Bill G Cornwell wrote: > The Blue Bonnet Ordiance Plant was located at the western edge of > McGregor, Texas. It was established in the late 1941 or early 1942. At > the onset 100 pound bombs were made. As the war esculated the BBOP grew > and just before the end of the war 500 pound bombs were made. The plant > covered 18000 acres and was approx. 7 miles from front gate to the back > fence. It reached from just south of the railroad track (to Gatesville) > to just north of the Moody city limit. The outter edge of the plant was > fenced with barbed wire fencing and was patrolled by men on horse-back 24 > hours per day 7 days per week. The inner roads were patrolled by > motorcycle guards 24/7. The plant had its own water system including 5 > wells; its own sewer system and owned all the power lines on the area. > At the end of the war (about 1946) Ciba Giegy Chemical company took over > part of the plant closest to McGregor and manufactored insecticides. In > Sept of 1952 in a joint effort between tha US Air Force and Phillips > Petroleum Company, the plant reopened as a solid propellent manufactoring > plant.Through the mid to late 50's the plant expanded and in 1960 opened > a new administration bldg on Johnson Drive in McGregor. The plant went > from extrudable to cast tpye propellant. At the hieght of empolyment > apprxo 2000 people worked 24/7. The plant changed ownership several times > and in 1979 became Hercules. In 1994 it was announced that Hercules was > selling the plant to > Alliant Tech. and moving it to Rocket Center, W.V. By the middle of Nov > of 1995 this was done and the McGregor plant was nomore. > > bcorny70@juno.com >