Horn Island Chemical Warfare Service Quarantine Station
Encyclopedia
Horn Island Chemical Warfare Service Quarantine Station, also known as the Horn Island Testing Station, was a U.S. biological weapons testing site during World War II
. It was located on Mississippi
's Horn Island
and opened in 1943. When the war ended, the facility was closed.
, about 10 miles (16.1 km) south of Pascagoula, Mississippi
, and opened on October 29, 1943. The 2000 acres (8.1 km²) site on Horn Island was managed and built by the Chemical Warfare Service's (CWS) Special Projects Division (SPD). By May 1944 the U.S. bio-weapons program employed 1,500 people between its Horn Island facility and the facilities at Camp Detrick. The work at Horn Island, like all of the work done at SPD facilities during World War II
was highly classified and precautions were taken to ensure the work remained secret; during the Army's occupation of Horn Island the public was barred from the island.
Soon after construction at the facility was complete it was found that the area was unsuitable for large-scale testing of biological agent
s. At the time, shipping traffic on the Mississippi River
, near the island, was rising. It was determined that bio-weapons trials in close proximity to human population was undesirable and testing on the island was limited. Shortly before the end of World War II, on August 11, 1945, an order from the CWS declared that the Special Projects Division was to cease its activities. The facility at Horn Island was closed in 1946.
. When conceived and constructed the testing station at Horn Island was meant to be the primary bio-weapons field testing site for the United States.
The U.S. Army built facilities on the island for these purposes which included several buildings, roads, and a narrow gauge railroad. The Army also constructed an incinerator with a tall brick chimney on the island. After the Army abandoned the site, a hurricane destroyed most of the structures, including the incinerator and chimney. The foundations of some of the military buildings are still visible on the island, which is now part of the Gulf Islands National Seashore
. Additionally, the remnants of the incinerator chimney were still visible into at least the 1980s.
. The U.S. Navy used the site during the war to study mosquitoes and flies
that were native to the Pacific Islands. In addition, an anthrax
simulant, Bacillus globigii was used in aerosol dispersion tests at the station.
Testing at Horn Island with the toxin botulin showed that the agent was not a viable aerosol biological weapon. Tests were undertaken using four pound bombs filled with botulin. These bombs were detonated over confined guinea pig
s, just one of the animals died from inhaled botulin and another died after licking the toxin from its fur.
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
. It was located on Mississippi
Mississippi
Mississippi is a U.S. state located in the Southern United States. Jackson is the state capital and largest city. The name of the state derives from the Mississippi River, which flows along its western boundary, whose name comes from the Ojibwe word misi-ziibi...
's Horn Island
Horn Island (Mississippi)
Horn Island is a long, thin barrier island off the Gulf Coast of Mississippi, south of Ocean Springs. It is part of the Gulf Islands National Seashore. Horn Island is several miles long, but less than a mile wide at its widest point...
and opened in 1943. When the war ended, the facility was closed.
History
Horn Island Chemical Warfare Service Quarantine Station was acquired in March 1943 by the U.S. Army for use as a biological weapons testing site. The site was located on Horn IslandHorn Island (Mississippi)
Horn Island is a long, thin barrier island off the Gulf Coast of Mississippi, south of Ocean Springs. It is part of the Gulf Islands National Seashore. Horn Island is several miles long, but less than a mile wide at its widest point...
, about 10 miles (16.1 km) south of Pascagoula, Mississippi
Pascagoula, Mississippi
Pascagoula is a city in Jackson County, Mississippi, United States. It is the principal city of the Pascagoula, Mississippi Metropolitan Statistical Area, as a part of the Gulfport–Biloxi–Pascagoula, Mississippi Combined Statistical Area. The population was 26,200 at the 2000 census...
, and opened on October 29, 1943. The 2000 acres (8.1 km²) site on Horn Island was managed and built by the Chemical Warfare Service's (CWS) Special Projects Division (SPD). By May 1944 the U.S. bio-weapons program employed 1,500 people between its Horn Island facility and the facilities at Camp Detrick. The work at Horn Island, like all of the work done at SPD facilities during World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
was highly classified and precautions were taken to ensure the work remained secret; during the Army's occupation of Horn Island the public was barred from the island.
