Discovery of Practice Bomb Forces Evacuation of Whiting Mobile Homes

An office at a Whiting mobile home park and about 20 nearby residences were evacuated Wednesday afternoon when a cleaning crew found what appeared to be a military bomb inside a home.

Manchester police were told that the item—which was later determined to be a bomb replica used as a training aid for military pilots—was found by a cleaning crew inside a foreclosed Woodchuck Parkway mobile home, said Capt. Lisa Parker.

The crew brought the replica, which is about 18 to 20 inches long, to the the Pine Ridge at Crestwood mobile home park main office at 2 Fox St., Parker said.

An Air Force Staff Sergeant from Explosive Ordinance Disposal Unit at Fort Dix responded and determined the object to be a 25 pound practice bomb that is not an explosive, according to Parker.

The practice bomb is believed to belong to the home’s previous occupant, though authorities have not yet confirmed that information, Parker said.

Manchester police officers along with Whiting Volunteer Fire Company conducted the evacuations. The practice bomb was taken by the EOD Staff Sergeant for proper disposal, according to Parker.