By Trista Talton - Staff writer
Posted : Friday Mar 2, 2007 23:12:51 EST

JACKSONVILLE, N.C. — The search for a belt of .50-caliber ammunition that fell from a Marine Corps Air Station New River, N.C.-based UH-1 Huey helicopter has been called off, a Marine Corps spokesman said March 2.

“It’s suspected that the ammo is underwater,” said Capt. Clark Carpenter, spokesman for the Camp Lejeune, N.C.-based 22nd Marine Expeditionary Unit. “It was in a swampy, marshy area where the search was conducted.”

An investigation into how the belt fell out of the helicopter is ongoing, he said.

The belt, which included all 100 rounds of ammunition, fell in an area of homes and schools outside base boundaries Feb. 28. The original search area, which includes some 6,000 families, was pared down to a smaller area by March 1.

“At this point, it does not pose a threat to the community in any way,” Carpenter said.

The ammo could go off if it’s struck on the primer or if exposed to a significant amount of heat. Area residents have been asked to call 911 if they find the belt.

http://www.marinecorpstimes.com/news/2007/03/mcammobeltupdate070302/