Navy Jets Dropping Live Bombs In Ocala National Forest This Week

OCALA, FL - U.S. Navy jets from Jacksonville Naval Air Station are dropping live bombs in the Ocala National Forest this week. The bombs began falling on Monday.

The explosions may push wildlife out of the forest and onto nearby roads, according to the naval air station.The bombing is part of training exercises at the Pinecastle Range Complex and will continue through Thursday. Bombs are dropped each day from 9 to 11 a.m.

The range was established by the Army Air Corps in 1943 and has been in continuous use by the Navy since the early 1950s to train air crews and support personnel. The range complex is about 2 miles west of the Camp Ocala campgrounds and near several hiking trails.

Several branches of the military use federal land in the Ocala National Forest for training exercises, according to forest service officials.

Information from the Associated Press was used in this report.

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