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UER Forum > US: Southeast > Coral Gables, FL Mystery Target (Viewed 2011 times)
/-/ooligan 


Location: Las Vegas area
Gender: Male
Total Likes: 278 likes


When in danger, when in doubt, RUN IN CIRCLES, SCREAM AND SHOUT!

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Coral Gables, FL Mystery Target
< on 5/17/2019 2:53 AM >
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Reference:

http://sfns.online...tural-convergence/
https://www.abando...ral-gables-bunker/

Google Earth image: https://tinyurl.com/yyqrquu5

https://www.miamid...anagement-plan.pdf
Page 41 mentions the remains. Another page mentions that there were above-ground power lines
feeding the site, so the local electrical utility may be a source of info.

Is there anyone in the area interested in going to this location, and taking a lot of close-up photos of any power & electrical panels, wiring, etc. inside, plus documenting as much of the basement level as possible? Also, walking the exterior perimeter and carefully looking for & documenting anything associated with the structure, such as detailed photos of what looks to be an old antenna mount as seen here: https://www.yelp.c...vV-RI8bA6yTI3XQjTg

It's a permanent-construction (meaning concrete, not wood) structure built in a remote & semi-hidden area (on land that was part of a private estate at the time). Built low to the ground, and with lots of windows, so not really a "bunker" per se. Contrary to the BS mentioned in the articles, it shouldn't be some sort of remains of a Nike or HAWK missile battery, as none were located in that immediate vicinity, and the ones that were in the Miami/Homestead area are well-known.

I'm continuing to think it was located near a salt marsh because it was some sort of
minor radio facility -- navigational aid for aircraft, maybe a USCG LORAN sub-station or even an
old AM radio station transmitter site. The transmitter & possibly control facility would
of course be on Terra Firma, but the actual antennas could have been to the W, in the marsh.
Simple ground-truth should confirm or deny that.
I can't think of any other facility that'd want to be in a marsh area other than a pumping station.

The macro-view photos on-line certainly make the site curious, but micro-photos, focusing on various equipment panels, electrical wiring, old antenna mounts on the roof or surrounding land, etc. could provide good clues to finally solving the mystery.

I emailed the local county history officials a couple weeks ago about the place in-case they had any updates, but have not heard back, so fuk dem niggaz.

Please either post the photos here, and/or PM me so you could email them to me (I wouldn't share them without your permission, and you will get a lot of credit if we finally solve the mystery).


/-/ooligan in Nevada




There are no stupid questions, just stupid people.
Explorer Zero 


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Re: Coral Gables, FL Mystery Target
< Reply # 1 on 5/17/2019 12:42 PM >
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Operation Mongoose! I love places like this "bunker".

Thanks for sharing Im following this.




/-/ooligan 


Location: Las Vegas area
Gender: Male
Total Likes: 278 likes


When in danger, when in doubt, RUN IN CIRCLES, SCREAM AND SHOUT!

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Re: Coral Gables, FL Mystery Target
< Reply # 2 on 5/25/2019 9:49 PM >
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Posted by 2Xplorations
Operation Mongoose! I love places like this "bunker".


Just FYI, there's zero evidence that the structure is related to Operation Mongoose training, though anything is possible.

/-/oolie




There are no stupid questions, just stupid people.
NMPatriot 


Location: Las Cruces, New Mexico
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Re: Coral Gables, FL Mystery Target
< Reply # 3 on 5/26/2019 8:10 AM >
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I'm guessing that it's a commo / observation point related to Cutler Aerial Gunnery Field. Note they mention the "channels to biscayne bay". It's quite obvious that Snapper Creek isn't a naturally occurring creek, it's too well laid out. Cutler Field spanned the coast from 67th St to 144th St, so the entirety of what is now the nature preserve would have been sitting right on Cutler Field.

Quote:
Along Biscayne Bay 15 miles south of Miami, the U. S. Army Signal Corps' Cutler Aerial Gunnery Field was pieced together from 195 acres owned by Walter H. Browne of Kings County, New York, and 695 acres owned by the Avocado Land Company of Jackson County, Missouri. Specifically, the site covered all but the southwestern quarter of Section 24, Township 55 South, Range 40 East, plus fractional section 19 of Township 55 South, Range 41 East, as recorded on page 44 in plat book 2, office of the Clerk of the Circuit Court for Dade County, Florida. The total cost to the government was $71,500 for lands deeded in April, 1920. The tract occupied by the U.S. Army bordered the eastern edge of the Perrine land grant, and the northwestern corner is at the intersection of what would become SW 67th Avenue and Old Cutler Road.

During 1918, the army subsequently dredged a portion of the bayside marsh to create a marl landing field, a lagoon for water landings, and channels to Biscayne Bay. Roads were cut through the palmettoes and slash pines on the limestone ridge a mile inland. Water was pumped from underground, stored in three tanks of 20,000 to 100,000 gallon capacity, and distributed across the base by underground piping with hydrants for fire fighting. Electricity was provided by lines to Miami, and steam was generated for heat.

https://www.ars.us...ade-army-airdrome/

https://www.pinecr...showdocument?id=39

NMPatriot (Ric)




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Re: Coral Gables, FL Mystery Target
< Reply # 4 on 5/26/2019 11:42 AM >
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thats some pretty good research man a photograph could win the debate

I agree with the commo bunker, Ive seen a building similar to that at an airfield used by the Army air corp it was in close proximity to the control tower not sure what it was for but similar in construction





NMPatriot 


Location: Las Cruces, New Mexico
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Re: Coral Gables, FL Mystery Target
< Reply # 5 on 5/26/2019 8:11 PM >
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Posted by 2Xplorations
thats some pretty good research man a photograph could win the debate

I agree with the commo bunker, Ive seen a building similar to that at an airfield used by the Army air corp it was in close proximity to the control tower not sure what it was for but similar in construction




Being that it is partially exposed and seems to have had windows at ground-level I'm guessing that it was faced toward a target area and used for verification of their strafing runs.

