Climax: Josh Gates Finds… Not Treasure but a WWII Bomb! Entire Crew in Panic (Expedition Unknown S3 E13)

In the pulse-pounding finale of Expedition Unknown Season 3 Episode 13, “England’s Vanished Crown Jewels,” host Josh Gates and his team experienced a shocking twist that transformed their hunt for medieval riches into a high-stakes encounter with modern danger. Deep in the treacherous mudflats of The Wash, after surviving neck-deep sinking mud and a tense standoff with a venomous adder, Gates made a metallic discovery that sent chills through the entire crew. What they initially hoped was a piece of King John’s legendary lost treasure turned out to be something far more sinister: an unexploded World War II bomb, still armed and potentially lethal after decades buried in the marsh. The moment escalated into pure chaos as the team realized they were standing on unstable ground next to live ordnance.

The episode had already delivered relentless drama. Earlier sequences showed Gates battling the sucking quagmire and wildlife, but the climax elevated the stakes to another level. With daylight fading once more and the tide threatening to rise, the team had returned to a promising metal-detecting hotspot identified through historical maps, LIDAR scans, and local expertise. Gary Drayton, the veteran metal detectorist, and the crew swept the area methodically, their machines emitting promising beeps amid the relentless drizzle.

Gates, still caked in dried mud from previous ordeals and nursing minor bruises, knelt down as a strong signal registered. “This could be it—gold, silver, something from the royal baggage train,” he said excitedly to the camera, his voice carrying the familiar mix of hope and scholarly curiosity. The team carefully excavated the spot, using trowels and probes to avoid damaging potential artifacts. As the object emerged from the viscous clay, initial elation turned to confusion, then outright alarm.

It wasn’t a crown, jeweled cross, or medieval coin. Instead, they uncovered the corroded but recognizable casing of a World War II-era explosive—likely a remnant from aerial bombings or defensive minefields that had littered the East Anglian coast during the conflict. The device, partially exposed and still intact with its detonator mechanism, posed an immediate threat in the soft, shifting marsh environment. Vibrations from digging or even footsteps could potentially destabilize it.

“Bomb! Everyone back—now!” Gates shouted, his usual witty demeanor instantly replaced by urgent authority. The crew froze for a split second before springing into action. Panic rippled through the small group as radios crackled with urgent calls to the production safety officer. In the remote, tide-dependent wetlands of The Wash, there was no quick exit. The nearest bomb disposal unit was miles away, and the encroaching darkness combined with incoming rain made the situation exponentially more hazardous.

The entire team entered full evacuation protocol. One crew member nearly slipped deeper into the mud while retreating, echoing Gates’ earlier ordeal. Headlamps swept wildly across the scene, illuminating the ominous, rust-streaked metal protruding from the earth. Gates, ever the professional, stayed close enough to describe the find for the cameras while maintaining a safe distance. “This thing has been sleeping here for over 70 years, right next to where King John’s convoy might have vanished. History really does overlap in the strangest ways,” he narrated, though his wide-eyed expression betrayed the adrenaline surge.

The Wash region, with its strategic location during WWII, had seen heavy activity from both Allied and Axis forces. Unexploded ordnance (UXO) remains a known hazard in parts of the UK, especially in coastal and marshy areas used for training or targeted in Luftwaffe raids. What made this discovery particularly terrifying was the unstable ground—any shift in the saturated mud could trigger the device or cause it to sink further, complicating future handling.

Production safety measures kicked in flawlessly but dramatically. The team marked a wide perimeter, used long poles to gently probe for additional threats, and coordinated with local authorities via satellite phone. For several tense minutes, the crew stood by in the pouring rain, hearts racing, as they waited for confirmation on the next steps. Josh Gates used the downtime to reflect on the broader implications: “We came looking for 13th-century treasure and found 20th-century danger. It’s a reminder that these landscapes hold layers of history—and risk.”

Bomb disposal experts eventually arrived, confirming the device as a relatively small but still dangerous piece of ordnance. Under controlled conditions, it was safely neutralized and removed, allowing the team to resume limited operations. Miraculously, no one was injured, and the incident added an unexpected layer of authenticity to the episode. While the crew didn’t recover King John’s crown jewels—the holy grail of the quest—they did unearth tangible connections to Britain’s more recent wartime past, including other metal fragments that may link to the medieval crossing.

This climax perfectly encapsulates the spirit of Expedition Unknown: the unknown isn’t always glamorous buried gold; sometimes it’s a rusted bomb that forces you to confront layered histories and real-world perils. Fans have called this sequence the most intense of Season 3, surpassing even the mud rescue and snake encounter in sheer “what could possibly go wrong next” energy. Social media erupted with comments like “Josh Gates finding a bomb instead of treasure is peak adventure TV!” and “The crew’s faces when they realized—priceless panic.”

Beyond the immediate scare, the moment sparked important conversations about UXO awareness in historically layered regions. The Wash’s dual identity—as both a medieval death trap and a WWII hotspot—highlighted how Britain’s landscapes preserve multiple eras of conflict. Gates and the experts discussed how tidal movements and sediment shifts can bring long-buried objects to the surface, creating ongoing hazards for locals, farmers, and explorers alike.

In the episode’s closing narration, Gates tied it all together with characteristic insight: “We didn’t find the crown jewels today, but we uncovered something equally valuable—a story of how one dangerous patch of earth has claimed victims across centuries. From King John’s lost convoy to this forgotten bomb, The Wash guards its secrets fiercely.” The team walked away exhausted, muddied, and snake-bitten (metaphorically), but richer in experience and respect for the unpredictable nature of fieldwork.

The “WWII Bomb Twist” has become a fan-favorite highlight, often rewatched in compilation videos of the show’s greatest close calls. It underscores why Expedition Unknown resonates so deeply: Josh Gates doesn’t just chase legends—he lives them, complete with the chaos, teamwork, and unexpected revelations that no script could improve upon. From sinking in medieval mud to staring down a venomous adder and finally unearthing live WWII history, Season 3 Episode 13 stands as a masterclass in adventure television.

For aspiring explorers and history buffs, the episode delivers a powerful lesson: preparation, quick thinking, and respect for the environment are your best tools when the unknown fights back. Josh Gates emerged not with royal treasure, but with another compelling chapter in his ever-growing legacy of discovery. In the end, the real treasure was the story—and the fact that everyone lived to tell it.