This month’s History Mystery of Destin explores why the “Buzz Bomb” was tested right outside of Destin during World War II, and who were the Destin fisherman that helped with this war effort?

Driving east on U.S. Highway 98 as you leave Destin proper and enter Walton County if you look closely on the right side of the highway you might notice a private wooded street with two signs. One announcing the Coffeen Nature Preserve is just beyond the gate and a second sign for Four Mile Village. There is a lot of history inside that gate. A secret government testing facility for the American version of the deadly “Buzz Bomb” occurred there during World War II.

In the early 1940s, John and Dorothy Coffeen purchased the property but were delayed in using it by WWII. The Army Air Force requested use of their land for an important military mission. Germany had developed flying bombs, called V1 and V2 rockets. These were commonly referred to as “Buzz Bombs” due to the buzzing sound they made when in operation against a target. These flying bombs were used by Germany against England and nearly destroyed London during WWII.

The Allies had captured some of these deadly Germany rockets. These were used by the United States Army to replicate this powerful war weapon at Wright Field in Ohio. They named it the JB-2. The JB-2 was the United States’ first operational guided missile. About 1,300 were produced and shipped to Eglin Field where about 600 unarmed missiles were tested over the Gulf of Mexico.

In 1944, the Army Air Force at Eglin Field set up a launch site at this remote area just east of Destin to test the newly developed JB-2 rocket. At the Coffeen Nature Preserve you can still observe today the two missile launching ramps and the observation bunkers that were used during the missile testing from 1944-1946.

Susan and Bruce Paladini, the resident managers of Four Mile Village and Coffeen Nature Preserve, offer an interesting program where they educate visitors about the history of the military use of the preserve. To schedule a visit call 850-622-3700. Admission is free.

Destin Fisherman Helped with the JB-2 Missile Testing

Local Destin fisherman also helped with the JB-2 test effort. They signed on to the newly formed Marine Unit at Eglin Field and operated what were commonly called the “crash boats.”

Once a JB-2 missile was fired they would go into the Gulf of Mexico and retrieve the missile and its launch sled. The launch sled would be reused, and the JB-2 missile would be retrieved, studied and improvements would be made.

H. C. “Hank” Klein is a Destin historian who visits often and lives in North Little Rock, Arkansas with his wife (the former Muriel Marler of Destin). Klein recently published a historic book about Destin's pioneer settlers. DESTIN Pioneer Settlers...A Land History of Destin, Florida from 1819-1940 can be obtained from Amazon.com, Tony Mennillo of Arturo Studios at 850/585-2909, Dewey Destin's Restaurants, in Destin, the Magnolia Grill in Fort Walton Beach, or Bayou Books in Niceville. Klein can be contacted at klein@aristotle.net.