NationStates Jolt Archive

The culprit, the US airforce! Someone accidently loaded live warheads on cruise missiles.

http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2007/09/06/2025364.htm?section=justin
http://www.cnn.com/2007/US/09/05/loose.nukes/index.html?iref=mpstoryview

Good thing the plane wasn't doing any test firing!

The US now officially frightens me. before it was just worry, now i am cosidering writing up my list of the axis of fuckwittery.

I'm kinda suprised that they don't fly them around more. Considering how often B-52s crash these days, you'd think it would be safer then transporting them by road or rail.

They were live warheads only in terms of being real warheads. They wernt armed, and at no time were they capable of detonating nuclearly, even if the plane crashed. But still, not good at all.

Actually this worries me more..."The Air Force announced that all flights of fighters and bombers in the United States will be halted on September 14 to allow for a review of procedures."

Why in gods name would we announce to wouldbe plane hijackers what a great day to hijack an airliner would be. I mean do they HAVE to announce the day ahead of time to the general public?

Actually this worries me more..."The Air Force announced that all flights of fighters and bombers in the United States will be halted on September 14 to allow for a review of procedures."

Why in gods name would we announce to wouldbe plane hijackers what a great day to hijack an airliner would be. I mean do they HAVE to announce the day ahead of time to the general public?

it's probably a lie, or a half-truth at best. they'll have askeleton crew up at least. also, i don't reckon a plane highjack i plannable within 12 days.

Actually this worries me more..."The Air Force announced that all flights of fighters and bombers in the United States will be halted on September 14 to allow for a review of procedures."

Why in gods name would we announce to wouldbe plane hijackers what a great day to hijack an airliner would be. I mean do they HAVE to announce the day ahead of time to the general public?

That is rather odd. Why ground the fighters? When's the last time an F-15 or F-16 carried the B61?

Why in gods name would we announce to would be plane hijackers what a great day to hijack an airliner would be. I mean do they HAVE to announce the day ahead of time to the general public?

That's not our biggest problem with that. Our biggest problem would be an air strike attack (AKA - missiles) or an aerial flight of bombers.

Anyways, Sept 14...is like...next week. I have faith that even the most organized terrorist organizations couldn't get something together that fast. It takes years of planning. Years and years.

But, about the article, I saw that on MSN. It blows my mind. How do you "accidentally" load war heads onto a B-52.

ACCIDENTALLY.
Key word.

That just doesn't happen. Those things are uberly labeled with symbols and warning words, you can't just go "Oops! Wrong war head! My bad!"

Not very smart are ya?

They were not armed, and because of safety features, it would not have went off anyway.

Not very smart are ya?

They were not armed, and because of safety features, it would not have went off anyway.

That's not the issue.

The issue is that someone let it happen.

Not very smart are ya?

They were not armed, and because of safety features, it would not have went off anyway.

that isn't the point. if nuclear weapons can be 'accidentally' loaded onto a plane where else might we expect them to be 'accidentally' loaded, and what else besides loading might we expect to be 'accidentally' done to them. if they can be 'accidentally' removed from store, loaded onto a bomber, carried over the US, then surely it's just a small step to 'accidentally' arming them and 'accidentally' overriding the launch codes. these are nukes, they are properly scary shit.

You can't really tell from the outside. There's no big warning sign on the AGM-129. I suppose if there was a mistake in the paperwork, saying that the live warheads had been replaced with dummy ones, the crew could have neglected to check.

that's a scary fact in itself.

That's not our biggest problem with that. Our biggest problem would be an air strike attack (AKA - missiles) or an aerial flight of bombers.

Anyways, Sept 14...is like...next week. I have faith that even the most organized terrorist organizations couldn't get something together that fast. It takes years of planning. Years and years.

But, about the article, I saw that on MSN. It blows my mind. How do you "accidentally" load war heads onto a B-52.

ACCIDENTALLY.
Key word.

That just doesn't happen. Those things are uberly labeled with symbols and warning words, you can't just go "Oops! Wrong war head! My bad!"

You can't really tell from the outside. There's no big warning sign on the AGM-129. I suppose if there was a mistake in the paperwork, saying that the live warheads had been replaced with dummy ones, the crew could have neglected to check.

You can't really tell from the outside. There's no big warning sign on the AGM-129. I suppose if there was a mistake in the paperwork, saying that the live warheads had been replaced with dummy ones, the crew could have neglected to check.

But still....you don't mix nukes and regular missiles (war heads...whatever) in the same store.

