Practice bomb and target ranges

While I cannot comment on the WWII practice bombs, I did spend some 7 months at the Suwon Bomb and Gunnery Range in Korea.   We mostly handled flights of F-86's.
 
The bombs dropped were various sizes, 3lbs, 100lbs, 500lbs and as large as 1,000 lbs.  We were located on the banks of the Yellow Sea and had a small island.   Attaching a picture showing an F84 flying low on the beach on a skip bombing run. There was a 10x20' target for skip bombing that is not shown on the picture. The targets shown were 3 of 4 (10'x10') for gunnery.  As you can see, there is an island in the background that was used for all bombing of 100 lbs and larger.  We had 3 towers used for plotting the results. 
 
The small 3lb bombs were dropped into a circle located on ground and you can see the yellow outline of the circle.  These bombs left off a yellow smoke.  I am assuming the charge was 3lbs.  However we had some Korean Boys take some live ones and we ended up driving them for many hours to the hospital in Suwon and did manage to save their lives.
 
We also hande night bombing by Navy planes from carriers who dropped flares by parachute to light up the area.  Normally flights of 4 with the lamplighter.  I happen to have one of the parachutes here and hope to have some embroidery relative to the time in Korea on it and then try to find a museum to have it displayed.
 
And finally, on one occasion a bomb was dropped on the island that was a replica of the A-Bomb with no nuclear charge of course.  It was a timed factor from the time the bomb was released untill impact and the plane was clocked as to distance from the island.  I have some pictures somewhere of this hit and the plume is one of a mushromm shape.
 
Not sure this answers your question but it might give some insight.
 
 
 
 

I was at Rapid City in spring of 1943. All I know of the bombs were that they were 100lbs.
At gunnery range the gunners shot at mock up planes .I would fly lazy eights to allow the gunners to see the target from different angles. Occassionally we spotted large jack rabbits taht ran at high speeds , the gunners would shoot at them, I dont think that any of them were ever hit.

ORIGINAL: Home Front

 Combat crew training at the Sioux Cty AAB and the Rapid City AAB required the air crews to make use of practice bombing and aerial machine gun target ranges located in various places in South Dakota. Is it true that some ranges were located in the Badlands area? Would be interested in knowing more about these ranges and where they were located.

Thanks for any input.  Home Front

 
Sioux City AAB, Iowa Bombing Ranges:
PBR:Precison Bombing Ranges
A-G :Air to Ground Gunnery range
A-A GR; Air to Air Gunnery Range
Statom #1 (Neb) PBR 61mi.SW of (2484 acres)
Elks Point (S. Dakota) PBR 25mi. NW of  (1804 Acres)
Mitchell #3 (S. Dakota) PBR  141mi NW of (2720 acres)
Mitchell #4 (S. Dakota) PBR  141mi. NW of (2560 acres)
Yankton (S. Dakota) A-G GR  60mi. WNW of (5480 acres)
Rapid City (S. Dakota) A-A GR 
Watertown (S.Dakota) PBR  206mi NNW of  (2550 acres)
 
 
Terry T.
 
 

Rapid City AAB, S. Dakota
Newall Bombing Range
Butte County #1, S. Dakota PBR  27mi N of  (8123 acres)
 
Pierre Bombing Range
Rapid City #1, S. Dakota  PBR  129mi E of  (2390 acres)
 
Rapid City, S.D. A-G GR 33mi. ENE of (11532 acres)
 
Rapid City, S.D. A-A GR, 33mi SE of  (384497 acres),shared with Grand Island AAF & Sioux City AAF
 
Terry T.
 
 

It's been a while since we talked about the various ranges, thought I would send this photo on- this is the Stanton, Nebraska Precision Bombing Range target circle. I don't know the actual date of the photograph, but I flew over last week and it still looks much the same. The concrete footings for the towers are still in place as well.
 
Scott