Staff Reports
A 500-pound unwanted souvenir from World War II decided to make its grand comeback at Miyazaki Airport in Japan, causing a stir reminiscent of the ‘good old days’ when the U.S. was heavily invested in reshaping the Japanese landscape—bolts and all. Nearly 80 years after being dropped like an oversized package from a 1940s Amazon, this bomb finally blew its cover (and itself) right under an airport runway.
Imagine the shock when the bomb, once the pride of the United States Army Air Force, was unearthed, albeit not in the picturesque way one might hope. With a casual attitude more characteristic of a sitcom’s running gag than a war relic, the bomb exploded for reasons that even the most talented scientists might struggle to decipher. This unexpected detonation turned the airport’s taxiway into something that looked like it had just hosted a very unsanctioned demolition derby.
‼️💥 During World War II… literally 7 decades ago America dropped a 500-Pound bomb at Japan.
The bomb didn't explode then but exploded now which caused a 20 feet wide crater at Miyazaki Airport.
80 flights has been cancelled after this explosion.#Japan #Miyazaki #WorldWar pic.twitter.com/mJD9DXKkZr
— Pooja Sangwan 🇮🇳 (@ThePerilousGirl) October 2, 2024
Japanese officials quickly moved in like a scene from a disaster flick, with emergency services responding to the mishap that felt plucked from the annals of history. Thankfully, despite a crater that would’ve made crater enthusiasts salivate—measuring in at a jaw-dropping 20 feet wide—no casualties or harm to aircraft occurred. Eighty flights, however, faced delays because, after all, nothing says “a day at the airport” quite like dodging World War II munitions.
As this bizarre chapter continued to unfold, authorities from the Japan Self-Defense Forces, along with law enforcement, took to the task of investigating why this bomb felt the need to explode at such an opportune time. In the age of social media, video footage of the explosion lit up the internet. One might be tempted to think that if a bomb is going to go out with a bang after nearly eight decades of waiting, it can at least show some decency and respect that bearded old history professors would appreciate.
It’s worth noting that this incident isn’t as unique as one might wish it were. Hundreds of undetonated bombs from the extensive American bombing campaign during World War II remain buried in Japan, just waiting for their moment in the spotlight. Let’s hope the “no casualties” statistic holds firm in the future—because no one needs a repeated reminder of when the U.S. took a decisive role in teaching the Japanese Imperial forces a lesson they likely won’t forget anytime soon. Ultimately, as historical baggage goes, this forgotten bomb had its time to shine, albeit a bit late to the party.