Someone either screwed up majorly or something funny is going on.

Not very smart are ya?

They were not armed, and because of safety features, it would not have went off anyway.

Oh yes, it's really safe with the airforce flying around with nukes in their missile warheads! If the stupid plane crashes, it turns the missile into a dirty bomb.

But still....you don't mix nukes and regular missiles (war heads...whatever) in the same store.

Someone either screwed up majorly or something funny is going on.

All AGM-129's are Nuclear armed. These were being decommissioned. If there was a mistake in the paperwork, or the ground crew loading the bomber took the wrong missiles, then I suppose it's possible without overwhelming neglegence. It's not like the ground crew ignored a big yellow Nuclear symbol.

Oh yes, it's really safe with the airforce flying around with nukes in their missile warheads! If the stupid plane crashes, it turns the missile into a dirty bomb.

Dirty bombs are the most propaganic thing the DHS has ever come up with. At worst, the material is spread over a few hundred feet, and a few people get a little radiation poisoning. It's not like a bomb with radioactive elements creates fallout like a normal nuclear explosion.

Dirty bombs are the most propaganic thing the DHS has ever come up with. At worst, the material is spread over a few hundred feet, and a few people get a little radiation poisoning. It's not like a bomb with radioactive elements creates fallout like a normal nuclear explosion.

Still it renders an area of land radioactive for the next few thousand years unless they clean up real well, which we can't seem to do at the moment.

Dirty bombs are the most propaganic thing the DHS has ever come up with. At worst, the material is spread over a few hundred feet, and a few people get a little radiation poisoning. It's not like a bomb with radioactive elements creates fallout like a normal nuclear explosion.

A little radiation poisoning? While I agree that the area affected woudn't be large, I think it's safe to say that people in that area would get more then a little radiation poisoning. And in any case, any amount of radiation from a nuclear weapon would be bad.

All AGM-129's are Nuclear armed. These were being decommissioned. If there was a mistake in the paperwork, or the ground crew loading the bomber took the wrong missiles, then I suppose it's possible without overwhelming neglegence. It's not like the ground crew ignored a big yellow Nuclear symbol.

So if it isn't such a big deal, why is everyone in the military so hyped about it?

Still it renders an area of land radioactive for the next few thousand years unless they clean up real well, which we can't seem to do at the moment.

No, not really. Bombs have ruptured before. The contamination has been (relatively) minimal.

So if it isn't such a big deal, why is everyone in the military so hyped about it?

Oh, it is a big deal. Someone fucked up really badly, and heads will roll. I am saying that the bad part of this is the guy in charge of munitions making a mistake in paperwork and letting the warheads fly, not the actual flight of the missiles themselves.

Oh, it is a big deal. Someone fucked up really badly, and heads will roll. I am saying that the bad part of this is the guy in charge of munitions making a mistake in paperwork and letting the warheads fly, not the actual flight of the missiles themselves.

Good. Glad we got that out of the way.
For a second I was thinking you were totally relaxed with this issue.

Yes, I do agree that the missiles themselves were not the threat because they were unarmed and yadda, yadda. But this guy seriously fucked up and all they did was fire him? What the hell??

That's like "accidentally" setting fire to the white house and getting fired from your day job for punishment. Uh...no?

In China, the munitions officer would be executed already.

Oh, it is a big deal. Someone fucked up really badly, and heads will roll. I am saying that the bad part of this is the guy in charge of munitions making a mistake in paperwork and letting the warheads fly, not the actual flight of the missiles themselves.

Let's hope this is an isolated incident and not something that's happened undetected before.

A little radiation poisoning? While I agree that the area affected woudn't be large, I think it's safe to say that people in that area would get more then a little radiation poisoning. And in any case, any amount of radiation from a nuclear weapon would be bad.

There isn't all that much nuclear material in a weapon. I can't find the amount in the B61 (methinks it's classified), it's probably not more then 70 pounds. Still, bad for anyone affected, but most definitely not anything near a nuclear explosion.

It was a mistake in paperwork. What do you want them to do to him? Besides, the investigation is still ongoing. He might have been told that the warheads had been removed by the munitions crew. Garbage in, Garbage out. I agree with the course of action for the moment. There will be an investigation, and possibly charges brought against people.

I don't know what I want done to him.

It's just outrageous. Mistake in paperwork or not, it still happened, scaring the bejesus out of the country at the same time.

And he gets a slap on the wrist. "Bad llama"

Good. Glad we got that out of the way.
For a second I was thinking you were totally relaxed with this issue.

