SMOKE BOMB LANDS NEAR CROWD
INCIDENT AT PAPAKURA CAMP (New Zealand Press Association) AUCKLAND, June 22. A 2in mortar smoke bomb landed about 6ft from a crowd of people watching a demonstration from behind a rope barrier at Papakura Military Camp yesterday afternoon. While the bomb was cooling in water in a gutter into which a non-commissioned officer had kicked it, somebody in the crowd “souvenired” it. Experts think the bomb was defective. A visitor to the camp said the bomb landed about 500 ft to 600 ft from the target at which it was aimed. A senior officer from the Northern Military District Headquarters who saw the demonstration said today that the mortar was aimed correctly. It was checked by the chief instructor before it was fired. The only explanation the spokesman could give was that the bomb might have had a faulty tail unit, causing it to be deflected. While the bomb was in flight it veered to the right in the direction of the crowd. The bomb was fired during an infantry platoon attack under cover of smoke. The officer added that he had never heard of a similar incident. An inquiry is being held.
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Press, Volume LXXXIX, Issue 27073, 23 June 1953, Page 6
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198SMOKE BOMB LANDS NEAR CROWD Press, Volume LXXXIX, Issue 27073, 23 June 1953, Page 6
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