Wassaw Sound facts for kids
Wassaw Sound is a bay on the coast of Georgia, United States. It's located near the city of Savannah, where the Wilmington River meets the Atlantic Ocean.
Contents
Battles and Lost Bombs in Wassaw Sound
Wassaw Sound has been the site of important events, including a naval battle during the American Civil War and the loss of a large bomb.
In 1863, during the American Civil War, a naval battle took place here. It was fought between the CSS Atlanta and ships from the Union side.
The Tybee Bomb: A Lost Object
Wassaw Sound is also known as the place where a large bomb was accidentally lost from an airplane in 1958. This lost bomb is often called the Tybee Bomb.
What Happened to the Tybee Bomb?
On the night of February 5, 1958, a B-47 Stratojet bomber was flying a training mission off the Georgia coast. It was carrying a powerful bomb. The bomber crashed into an F-86 fighter jet at a very high altitude. The fighter jet was destroyed, and the bomber's wing was badly damaged.
The bomber's pilot, Major Howard Richardson, was told to drop the bomb before trying to land. He dropped it into the shallow waters of Wassaw Sound. He thought it would be easy to find and pick up later.
The Search for the Lost Bomb
Soon after the incident, search teams were sent to Wassaw Sound. The area was closed off by the United States Air Force. For six weeks, the Air Force looked for the bomb. Divers searched underwater, and troops explored the nearby salt marshes. A blimp even flew overhead, looking for any signs of the bomb.
However, the search was suddenly stopped. The Air Force had to send its teams to Florence, South Carolina. Another bomb had been accidentally dropped there, causing damage. The search teams never came back to Tybee Island. The missing bomb was officially declared lost.
Later Searches and Claims
People searched for the bomb again in 2001, but it was not found. In 2004, a group led by Derek Duke claimed to have found an object underwater that they believed was the bomb. However, the US Army Corps of Engineers checked their findings. They said that any traces of radiation the group found were natural and not from the bomb.
Wassaw Sound and the Olympic Games
Wassaw Sound played a special role in sports history.
Sailing Venue for the 1996 Olympics
The sound was used as the place for sailing events during the 1996 Summer Olympics. This major international sports event was held in Georgia.
Images for kids
-
Black = Marinas
Yellow = Finn & Star area and 470 course area
Red = Tornado & Soling course area
Green = Europe & Laser course area
Blue = Windsurf and Soling Matchrace course area
.png)
