on september 5, 1941, colonel john moore, commanding officer of the u.s. army air corps at grenier field, wrote a letter proposing the government create a bombing range in new boston near joe english pond. "the nature of the terrain around the pond is such that aerial bombing thereon would offer the elements of surprise, concealed approach and navigation to a point," moore wrote. "it is believed that joe english hill (altitude 1,245 feet) would be a satisfactory stop for any ricochet bullets from ground machine gun targets."