US plane in 1961 'nuclear bomb near-miss'

[Michel Lemieux]

US plane in 1961 'nuclear bomb near-miss'

One can only wonder the turns of events afterwards!!!!!!

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-us-canada-24183879#

[JohnB]

Really, it's old news. The basic facts have ben known for years and in my files, I have a rather extensive report on all U.S. nuclear accidents/incidents that they'd hand out to anyone who asked. This round of infamy came as a result of a report in a UK newspaper...another attempt by the UK media to make the US look bad.

[Dave Smith]

John, the Guardian newspaper is a leftie rag, so that sort of reporting is rather typical!

[JimW]

The NSA is making the US security services look bad all by itself, and Isn't the NYT a driving force behind the Snowden revelations as well as the Guardian? so it is not just the UK media
Leftie is not an insult for many in the UK

[andyman64]

just think they could have single handedly wiped out nascar lol!!!

[JohnB]

just think they could have single handedly wiped out nascar lol!!!

That's the best case I've ever heard for resuming airborne alert!

[Cubs]

One bomb is deep in the ground near Faro, NC.

Wiki says the other descended by parachute. That I had not heard. I guess that was to allow time for the bomber to get away?

[CAPFlyer]

Most devices have a parachute or ballute system to slow it down becuase they are designed to be employed from multiple profiles and platforms. The use of a drag system also allows the device to be oriented and stabilized to ensure maximum effect and accuracy in detonation at the proper height.

On the other end, it also allows for a device released accidentally, jettisoned, or separated due to breakup to impact softly enough to minimize the chance of a radiation release.

The Guardian article I laugh at because the fact that not all of the safeties worked has been public knowledge since when it happened and it was brought up again after the Palomares incident.

Not only that, but it's been reported as recently as 2000 - http://www.ibiblio.org/bomb/

[PinecastleAAF]

just think they could have single handedly wiped out nascar lol!!!

Ok now that was a good one.

[Stephan Wilkinson]

This round of infamy came as a result of a report in a UK newspaper.

No, it came as a result of an excellent and important new book, "Command and Control," by Eric Schlosser. Every Internet aggregator picked up the story, one of many Broken Arrow accounts, from the very popular book, and then along came the print newspapers, bringing up the rear.

[PinecastleAAF]

I've always wondered why the a/c became uncontrollable after so much fuel leaked out. Perhaps some center of gravity issue or something of that nature? I also wonder if there was ever any sabotage considered as a possible factor in the loss.