Soon after construction at the facility was complete it was found that the area was unsuitable for large-scale testing of biological agent
Biological agent
A biological agent — also called bio-agent or biological threat agent — is a bacterium, virus, prion, or fungus which may cause infection, allergy, toxicity or otherwise create a hazard to human health. They can be used as a biological weapon in bioterrorism or biological warfare...
s. At the time, shipping traffic on the Mississippi River
Mississippi River
The Mississippi River is the largest river system in North America. Flowing entirely in the United States, this river rises in western Minnesota and meanders slowly southwards for to the Mississippi River Delta at the Gulf of Mexico. With its many tributaries, the Mississippi's watershed drains...
, near the island, was rising. It was determined that bio-weapons trials in close proximity to human population was undesirable and testing on the island was limited. Shortly before the end of World War II, on August 11, 1945, an order from the CWS declared that the Special Projects Division was to cease its activities. The facility at Horn Island was closed in 1946.
Mission and facilities
Horn Island was acquired for the sole purpose of becoming a biological weapons test site for the U.S. military. The site was established as one of several designed to assist the newly formed U.S. biological weapons program at Camp Detrick. Horn Island Testing Station was initially established to focus its studies on insects as biological weaponsEntomological warfare
Entomological warfare is a type of biological warfare that uses insects to attack the enemy. The concept has existed for centuries and research and development have continued into the modern era...
. When conceived and constructed the testing station at Horn Island was meant to be the primary bio-weapons field testing site for the United States.
The U.S. Army built facilities on the island for these purposes which included several buildings, roads, and a narrow gauge railroad. The Army also constructed an incinerator with a tall brick chimney on the island. After the Army abandoned the site, a hurricane destroyed most of the structures, including the incinerator and chimney. The foundations of some of the military buildings are still visible on the island, which is now part of the Gulf Islands National Seashore
Gulf Islands National Seashore
Gulf Islands National Seashore offers recreation opportunities and preserves natural and historic resources along the Gulf of Mexico barrier islands of Florida and Mississippi. The protected regions include mainland areas and parts of 7 islands...
. Additionally, the remnants of the incinerator chimney were still visible into at least the 1980s.
Research and testing
Because of its proximity to human populations only two lethal agents, both toxins, were ever tested on the island, botulin and ricinRicin
Ricin , from the castor oil plant Ricinus communis, is a highly toxic, naturally occurring protein. A dose as small as a few grains of salt can kill an adult. The LD50 of ricin is around 22 micrograms per kilogram Ricin , from the castor oil plant Ricinus communis, is a highly toxic, naturally...
. The U.S. Navy used the site during the war to study mosquitoes and flies
Fließ
Fließ is a municipality in the Landeck district and is located5 km south of Landeck on the upper course of the Inn River. It has 9 hamlets and was already populated at the roman age; the village itself was founded around the 6th century. After a conflagration in 1933 Fließ was restored more...
that were native to the Pacific Islands. In addition, an anthrax
Anthrax
Anthrax is an acute disease caused by the bacterium Bacillus anthracis. Most forms of the disease are lethal, and it affects both humans and other animals...
simulant, Bacillus globigii was used in aerosol dispersion tests at the station.
Testing at Horn Island with the toxin botulin showed that the agent was not a viable aerosol biological weapon. Tests were undertaken using four pound bombs filled with botulin. These bombs were detonated over confined guinea pig
Guinea pig
The guinea pig , also called the cavy, is a species of rodent belonging to the family Caviidae and the genus Cavia. Despite their common name, these animals are not in the pig family, nor are they from Guinea...
s, just one of the animals died from inhaled botulin and another died after licking the toxin from its fur.
See also
- Fort TerryFort TerryFort Terry was a coastal fortification on Plum Island, a small island just off Orient Point, New York, USA. This strategic position afforded it a commanding view over the Atlantic entrance to the commercially vital Long Island Sound. It was established in 1897 and used intermittently through the...
- Granite Peak InstallationGranite Peak InstallationGranite Peak Installation , also known as Granite Peak Range, was a U.S. biological weapons testing facility located on of Dugway Proving Ground in Utah. GPI was a sub-installation of Dugway but had its own facilities, including utilities...
- Gruinard IslandGruinard IslandGruinard Island ) is a small, oval-shaped Scottish island approximately long by wide, located in Gruinard Bay, about halfway between Gairloch and Ullapool. At its closest point to the mainland it is just more than offshore...
- Plum IslandPlum Island (New York)Plum Island is an island in the Town of Southold in Suffolk County, New York in the United States. The island is in Gardiners Bay, east of Orient Point, off the eastern end of the North Fork coast of Long Island. It is about long and wide at its widest point...