Yes, I do agree that the missiles themselves were not the threat because they were unarmed and yadda, yadda. But this guy seriously fucked up and all they did was fire him? What the hell??

That's like "accidentally" setting fire to the white house and getting fired from your day job for punishment. Uh...no?

It was a mistake in paperwork. What do you want them to do to him? Besides, the investigation is still ongoing. He might have been told that the warheads had been removed by the munitions crew. Garbage in, Garbage out. I agree with the course of action for the moment. There will be an investigation, and possibly charges brought against people.

There isn't all that much nuclear material in a weapon. I can't find the amount in the B61 (methinks it's classified), it's probably not more then 70 pounds. Still, bad for anyone affected, but most definitely not anything near a nuclear explosion.

That's pretty much what I said...

My post just came up before the one I quoted...

Weird.

My post just came up before the one I quoted...

Weird.

Yeah it happens from time to time! :p

I don't know what I want done to him.

It's just outrageous. Mistake in paperwork or not, it still happened, scaring the bejesus out of the country at the same time.

And he gets a slap on the wrist. "Bad llama"


Bah. The country is full of stupid people that gag at anything sounding of "Nuclear". Recall that in the 50's and 60's, bombers used to fly all around the US (and the world) with armed nuclear weapons with much less sophisticated safety features.

And this just happend now! This guy's career is over, even without official charges (which may still be forthcomming). Let the JAG corps investigate and do their job before throwing this guy under the bus.

Bah. The country is full of stupid people that gag at anything sounding of "Nuclear". Recall that in the 50's and 60's, bombers used to fly all around the US (and the world) with armed nuclear weapons with much less sophisticated safety features.

And this just happend now! This guy's career is over, even without official charges (which may still be forthcomming). Let the JAG corps investigate and do their job before throwing this guy under the bus.

Okay, let's keep in mind that I'm a child of the 90's. I know nothing of the 50's or the 60's. Especially militaristically speaking.

Also, those were different times, technology wasn't as advanced or people as scared, I agree.

Yeah it happens from time to time! :p

It's so odd.

Anyways, Sept 14...is like...next week. I have faith that even the most organized terrorist organizations couldn't get something together that fast. It takes years of planning. Years and years.

Unless of course, the terrorist organization has sleeper cells inside the airforce, which given the general drop in recruiting standards, is possible.

Okay, let's keep in mind that I'm a child of the 90's. I know nothing of the 50's or the 60's. Especially militaristically speaking.

Also, those were different times, technology wasn't as advanced or people as scared, I agree.


Indeed, different times. We are much more scared now as a people. In the 60's, Americans lived with knowlege of a Cold War that could turn hot at any moment. The key word there is "lived".

These days, the majority squabble in fear of the T-word. Sickening to me, even as a child of the late 80s.

How do you "accidentally" load war heads onto a B-52.

ACCIDENTALLY.
Key word.

The Air Force is as stunned as you are. They will conduct an investigation, and Heads Will Roll.

It's certainly comforting to know that there were nukes flown across the US by accident.

... not.

At least they weren't armed.

Someone definitely missed their morning cup of coffee on this one!

They were live warheads only in terms of being real warheads. They wernt armed, and at no time were they capable of detonating nuclearly, even if the plane crashed. But still, not good at all.

There were several incidents where bombers carrying live nukes crashed. Never once was there a danger of nuclear detonation.

There were several incidents where bombers carrying live nukes crashed. Never once was there a danger of nuclear detonation.

Yes although there have been many careless happenings with nuclear weapons, the safety systems built into them are so excellent that they make up for general human error and overt stupidity and carelessness. This seems to be a very careless case of human error probably administered by stupidity. However, it does not shake any confidence I have in the military nor am I going to get out there with a "Ban Nukes" sign. It was an accident, they happen although they shouldn't, especially not with nuclear weapons, let alone any weapon. I do have the utmost confidence though in the very intelligent and meticulous people who designed them. They always had their morning coffee.

I do have the utmost confidence though in the very intelligent and meticulous people who designed them. They always had their morning coffee.

Not so much those who have their fingers on the arming buttons I imagine.

I gotta side with the South Islands on this. Nuclear weapons haven't killed anyone since the first and last nuclear strike in WW2. There were even plans to use them to drive interplanetary spacecraft and even suplight starships large enough for occupants to actually move around during flight, unlike the fat guy coffins used in the Apollo missions. That was called Project Orion.

