Up in smoke

BALAD AIR BASE, Iraq -- A fire ball explodes from a crater during a controlled detonation of various munitions shooting fragments of molten metal in all directions 500 feet in front of a Joint Explosive Ordnance Disposal Rapid Response Vehicle here, May 9. Controlled detonations are executed by members of the 332nd Expeditionary Civil Engineer Squadron explosive ordnance disposal team and are a means of disposing of unexploded ordnances to ensure they cannot be used by enemy forces. (U.S. Air Force photo/ Senior Airman Julianne Showalter)

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Up in smoke

BALAD AIR BASE, Iraq -- Staff Sgts. Andrew Filcher and Christopher Ferrell, 332nd Expeditionary Civil Engineer Squadron explosive ordnance disposal team members, place three 40-pound unserviceable guided missiles in a crater before disposal here, May 9. Controlled detonations are a means of disposing of unexploded ordnances to ensure they don?t fall into possession of enemy forces. Sergeant Filcher is deployed from Hill Air Force Base, Utah; Sergeant Ferrell is deployed from Charleston Air Force Base, S.C. (U.S. Air Force photo/ Senior Airman Julianne Showalter)

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Up in smoke

BALAD AIR BASE, Iraq -- Airmen assigned to a 332nd Expeditionary Civil Engineer Squadron explosive ordnance disposal team, place C-4 onto three 40-pound unserviceable guided missiles here, May 9. The team collects unexploded ordnances from various locations and detonates them so they do not fall into the hands of enemy forces. (U.S. Air Force photo/ Senior Airman Julianne Showalter)

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Up in smoke

BALAD AIR BASE, Iraq -- Staff Sgt. Christopher Ferrell, 332nd Expeditionary Civil Engineer Squadron explosive ordnance disposal member, places C-4 on to three 40-pound unserviceable guided missiles in a crater before disposal here, May 9. The configuration of the C-4 ensures all the ordnance is destroyed to reduce fragmentation during the blast. (U.S. Air Force photo/ Senior Airman Julianne Showalter)

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Up in smoke

BALAD AIR BASE, Iraq -- Airmen assigned to a 332nd Expeditionary Civil Engineer Squadron explosive ordnance disposal team, configure three 40-pound unserviceable guided missiles in a crater before disposal here, May 9. Controlled detonations are a means of disposing of unexploded ordnances to ensure they cannot be used by enemy forces. (U.S. Air Force photo/ Senior Airman Julianne Showalter)

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Up in smoke

BALAD AIR BASE, Iraq -- Senior Airman James Rowlett, 332nd Expeditionary Civil Engineer Squadron explosive ordnance disposal, rolls out shock tubing before a controlled detonation of various munitions here, May 9. The tubing sends a charge to the blasting cap that is placed onto C-4 which then detonates. Airman Rowlett is deployed from Westover Air Reserve Base, Mass. (U.S. Air Force photo/ Senior Airman Julianne Showalter)

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Up in smoke

BALAD AIR BASE, Iraq -- A plume of smoke rises 1,500 feet into the air after a controlled detonation of various munitions here, May 9. Controlled detonations are executed by members of the 332nd Expeditionary Civil Engineer Squadron explosive ordnance disposal team and are a means of disposing of unexploded ordnances to ensure they cannot be used by enemy forces. (U.S. Air Force photo/ Senior Airman Julianne Showalter)

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Up in smoke

Published May 12, 2008