The Bomb Factory
Where do American bombs come from? Just one place - the McAlester Army Ammunition Plant, in the foothills of southeastern Oklahoma. Opened in 1943, McAlester makes almost every conventional bomb used by the Army, Navy, Air Force, and Marine Corps.
The explosives are produced in huge factories, in a compound consisting of 3,000 buildings, of which 2,200 are storing facilities. The complex spreads out over an area three times the size of Manhattan, for an obvious reason: if something goes...
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  • The Army Ammunition Plant in McAlester covers an area of 45000 acres, roughly the size of Washington DC. It contains more than 2800 buildings of which 2200 are storage facilites. Ammunition is transported between the buildings by train...
  • Production building at the McAlester Army Ammuniton Plant. In here, workers melt down TNT to pour it into bomb shells. The pole on the left is a lightning rod. In case of storms with lighting production is stopped immediatly.
  • 2000 pound bomb shells in a production line.
  • A female worker of the McAlester Army Ammunition Plant takes a 2000 pound bomb shell off assembly-line. From here a fork-lift loads it on a train, which brings it into the manufacturing plant, where liquid TNT is poured into the shell.
  • A worker puts empty bomb shells on a table. From here, a fork-lift loads them on the assembly-line. In the same building they will be filled with tar.
  • A member of the private security company that protects the amunition plant fires a canon. This is part of an everyday flag lowering ceremony performed at 5.30 pm.
  • A 2000 pound bomb shell is weighed before being filled with tar and explosives by Debbie (left). It's weight determines the amount of explosives with which it will be filled.
  • James has been working at McAlester Army Ammunition Plant for three months. He cleans the thread of the bomb and examines the pipes, where the ignition wires will be put through. Because of the war in Afghanistan and the forthcoming war in Irak the bomb factory could employ additional personnel. "Nowhere in South Eastern Oklahoma one can earn more ", he says. "We guarantee high quality. These bombs will be used by our children. They must be good."
  • Two workers at the McAlester Army Ammunition plant observe how a steel shell is covered with an anti corosion agent. It protects the bombs against rust.
  • "The McAlester Army Ammunition Plant is like large family", says a female worker. In the procedure of the manufacturing process, TNT particles are being removes. Each bomb receives a stamp. The wires for the fuse are being controlled. The tips are being painted yellow. The rear cover is bolted on.
  • After September 11, former nurse Carol (right) decided to return to the McAlester Army Ammunition Plant. She worked there during the Vietnam war. "As a nurse I had saved lives. Now I produce bombs. That is somewhat a paradox. At the end, bombs save more humans than they kill», she says.
  • Ronnie paints the bombs at McAester Army Ammunition Plant.
  • Pam (in front) receives the freshly painted olive green bomb of painter Ronnie (in the back). Pam dries the bombs. Pam and Ronnie are married. They met in the factory. Their children spend the day in the factory's day care center.
  • Behind post 14 the production lie the production and storage facilities of the McAlester Army Ammunition plant. Nobody gets by without proper identification. A private security company controls the area. Lighters and matches must be deposited at the post.
  • Ammunition is stored in tarp covered shelters. In order to prevent a chain reaction in case of an explosion. The bunkers are separeted by 250 yards of grasland. Approximately 2200 shelters store in a wide range of ammunition.
  • In this earth covered bunker at the McAlester Army Ammunition Plant lie 243 bombs. They were manufactued in 1985. 2200 of these bunkers are sprea throughout an area of 45000 acres.
  • In this earth covered bunker at the McAlester Army Ammunition Plant lie 243 bombs. They were manufactued in 1985. 2200 of these bunkers are sprea throughout an area of 45000 acres.
  • Seven diesel operated locomotives leave the train depot early in the morning. Trains transport goods between the 2800 buildngs at McAlester Army Ammunition Plant. Altogether 200 miles railway rails connect the buildings.
  • Container loading ramp at the McAlester Army Ammunition Plant. Approximately 20 meters high steel-pipes serve as lightning rod and protect the buildings. Bombs are transported by trucks, trains, airplanes or ship to the end user.
  • Celestial shelters der McAlester Army Ammunition Plant. With trains the bombs are being transported from shelters to loading ramps.
  • Truck driver Kevin brings steel bowls for 2000 pound penetrator bombs from a foundry in Pennsylvania to McAlester Army Ammunition Plant. The bombs are transported by private truck companies on regular Highways. For the transport of bombs the companies are being paid a premium.
  • Discarded artillery projectiles from the time of the Vietnam war. Bombs do not have an expiration date. If the American military stops using a weapon system the pertinent ammunition cannot be used any longer. Environmentalists protested against it open explosions. Now, the McAlester Army Ammunition Plant recycles almost 75 per cent of the cast-off bombs.
  • Memorial for all the killed workers at McAlester Army Ammunition Plant. Since it's opening in 1943, 25 persons died during accidents. In the summer 2001 a worker was crushed by a one ton bomb. In 1944, 12 persons in in an explosion. For over thirty years, no explosions occured.
  • Gate Eingangstor of McAlester Army Ammunition Plant. The factory was opened 1943, 18 months after the attack on Pearl Harbor in Hawaii. Nearly all conventional bombs of the American military are produced here.
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