There were also plans to use waste heat from small reactors to run passenger jets and missiles alike. The missile program was called the Pluto Project and would have used exposed fuel systems to directly heat air, causing it to expand and provide thrust as well as fallout. The clean version would have used some kind of sheilding to prevent contact between the air and the fuel in a sort of "nuclear lightbulb" configuration. The obvious benefits of such a system would have been no pollution and longer periods between refills.

Also, though you'd be suprised at how simple the basic concepts bnehind the construction of a nuclear weapon, be it plutonium compression (used today) or uranium gun (used in artillery way back when), it can be quite tricky getting the conventional explosives to create a proper shockwave around the core. Even a few misfires or delays could cause the weapon to do anything from lose some yeild to simply blast a bunch of radioactive shit all over the place.

There are also lots of safety systems incorporated into todays warheads, some quite sophisticated and others not so much, all of which are designed to prevent the bomb from detonating and performing its intended function.

In short, don't be afraid of nukes. They either kill you or they don't, no middle ground. If one goes off nearby you probably won't even have time to turn and see the flash.

Oh my.

In short, don't be afraid of nukes. They either kill you or they don't, no middle ground. If one goes off nearby you probably won't even have time to turn and see the flash.

What if one fell on you eh? Did you ever think of that? :p

The stealth bombers fly over me every day. I guess I just assumed they were loaded and sometimes with nukes.

The stealth bombers fly over me every day. I guess I just assumed they were loaded and sometimes with nukes.

Whiteman AFB? Cool.

My uncle has a cottage on a lake in Northern Michigan. It's right next to an ANG bombing range. A-10s come screaming over the lake and bomb the crap out of "Soviet" armored formations. Freaking awesome.

The culprit, the US airforce! Someone accidently loaded live warheads on cruise missiles.

http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2007/09/06/2025364.htm?section=justin
http://www.cnn.com/2007/US/09/05/loose.nukes/index.html?iref=mpstoryview

Good thing the plane wasn't doing any test firing!

ROFLCOPTER...

filled with nuclear missiles...

Perhaps this site merits a perusal, eh?

http://aboutfacts.net/Weapons36.htm

I'd read in a few places about the British Columbia incident.

:eek:

Whiteman AFB? Cool.

My uncle has a cottage on a lake in Northern Michigan. It's right next to an ANG bombing range. A-10s come screaming over the lake and bomb the crap out of "Soviet" armored formations. Freaking awesome.

Yea, Whiteman is about 35 miles from me and I'm in the normal flight path. They look like big black bats. When you hear them you have to look straight up because there is no incoming sound, then keep your eyes on them because if you look away they are hard to find again. They disappear at about a 45 degree angle to the horizon. I always stop what I'm doing and watch them.

It's hard to realize how big they are when you see them by themselves. When they first started flying they were always accompanied by a fighter. It's when I compared the bomber to the fighter that I realized how big they were. They fly by themselves now. We can always tell when something big is going to happen, their routine changes.

There were several incidents where bombers carrying live nukes crashed. Never once was there a danger of nuclear detonation.

How very true. I live in North Carolina where Seymour Johnson Air Force Base is located. It was one of the largest Strategic Air Command bases with a large number of nuclear armed B-52's. At least a third of those Buff's sat on the alert line with live nuclear weapons.

On one ocassion (I believe in the 70's), one of the Buff's crashed just past the runway, onto a field. There was an explosion inside each bomb, but that was the small explosive charge that was designed to destroy the arming systems and the on-board the bomb computers. No radiation was detected, since there was no damage to the core.

And on another ocassion, the bomb bay system malfunctioned and the bombs were dropped onto a farm field. Again, since the bombs had not received the activation codes, the explosive charge destroyed the computers, but no radioactive material was released.

Also, my father was carreer Army, and he used to work with nuclear warheads for artillery. As with the missiles and bombs, any attempt to activate the warhead without the proper codes would result in the auto destruct of the computer inside the shell. And yes, he told me that on many an ocassion a nuclear artillery shell was unusable because someone would try to test the theory and end up destroying the electronics. Never once did I see a mushroom cloud at the bases where I lived.

I guess that living thru the Cold War makes it harder for me to get razzled by stuff like this. Does anyone remember the old "Duck and Cover" from school?

Vic

blahblahblah yapyap sensationalism blahblahyapyap exaggeration...

/end thread

That is rather odd. Why ground the fighters? When's the last time an F-15 or F-16 carried the B61?
There's probably a possibility...
Standdowns usually happen after some piece of bad luck. In my non-nuclear experience, it usually happens after a spate of crashes.

