Incident Summary:

5/6/1971: An explosive device detonated within the vicinity of Military Trucks at the Naval Ammunition Depot in Hawthorne, Nevada, United States. Private Charles Henderson was killed and Lance Corporal Charles Bauer was injured.

GTD ID:
197105060006

When:
1971-05-06

Country:
United States

Region:
North America

Province/administrative
region/u.s. state:

Nevada

City:
Hawthorne

Attack Information
Type of Attack (more) Bombing/Explosion
Successful Attack? (more) Yes
Target Information (more)
Target Type: Military
Name of Entity Naval Ammunition Depot
Specific Description Military Trucks at Naval Ammunition Depot in Hawthorne Nevada
Nationality of Target United States
Additional Information
Hostages No
Ransom No
Property Damage Yes
Extent of Property Damage Minor (likely < $1 million)
Value of Property Damage Unknown
Weapon Information
Type Sub-type
Explosives Unknown Explosive Type
Weapon Details
Explosive device
Additional Information
Suicide Attack?No
Part of Multiple Incident?No
Criterion 1 (more) Yes
Criterion 2 (more) Yes
Criterion 3 (more) Yes
Additional Information There are conflicting reports as to whether authorities believed that the explosive device was set off intentionally due to sabotage or if the incident was accidental.
Perpetrator Group Information
Group Name Claimed Responsibility
Left-Wing Militants No
Perpetrator Statistics
Number of Perpetrators Unknown
Number of Captured Perpetrators Unknown
Casualty Information
Total Number of Casualties 1 Fatalities / 1 Injured
Total Number of Fatalities 1
Number of U.S. Fatalities 1
Number of Perpetrator Fatalities 0
Total Number of Injured 1
Number of U.S. Injured 1
Number of Perpetrators Injured 0
Sources
"The Nation: 16 Detroit Police Seized in Gambling Drive," Los Angeles Times,, May 7, 1971.
Marcia McKnight Trick, "Chronology of Incidents of Terroristic, Quasi-Terroristic, and Political Violence in the United States: January 1965 to March 1976," National Advisory Committee on Criminal Justice Standards and Goals: Report of the Task Force on Disorders and Terrorism, 1976.
Christopher Hewitt, "Political Violence and Terrorism in Modern America: A Chronology," Praeger Security International, 2005.