is a bit hair-raising, but it doesn't make me feel that worried. I am sure it will be a one-off."

Updated: 10:19 Wednesday, January 14, 2004