But still....you don't mix nukes and regular missiles (war heads...whatever) in the same store.

Someone either screwed up majorly or something funny is going on.

"My bad guys I kinda misfiled the paperwork." Thats all that could have happened.Yet this is not good.Detention and they all have to right a 200 word essay on what they've done.

It blows my mind. How do you "accidentally" load war heads onto a B-52.

ACCIDENTALLY.
Key word.

That just doesn't happen. Those things are uberly labeled with symbols and warning words, you can't just go "Oops! Wrong war head! My bad!"

This was the same question I asked myself. I have a few friends that are members of Air Force maintenance crews, and according to what I have been told, they are supposed to check the fighters and bombers to make sure they are carrying the payload they are supposed to so I have a hard time buying that this was truely "accidental". I guess that is the reason why the Munitions Squadron Commander was relieved of duty. Such a lapse should never happen.

The punishment should be swift ans severe, regardless of the risks to civilians.

My post just came up before the one I quoted...

Weird.

Congrats.You've ancountered yet another Jolt time warp.We've gona back in time.Quick!!EVERYONE POST THERE BRAINS OUT SO WE CAN STOP THIS!!!and maybe even undelete Drunk Commies Deleted if anyone wants him back

Unless of course, the terrorist organization has sleeper cells inside the airforce

Yes...true. I would like to say "But what are the chances of that happening?" and then I get to thinking about it and I realize that there is a very good chance of that happening. That's the problem, no one knows these days. I mean, take 9/11. Those hijackers were trained to fly in the US. It's insane. We practically live in constant fear these days.

Indeed, different times. We are much more scared now as a people. In the 60's, Americans lived with knowlege of a Cold War that could turn hot at any moment. The key word there is "lived".

These days, the majority squabble in fear of the T-word. Sickening to me, even as a child of the late 80s.

Yes, indeed. The world is full of constant fear. The Cold War was just one of those things that lingered, threateningly of course, but not in the same notion we are faced with today. There is no more just "war". It is now "conspiracy" and "surprise attacks" in the newest of ways we have yet to come into contact with. You think up some crazy, stupid idea, and some terrorist is bound to find a way to use it.

I think I'll move to Mars.

The Air Force is as stunned as you are. They will conduct an investigation, and Heads Will Roll.

Oh I imagine they will. I look forward to future updates.


The punishment should be swift ans severe, regardless of the risks to civilians.

Glad you agree! This is something that cannot go unnoticed. Who knows what will happen the "next time" if this guy just gets off all easy. What kind of message does that send?

Congrats.You've ancountered yet another Jolt time warp.We've gona back in time.Quick!!EVERYONE POST THERE BRAINS OUT SO WE CAN STOP THIS!!!and maybe even undelete Drunk Commies Deleted if anyone wants him back

Well that's exciting. Can we choose where we go?

I choose those years of peace in Europe after the first Great War =]

Still it renders an area of land radioactive for the next few thousand years unless they clean up real well, which we can't seem to do at the moment.
They often do clean up the land real well, heck they'll even dig up the topsoil and bury it with the rest of the nuclear waste if it's contaminated, everything that is contaminated is buried, even their Hazmat equipment.

It's this kind of through work that's why you can actually safely walk on the Bikini islands today (Just don't drink the water, the place is still uninhabitable)

They often do clean up the land real well, heck they'll even dig up the topsoil and bury it with the rest of the nuclear waste if it's contaminated, everything that is contaminated is buried, even their Hazmat equipment.

It's this kind of through work that's why you can actually safely walk on the Bikini islands today (Just don't drink the water, the place is still uninhabitable)

That's what I meant, you can clean up but the contamination gets into everything so it's always around unless you clean up the surround area as well including local water sources which we don't seem to do anyway.

Oh yes, it's really safe with the airforce flying around with nukes in their missile warheads! If the stupid plane crashes, it turns the missile into a dirty bomb.

Oh quit being such a pansy.

First, you would need the plane to crash. Then you would need it to blow up (which it could not).

It was an error (something that doesn't happen very much at all anyway) and it was "fixed".

So quit using a minor incident and blowing it out of proportion just so you can cry about it.

If memory serves there are certain protocols to follow when handling nukes. Its not the same as handling normal munitions.

One thing I know for fact is that serials numbers are checked rigorously and the weapon is always accompanied by a two man section of Air Force Security Police. When loading and unloading there is a further guard detail by the plane and another at the vehicle transporting the weapon.

