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Horn Island Chemical Warfare Service Quarantine Station

March 17, 2024

Horn Island Chemical Warfare Service Quarantine Station, also known as the Horn Island Testing Station, was a U.S. biological weapons testing site during World War II. It was located on Mississippi's Horn Island and opened in 1943. When the war ended, the facility was closed.

Location of Horn Island, Mississippi, south of Ocean Springs (center right)

History edit

Horn Island Chemical Warfare Service Quarantine Station[1] was acquired in March 1943 by the U.S. Army for use as a biological weapons testing site.[2] The site was located on Horn Island, about 10 miles (16 km) south of Pascagoula, Mississippi,[2] and opened on October 29, 1943.[1] The 2,000-acre (8.1 km2) site[3] on Horn Island was managed and built by the Chemical Warfare Service's (CWS) Special Projects Division (SPD).[4] By May 1944 the U.S. bio-weapons program employed 1,500 people between its Horn Island facility and the facilities at Camp Detrick.[5] The work at Horn Island, like all of the work done at SPD facilities during World War II was highly classified and precautions were taken to ensure the work remained secret;[5] during the Army's occupation of Horn Island the public was barred from the island.[6]

Soon after construction at the facility was complete it was found that the area was unsuitable for large-scale testing of biological agents.[3] At the time, shipping traffic on the Mississippi River, near the island, was rising.[2] It was determined that bio-weapons trials in close proximity to human population was undesirable and testing on the island was limited.[2] Shortly before the end of World War II, on August 11, 1945, an order from the CWS declared that the Special Projects Division was to cease its activities.[5] The facility at Horn Island was closed in 1946.[4]

Mission and facilities edit

Horn Island was acquired for the sole purpose of becoming a biological weapons test site for the U.S. military. The site was established as one of several designed to assist the newly formed U.S. biological weapons program at Camp Detrick.[2] Horn Island Testing Station was initially established to focus its studies on insects as biological weapons.[5] When conceived and constructed the testing station at Horn Island was meant to be the primary bio-weapons field testing site for the United States.[7]

The U.S. Army built facilities on the island for these purposes which included several buildings, roads, and a narrow gauge railroad.[6][8] The Army also constructed an incinerator with a tall brick chimney on the island.[6] After the Army abandoned the site, a hurricane destroyed most of the structures,[8] including the incinerator and chimney.[6] The foundations of some of the military buildings are still visible on the island, which is now part of the Gulf Islands National Seashore.[6] Additionally, the remnants of the incinerator chimney were still visible into at least the 1980s.[6]

Research and testing edit

Because of its proximity to human populations only two lethal agents, both toxins, were ever tested on the island, botulin and ricin.[2] The U.S. Navy used the site during the war to study mosquitoes and flies that were native to the Pacific Islands.[5] In addition, an anthrax simulant, Bacillus globigii was used in aerosol dispersion tests at the station.[5]

Testing at Horn Island with the toxin botulin showed that the agent was not a viable aerosol biological weapon.[9] Tests were undertaken using four pound bombs filled with botulin. These bombs were detonated over confined guinea pigs, just one of the animals died from inhaled botulin and another died after licking the toxin from its fur.[1]

See also edit

References edit

  1. ^ a b c America's Bio-Weapons Program , "The Living Weapon", American Experience, PBS, (click on yellow icon in Mississippi to view relevant text), accessed January 15, 2009.
  2. ^ a b c d e f Harris, Sheldon H. Factories of Death: Japanese Biological Warfare 1932-45 and the American Cover-Up, (Google Books), Routledge, 1994, pp. 155-56, (ISBN 0415091055).
  3. ^ a b Whitby, Simon M. Biological Warfare Against Crops, (Google Books), Macmillan, 2002, pp. 73-74, (ISBN 0333920856).
  4. ^ a b Lindler, Luther E. et al. Biological Weapons Defense: Infectious Diseases and Counterbioterrorism, (Google Books), Humana Press, 2005, p. 156, (ISBN 1588291847).
  5. ^ a b c d e f Guillemin, Jeanne. Biological Weapons: From the Invention of State-sponsored Programs to Contemporary Bioterrorism, (Google Books), Columbia University Press, 2005, pp. 64-72, (ISBN 0231129424).
  6. ^ a b c d e f McGinnis, Helen. Hiking Mississippi: A Guide to Trails and Natural Areas, (Google Books), University Press of Mississippi , 1995, pp. 101-02, (ISBN 0878056645).
  7. ^ Regis, Ed. The Biology of Doom: The History of America's Secret Germ Warfare Project, (Google Books), Macmillan, 2000, pp. 63-77, (ISBN 080505765X).
  8. ^ a b Falls, Sr., Robert P. Exploring Gulf Islands National Seashore, (Google Books), Globe Pequot, 2001, p. 122, (ISBN 1585920363).
  9. ^ Pike, John E. (webmaster). "Botulinum Toxins", Globalsecurity.org, accessed January 15, 2009.