Depending on the date that the bunker was built, we may not find photos of it. I'm having a hard time finding photos of Cutler Field at -ALL-. I keep coming up with the same eight or ten photos, all of which are of the air field to the south and it's landing strips. Part of that is due to the fact that it changed names (Cutler Aerial Gunnery Field, Cutler Field, Chapman Field, Chapman Airdrome.. some even use his full name Victor Chapman Field) It seems to me that the "Chapman" line of naming refers to the airfield itself, not the rest of the associated area with target ranges.

The important thing here (to me) is to discard everything we see above ground level, get back to the actual ground itself and compare it to the handwritten maps of 1918. The vast majority of this coastal area back then had very few trees and was literally just salt marsh with some ground level scrub brush.

There's no way that it's pure coincidence that the bunker aligns perfectly with the axis of the longest runway.




Ric





/-/ooligan 


Location: Las Vegas area
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When in danger, when in doubt, RUN IN CIRCLES, SCREAM AND SHOUT!

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Re: Coral Gables, FL Mystery Target
< Reply # 6 on 6/1/2019 3:23 AM >
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Great findings, Ric! I'm thinking the constructions seems a little too modern for an aerial gunnery range from that era, though I don't know when the site closed, and for at least many of the more modern aerial gunnery sites, the observation/scoring personnel were actually up in elevated positions -- towers -- to get a better view of everything. That's kinda why I'd love for someone to go there, see if there are any indications the roof of the structure once supported a tower, etc.

Any aerial gunnery or bombing range should have pretty good US Army Corps of Engineers DERP-FUDS research because of the possibility of unexploded ordnance -- and these surveys were conducted/reports generated even though many such sites only allowed inert bombs filled with chalk, etc. to be expended.

/-/oolie




There are no stupid questions, just stupid people.
Explorer Zero 


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Re: Coral Gables, FL Mystery Target
< Reply # 7 on 6/1/2019 1:58 PM >
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Good, no, excellent research NM Patriot. Now who is going to go in, boots on the ground so to speak and explore this site. If I was closer I would because I love this kind of stuff !




BoredAF 


Location: Davie, Florida
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Re: Coral Gables, FL Mystery Target
< Reply # 8 on 1/10/2020 1:23 AM >
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I am right in the area, and I can probably get out there this weekend if its still there. If you are still interested let me know! I'm new to the site, so I'm not sure the protocol; however, PM me or whatever and let me know.




~Bored and Burnt~
Explorer Zero 


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Re: Coral Gables, FL Mystery Target
< Reply # 9 on 1/10/2020 2:28 AM >
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Posted by BoredAF
I am right in the area, and I can probably get out there this weekend if its still there. If you are still interested let me know! I'm new to the site, so I'm not sure the protocol; however, PM me or whatever and let me know.


The protocol on this site (UER) is just post pics if you got 'em and tell your story the location is not a secret its already been publicized.

This location definitely deserves some good documentation photos, don't need to be artsy fartsy dramatic shots just close ups and overview type, especially any artifacts or identifiable markings, Im sure you can do it if you go.




BoredAF 


Location: Davie, Florida
Gender: Male
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Re: Coral Gables, FL Mystery Target
< Reply # 10 on 1/10/2020 5:23 AM >
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Oh yeah, I read all the guidelines and actually made my first post a few days ago, but I more meant whether people usually PM or if the community likes to see the text threads. Check out my post if you want, its definitely not artsy fartsy because I was just taking them with my iPhone 8, but I know a little and can bring a better camera for this trip. I hope OP sees - he seemed really excited and I think I'm going out there in the in the next few days so I will take a bunch. Thanks for the tips on what to document though, I appreciate the help.


Posted by 2Xplorations


The protocol on this site (UER) is just post pics if you got 'em and tell your story the location is not a secret its already been publicized.

This location definitely deserves some good documentation photos, don't need to be artsy fartsy dramatic shots just close ups and overview type, especially any artifacts or identifiable markings, Im sure you can do it if you go.





[last edit 1/10/2020 5:27 AM by BoredAF - edited 2 times]

~Bored and Burnt~
BoredAF 


Location: Davie, Florida
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Re: Coral Gables, FL Mystery Target
< Reply # 11 on 1/13/2020 11:02 PM >
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Sorry, I had a fever all weekend and didn't make it out there, but I will shoot for next weekend! Sorry everyone lol




~Bored and Burnt~
BulletFL 


Location: FL
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Re: Coral Gables, FL Mystery Target
< Reply # 12 on 4/8/2020 4:08 AM >
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A wrote a bit about it on my website https://www.abando...ral-gables-bunker/ In short, it was an observation bunker equipped with radio equipment for Operation Mongoose.




www.abandonedfl.com
/-/ooligan 


Location: Las Vegas area
Gender: Male
Total Likes: 278 likes


When in danger, when in doubt, RUN IN CIRCLES, SCREAM AND SHOUT!

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Re: Coral Gables, FL Mystery Target
< Reply # 13 on 4/10/2020 1:19 AM >
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Posted by BulletFL
A wrote a bit about it on my website https://www.abando...ral-gables-bunker/ In short, it was an observation bunker equipped with radio equipment for Operation Mongoose.


That's been one of the numerous rumors, but if you've got factual info that verifies that rumor, it'd be helpful if you shared it.




There are no stupid questions, just stupid people.
UER Forum > US: Southeast > Coral Gables, FL Mystery Target (Viewed 2011 times)


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