There is no way that this could have happened unless there was a serious breakdown in the command structure and adherence to protocol.

This story is fucking fishy.

What are the repercussions for violating said treaty?

What are the repercussions for violating said treaty?

Which treaty?

Sorry...if you are referencing my post I am not talking about a treaty...this is a protocol as used by the Air Force. I have no idea about the Navy or Army although I suspect its about the same...

Which treaty?

Sorry...if you are referencing my post I am not talking about a treaty...this is a protocol as used by the Air Force. I have no idea about the Navy or Army although I suspect its about the same...

From the Article

Shepperd said the United States had agreed in a Cold War-era treaty not to fly nuclear weapons. "It appears that what happened was this treaty agreement was violated," he said.

That treaty. I would also like to know the repurcussions. As the treaty was violated is its strength seriously weakened and will Russia react in a way that also violates said treaty?

That treaty. I would also like to know the repurcussions. As the treaty was violated is its strength seriously weakened and will Russia react in a way that also violates said treaty?

Good question.

That we will find out shortly I think.

That treaty. I would also like to know the repurcussions. As the treaty was violated is its strength seriously weakened and will Russia react in a way that also violates said treaty?

The wordage they used there is somewhat odd. Does this whole not flying nukes thing say that we can't put Nuclear armed cruise missiles (which these were) on bombers anymore? I find it peculiar that the US would agree to this, as the AGM-129 is a big part of our nuclear strike force.

I would really like to know what treaty the author is referring too.

The wordage they used there is somewhat odd. Does this whole not flying nukes thing say that we can't put Nuclear armed cruise missiles (which these were) on bombers anymore? I find it peculiar that the US would agree to this, as the AGM-129 is a big part of our nuclear strike force.

I would really like to know what treaty the author is referring too.

If they are transported in the air it is via transport planes. I think the last bomber flights were back in the 60's.

Oh yes, it's really safe with the airforce flying around with nukes in their missile warheads! If the stupid plane crashes, it turns the missile into a dirty bomb.

Wrong.

Numerous occasions have occurred where bombs were accidentally dropped in a crash, and all survive without exploding. Not even the high explosives detonated.


I'd rather have the nukes in a plane then on a truck which can be hijacked.

What are the repercussions for violating said treaty?

Its a mistake, so the other signers should understand if they have any damn brains.

Wrong.

Numerous occasions have occurred where bombs were accidentally dropped in a crash, and all survive without exploding. Not even the high explosives detonated.


I'd rather have the nukes in a plane then on a truck which can be hijacked.

You are correct. It happened at least a dozen times where a "broken arrow" occurred with a B-52 or other aircraft crashing with a load of nukes.

If they are transported in the air it is via transport planes. I think the last bomber flights were back in the 60's.

But these were not transported, in the typical sense of the word. These were fitted to Cruise Missiles, mounted onto a bomber. This isn't really "transporting". This was pretty much like the Chrome Dome missions of the Cold War, exept they wern't knowingly doing it.

And nuclear airborne alert ended as the cold war did. Bombers flew missions right up until the fall of the Soviet Union.

Oh my.

Oh. Your. God.


What about the link?

Wrong.

Numerous occasions have occurred where bombs were accidentally dropped in a crash, and all survive without exploding. Not even the high explosives detonated.

Link provided for supplement. *nods*
http://forums.jolt.co.uk/showpost.php?p=13029800&postcount=49

You are correct. It happened at least a dozen times where a "broken arrow" occurred with a B-52 or other aircraft crashing with a load of nukes.

The last time a B-52 (or any other US bomber carried nuclear munitions for transport was 1968. Right after one crashed off the coast of Spain during a refueling accident.

But these were not transported, in the typical sense of the word. These were fitted to Cruise Missiles, mounted onto a bomber. This isn't really "transporting". This was pretty much like the Chrome Dome missions of the Cold War, exept they wern't knowingly doing it.

And nuclear airborne alert ended as the cold war did. Bombers flew missions right up until the fall of the Soviet Union.

Yes. Exactly. Given the extreme diligence given to the handling of this kind of kit it really does beggar belief.

I gotta side with the South Islands on this. Nuclear weapons haven't killed anyone since the first and last nuclear strike in WW2...
Just to pick nits, but nuclear weapons have since killed people, although not directly. For example, Australian nuclear weapon testing caused dozens of terminal cancer cases. I'm sure its happened in other countries too.