Posted in South Carolina April 25, 2019 by

Few People Realize This South Carolina Lake Was Used As A Bomb Training Target During WWII

There is no doubt about the significance of South Carolina in present and previous military endeavors. It would difficult to grow up in the Palmetto State and be completely unaware of the many wars and battles in which South Carolinians have fought. In addition, numerous historical sites are preserved because of land battles that were fought on the very spot.

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But not all places with significant military history are as well known as others.
alltrails/Sean Emery
Lake Issaqueena, adjacent to Lake Keowee, for example, once had targets strung across the surface with ropes tied to the shore.
That was back in 1942, when the military decided to turn Lake Issaqueena into target for practice dropping bombs from airplanes.
Google / maps
The nearby adjacent hill overlooking Lake Keowee was used for practice bombing, too. Today, there is still a road called "Bombing Range Road" located off of Old Seneca Road.
This photo taken at Lake Issaqueena on January 3, 1942 shows a bomber plane flying low over the lake.
Wikimedia/United States Army Air Force
In the foreground, military personnel assigned to the bombing range look on as the plane passes en route to the target just ahead.
The Lake Issaqueena bombing ranges (there was a water range on the lake, and a land range on the nearby hill) were created to train aircrew in using the North American B-25 Mitchell twin-engine bomber, seen here.
Wikimedia/SDASM Archives
The plane was introduced in 1941 and more than 10,000 of them were produced. After the war, many remained in service for another four decades.
Lake Issaqueena was used specifically for "skip bomb" training.
alltrails/David Macindoe
From 1942 to 1945, countless 100-pound practice bombs were dropped onto the targets that were stretched across the lake. When the lake was drained for remediation in 1954, thousands of the practice bombs were recovered from the muddy bottom of the target lake.
Shown here, the M38A2 100-pound practice bomb was no small piece of metal.
Wikimedia/USAAF
At nearly 44 inches in length, its presence was foreboding for a mere dummy practice bomb. When the lake was drained in 1954, it wasn't drained entirely. As a result, only the visible practice bombs were recovered. It's entirely possible thousands more remain below the muddy surface at the bottom of Lake Issaqueena.
Want to explore the area and see the lake for yourself?
alltrails/Pam Hunter
There's a trail for that! A 4.5 mile loop trail leads to the shoreline of Lake Issaqueena.
You'll find a map, more images, and all the directions you'll need at this link on alltrails.com.
alltrails.com

Are you surprised to hear about the (practice) bombs at that may still remain at the bottom of this South Carolina lake? Do you remember hearing stories about the WWII training at this bombing range? We’d love to hear them!

For another window into the Palmetto State during WWII, keep reading here for 19 rare photos taken in South Carolina during the war!