Andrews EOD technicians neutralize Civil War artillery round

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Andrews EOD technicians neutralize Civil War artillery round

U.S. Air Force Airman 1st Class Lawson Potas, an explosive ordnance disposal apprentice with the 316th Civil Engineer Squadron, conducts a test on a found Schenkl 3-inch Civil War artillery round in Baltimore, Maryland, May 18, 2026. Potas evaluated the historical munition to determine if it posed a hazard during a joint response with the Baltimore Police Department Bomb Unit. (U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Airman Martha Moore)

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Andrews EOD technicians neutralize Civil War artillery round

From left, U.S. Air Force Airman 1st Class Lawson Potas, explosive ordnance disposal apprentice, Master Sgt. Michael Sweeney, explosive ordnance disposal section chief, and Airman 1st Class Carlton Guthrie, explosive ordnance disposal journeyman, all with the 316th Civil Engineer Squadron, examine the scene in Baltimore, Maryland, May 18, 2026. Joint Base Andrews explosive ordnance disposal technicians responded in support of the Baltimore Police Department Bomb Unit to assess and render a Schenkl 3-inch Civil War artillery round safe. (U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Airman Martha Moore)

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Andrews EOD technicians neutralize Civil War artillery round

U.S. Air Force Master Sgt. Michael Sweeney, an explosive ordnance disposal section chief with the 316th Civil Engineer Squadron, examines a Schenkl 3-inch Civil War artillery round in Baltimore, Maryland, May 18, 2026. Sweeney coordinated explosive ordnance disposal procedures to safely manage the historical munition after it was determined to be a potential hazard. (U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Airman Martha Moore)

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Andrews EOD technicians neutralize Civil War artillery round

U.S. Air Force Airman 1st Class Carlton Guthrie, an explosive ordnance disposal technician with the 316th Civil Engineer Squadron, prepares remote explosive disposal equipment at Joint Base Andrews, Maryland, May 18, 2026. Guthrie set up the components in preparation for a controlled detonation to safely dispose of a potentially hazardous munition. (U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Airman Martha Moore)

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260518-F-XI802-1071

Hazard placards mark an explosive ordnance disposal truck during an operation at Joint Base Andrews, Maryland, May 18, 2026. Airmen with the 316th Civil Engineer Squadron transported a found Civil War artillery round to the base demolition range for a controlled detonation. (U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Airman Martha Moore)

JOINT BASE ANDREWS, Md. –

U.S. Air Force explosive ordnance disposal technicians assigned to the 316th Civil Engineer Squadron partnered with the Baltimore Police Department Bomb Unit to safely recover a hazardous Civil War era artillery round discovered in Baltimore, May 18, 2026.

The emergency response began after an online content creator searching for historical artifacts located the century-old Schenkl artillery shell in a residential area and reported the hazard to local law enforcement.

EOD personnel then safely transported the unexploded munition to the base demolition range to execute a controlled detonation and completely neutralize the explosive hazard.

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