30°14′02″N 88°40′08″W / 30.233942°N 88.668758°W / 30.233942; -88.668758

March 17, 2024
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Horn Island Chemical Warfare Service Quarantine Station also known as the Horn Island Testing Station was a U S biological weapons testing site during World War II It was located on Mississippi s Horn Island and opened in 1943 When the war ended the facility was closed Location of Horn Island Mississippi south of Ocean Springs center right Contents 1 History 2 Mission and facilities 3 Research and testing 4 See also 5 ReferencesHistory editHorn Island Chemical Warfare Service Quarantine Station 1 was acquired in March 1943 by the U S Army for use as a biological weapons testing site 2 The site was located on Horn Island about 10 miles 16 km south of Pascagoula Mississippi 2 and opened on October 29 1943 1 The 2 000 acre 8 1 km2 site 3 on Horn Island was managed and built by the Chemical Warfare Service s CWS Special Projects Division SPD 4 By May 1944 the U S bio weapons program employed 1 500 people between its Horn Island facility and the facilities at Camp Detrick 5 The work at Horn Island like all of the work done at SPD facilities during World War II was highly classified and precautions were taken to ensure the work remained secret 5 during the Army s occupation of Horn Island the public was barred from the island 6 Soon after construction at the facility was complete it was found that the area was unsuitable for large scale testing of biological agents 3 At the time shipping traffic on the Mississippi River near the island was rising 2 It was determined that bio weapons trials in close proximity to human population was undesirable and testing on the island was limited 2 Shortly before the end of World War II on August 11 1945 an order from the CWS declared that the Special Projects Division was to cease its activities 5 The facility at Horn Island was closed in 1946 4 Mission and facilities editHorn Island was acquired for the sole purpose of becoming a biological weapons test site for the U S military The site was established as one of several designed to assist the newly formed U S biological weapons program at Camp Detrick 2 Horn Island Testing Station was initially established to focus its studies on insects as biological weapons 5 When conceived and constructed the testing station at Horn Island was meant to be the primary bio weapons field testing site for the United States 7 The U S Army built facilities on the island for these purposes which included several buildings roads and a narrow gauge railroad 6 8 The Army also constructed an incinerator with a tall brick chimney on the island 6 After the Army abandoned the site a hurricane destroyed most of the structures 8 including the incinerator and chimney 6 The foundations of some of the military buildings are still visible on the island which is now part of the Gulf Islands National Seashore 6 Additionally the remnants of the incinerator chimney were still visible into at least the 1980s 6 Research and testing editBecause of its proximity to human populations only two lethal agents both toxins were ever tested on the island botulin and ricin 2 The U S Navy used the site during the war to study mosquitoes and flies that were native to the Pacific Islands 5 In addition an anthrax simulant Bacillus globigii was used in aerosol dispersion tests at the station 5 Testing at Horn Island with the toxin botulin showed that the agent was not a viable aerosol biological weapon 9 Tests were undertaken using four pound bombs filled with botulin These bombs were detonated over confined guinea pigs just one of the animals died from inhaled botulin and another died after licking the toxin from its fur 1 See also editFort Terry Granite Peak Installation Gruinard Island Plum IslandReferences edit a b c America s Bio Weapons Program The Living Weapon American Experience PBS click on yellow icon in Mississippi to view relevant text accessed January 15 2009 a b c d e f Harris Sheldon H Factories of Death Japanese Biological Warfare 1932 45 and the American Cover Up Google Books Routledge 1994 pp 155 56 ISBN 0415091055 a b Whitby Simon M Biological Warfare Against Crops Google Books Macmillan 2002 pp 73 74 ISBN 0333920856 a b Lindler Luther E et al Biological Weapons Defense Infectious Diseases and Counterbioterrorism Google Books Humana Press 2005 p 156 ISBN 1588291847 a b c d e f Guillemin Jeanne Biological Weapons From the Invention of State sponsored Programs to Contemporary Bioterrorism Google Books Columbia University Press 2005 pp 64 72 ISBN 0231129424 a b c d e f McGinnis Helen Hiking Mississippi A Guide to Trails and Natural Areas Google Books University Press of Mississippi 1995 pp 101 02 ISBN 0878056645 Regis Ed The Biology of Doom The History of America s Secret Germ Warfare Project Google Books Macmillan 2000 pp 63 77 ISBN 080505765X a b Falls Sr Robert P Exploring Gulf Islands National Seashore Google Books Globe Pequot 2001 p 122 ISBN 1585920363 Pike John E webmaster Botulinum Toxins Globalsecurity org accessed January 15 2009 30 14 02 N 88 40 08 W 30 233942 N 88 668758 W 30 233942 88 668758 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Horn Island Chemical Warfare Service Quarantine Station amp oldid 1146538902, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,

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