FORT FLAGLER — A World War II-era anti-aircraft gun that was on display at Fort Flagler State Park is scheduled to be taken out of the park today and driven to Tacoma, where it will become part of a military museum.
Nine members of the Washington State Army National Guard have spent two days dismantling the 48,000-pound gun, which is expected to make the trip to Camp Murray in Tacoma “early, so it can beat the traffic,” according to park manager Mike Zimmerman.
The main gun carriage will be on a larger flatbed truck, while other components will travel on separate trucks.
“This was loaned to the Park Service because we didn’t have a place for it,” said Col. Alan Dorow, who is supervising the operation.
“Now that we have the room, we want it back.”
Zimmerman, who said he had not expected the Army to ask for the gun’s return, said he tried to extend the loan or make it permanent.
“We would have loved to keep it,” Zimmerman said.
“It has become a key part of our interpretive study and will be missed.”
The gun, which had used 120 mm shells, will be moved to Camp Murray’s Arsenal Museum, which includes displays of military equipment dating back to Washington’s statehood in 1889.
The gun was acquired by the park and set up near the park office in 2004 on loan, and the Army has sought its return since 2008, Dorow said.
“It was up to the parks service to pay for the move, but there were budget cuts, and that didn’t happen,” said Dorow, who added that the Army is paying for the move.
“We have turned this into a training mission,” he said.
“A lot of times, we have to disassemble and move artillery, and this helps teach how to do that.”
The gun, with a barrel extending about 30 feet, is out of commission. Its hydraulics were removed, and some components were welded together, Darrow said.
Darrow said the gun was built for use in World War II, but he did not know its specific history.
“Its 120 mm shells were filled with shrapnel and were timed to explode when they were in proximity to enemy aircraft,” Darrow said.
“It was meant to shoot down prop plans so a direct hit wasn’t necessary,” he added.
“It would be too slow to shoot down a jet.”
Jefferson County Editor Charlie Bermant can be reached at 360-385-2335 or cbermant@peninsuladailynews.com.
