From 1943:Thermite Bomb Fell in County

Sheriff Harold Sexton, who participated in the investigation, along with Sgt. Charles U’Ren of the state police and Deputy Sheriff Floyd Vanderpool of Dufur, said today that the bomb fell about 2 p.m. March 21, on the Wilbur Taylor ranch. Taylor was plowing in a nearby field at the time and saw the bomb strike after his horses had reared. Stock in an adjoining field also were startled by the bomb.

Taylor observed a small puff of smoke as the bomb hit. The day was cloudy and the balloon carrier could not be seen. No airplane was overhead at the time. Going to the scene, Taylor found a hole in the ground from 8 to 10 inches in diameter. The earth was fused around the hole, from the terrific heat.

Taken to Portland

Taylor called Deputy Sheriff Vanderpool at Dufur, who in turn called Sheriff Sexton and U’Ren. At 6:45 the same evening heat still could be felt but officers decided the bomb had expended itself and that the remains could be dug up with safety. It had penetrated the soil to a depth of 22 inches.

Bomb particles were excavated carefully and taken to Portland, where they were examined by the F. B. I. and army and navy experts. They found that it was a thermite bomb of Japanese origin, obviously dropped from a balloon.

The bomb fell 225 feet from the Boyd-Dufur market road, in a wheat field. The grain was just coming up at the time, but if the bomb had struck later, when the wheat was ripe, it undoubtedly would have started a fire, Sheriff Sexton said.

 — The Dalles Daily Chronicle, Aug. 16, 1945