Nobody was hurt, although four custodial workers were on duty at the time. Damage from the eight shells included holes in the roof shattering ceiling tiles, splintering the edge of a desk, and causing other damage in a few classrooms, a hallway, and an office. Five slugs were found in the school’s parking lot.

A number of area residents are now demanding that the live ammunition exercises be stopped altogether. Judy Kupseta, whose twin sons attend fifth grade at the school, for example, said she wants all training stopped at the range.

The 970 children who attend third to sixth grades returned to school on Monday, November 8, after four days off so the damage could be repaired.

The F-16 fired 25 rounds in rapid succession from the aircraft’s 20 mm M61-A1 Vulcan cannon, while preparing for target practice at the nearby Warren Grove Gunnery Range about three miles away.

Authorities are still investigating whether this was caused by pilot error or a mechanical malfunction. The F-16 carries just one person, the pilot. All training flights in the area have been suspended until after the inquiry is completed.

Other accidents at the training range include a New Jersey Air National Guard F-16 crash near the Garden State Parkway after the pilot lost control while doing maneuvers in 2002. Errant practice bombs sparked a forest fire burning 11,000 acres of pinelands in 2002 and another fire burned 1,600 acres in 1999. In 1992 a Pennsylvania Air Guard A-10 crash-landed near the range.

The Warren Grove Gunnery Range began in 1942 as a World War II weapons research location and has been part of the New Jersey Air National Guard since the early 1960s. During the past year pilots have flown 3,700 sorties over the range.

The population of Little Egg Harbor in 1940 was 547. It had grown to 16,000 by the year 2000, according to U.S. Census figures. Besides Little Egg Harbor, the range also extends into Bass River Township, Burlington County.

Michael Dupuis, president of the township school board, said that he will formally request at an upcoming school board meeting scheduled for November 15 approval to demand that military officials restrict training at the gunnery range to night hours, and never allow strafing or bombing while school is in session.  
 
 
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