Hello This is a placemark collection for all bombing- targets and ranges in New Mexico, USA. At present the placemark contains 65 visible targets. Part of a Roswell AAF Precision Bombing Target  black/whiteimage Geoglyphs, sometimes called intaglios or giant effigies, are large figures constructed through the removal of surface rocks, soil or vegetation to reveal lighter underlying earth. Or stones and earth may be heaped together to construct the image. The figures are often so large they are only recognizable when viewed from the sky. Perhaps the worlds most famous geoglyphs are the Nasca Lines of Peru, constructed 1,500 to 2,000 years ago. The exquisitely detailed figures of birds, mammals and geometric shapes, such as zigzags, spirals and triangles, measure up to 1.2 miles in length. In the United States, more than 200 mammoth figures were fashioned into the desert surface along the Colorado River from southern Nevada to the Gulf of California. New Mexico Geoglyphs The New Mexico figures were constructed as targets on precision bombing ranges attached to Army Air Corps training fields located at Albuquerque, Clovis, Deming, Carlsbad, Hobbs, and Roswell. Aerial photographs, dating from 1996 and 1997, were obtained from the United States Geological Survey and reviewed. Over 100 aerial photographs of geoglpyhs have been found. The most common geoglyph is the bull's-eye target, typically constructed by grading away surface soils. In a few odd cases bull's-eye targets were constructed from stone rings. Government documents indicate these targets range in size from 1,000 feet to 1,800 feet in diameter. Arguably the most elaborate targets were associated with the Roswell Army Air Field. Over half of the 34 RAAF targets are either swastikas or reverse swastikas superimposed over a bull's-eye target. Large berms, 6 feet high, 15 feet wide and 1,000 feet long form the cross-hairs in the center of the target. Small appendages placed half-way down and perpendicular to each leg complete the appearance of the swastika. In some cases other crudely made targets representing ships, ship docks, and oil storage tanks are visible around the perimeter of the swastikas or bull's-eye targets. Measurements taken from aerial photos show the ships to be approximately 800 feet long by 200 feet wide and the storage tanks and ship docks approximately 350 feet square. The bombing ranges were used just a few short years, from 1942 to 1945. A typical training mission consisted of dropping 100 pound concrete or sand-filled bombs. A small spotting charge, that fired out a flash of flame and smoke, was attached to each bomb allowing air crews to observe the accuracy of their practice mission. Sometimes other weaponry such as high explosive, water-filled chemical bombs and incendiary bombs were also used. For more than 60 years natural erosional processes, human activities and encroaching vegetation have attacked the targets, completely erasing some and leaving others scarcely visible. Targets graded into the soil have fared the onslaught poorly while the swastikas, made from piles of rock and soil, are persisting slightly better. Photos and infos from this side:MILITARY GEOGLYPHS of NEW MEXICO Roswell AAF Precision Bombing Target  Hobbs AAF Precision Bombing Target  Carlsbad AAF Precision Bombing Target  Deming AAF Precision Bombing Target  Kirtland AAF Precision Bombing Target  Greetings Felippo  --------------------------------------------------- update:July 14th 2008 added 52 new bombing targets new layout with different colours for each bombing range dozens of aerial photos attached to the placemark Screenshots |
