Mojave Gunnery Range “C” is located east of Mojave, California, and overlaps the southwestern corner of California City. The Corps of Engineers is investigating and monitoring the former training area through the Formerly Used Defense Sites, or FUDS, Program for munitions and explosive hazards that may remain from previous military activity. This page provides information on the Strafing Target #71 project, which is part of the former Mojave Gunnery Range “C” FUDS.
The Strafing Target #71 project encompasses 26 acres in the northeastern portion of the Mojave Gunnery Range “C” FUDS. Air-to-ground gunnery training was conducted by the U.S. Navy and Marine Corps from 1944 to 1951. Although the project area was designated as a gunnery strafing range, munitions finds during Corps of Engineers’ site visits indicate bombing practice also occurred. Today the project area is privately owned and zoned for residential use. Although some improvements have been made, housing construction has not begun.
The Corps of Engineers began investigating the former Mojave Gunnery Range “C” FUDS, including the Strafing Target #71, in 1999. During Corps of Engineers’ site visits, munitions and explosives of concern and munitions debris from the following items were identified: small arms ammunition, projectiles, rockets, practice bombs and high explosive bombs. However, the nature and extent of munitions risks at Strafing Target #71 project area have not been completely identified due to limited rights of entry granted to the Corps of Engineers.
In 2011 the Corps of Engineers completed the Remedial Investigation and Feasibility Study Report for Mojave Gunnery Range “C.” Based on limited rights of entry and the findings of the site visits, the Corps of Engineers recommends a separate Remedial Investigation and Feasibility Study be performed on the Strafing Target #71 project area to determine if additional clearance activities are required.
An Administrative Record containing project documents and reports for Mojave Gunnery Range “C” is available at the Kern County Library, California City Branch, and at the Corps of Engineers, Los Angeles District office.