It is amazing the number of supposedly well-educated people who keep writing
books about the 1961 incident 12 mile from here but evidently don't know how
to count (each one comes up with a different number of switches - usually
sprinkled between 4 and 9) and can't seem to understand that all of the
bombs' internal switches, devices and timers, including the ARM/SAFE
switches worked mechanically and electrically exactly as they were designed
and built to work. They were all designed and built to allow/produce a nuke
det only if the bombs were released under very specific conditions of
altitude and airspeed. The breakup of the airplane caused the bombs to
separate from it as if they had been deliberately released - the altitude
and airspeed conditions were met. On one bomb, all of the switches,
including ARM/SAFE switch worked. Firing signal was produced, but it could
not get past the ARM/SAFE switch, which, of course, the crew
radar-navigator/bombardier had not armed and never would have without a
properly authenticated go-code/order. So one bomb did not produce nuke det
because ARM/SAFE switch was SAFE.
In the second bomb, all of the switches, timers, etc., except those that
were precluded by other physical factors (severed parachute static line and
premature impact with ground) also worked as designed and built. When first
found in the impact crater, the ARM/SAFE switch for this bomb appeared to be
ARMED, but detailed analysis by Sandia Corp. found that only the case was
damaged making it to merely appear to be armed but was, in fact, SAFE. This
bomb did not produce nuke det 'cause it was destroyed upon impact with
ground before fusing/firing sequence was complete; ARM/SAFE switch was also
SAFE.
In addition to the internal switches, timers and devices being designed and
built to allow/produce a nuclear detonation ONLY under certain specific
conditions of airspeed and altitude, they were also designed and built to
prevent an accidental nuclear detonation while undergoing ground
maintenance, and handling, routine transport and any other time not
deliberately intended. Airspeed and altitude conditions were satisfied,
though, so the switches worked, but because they each did not act as a
roadblock to the fusing/firing sequence in this accidental situation, they
are considered by some to have failed - that's how the story got out about
so many switches failing.
Wilton
----- Original Message -----
From: "Rich Thomas" <richthomas79td...@constructivity.net>
To: "Mercedes Discussion List" <mercedes@okiebenz.com>
Sent: Saturday, September 21, 2013 3:17 PM
Subject: [MBZ] OT but interesting
So back when an a-bomb was accidentally dropped right near where Milton
lives. Yesterday's WSJ had a book review of a new book about bomb
accidents, mostly missile explosions that expelled the warheads, and
caused various other problems. It also mentioned this incident and
suggested the package was still where it fell and buried itself, though I
find that hard to believe. Anyway, now a report saying NC almost got
nuked then. I guess Milt would be living outside the exclusion zone, or
maybe in full Mad Max mode by now.
http://www.theguardian.com/world/2013/sep/20/usaf-atomic-bomb-north-carolina-1961
--R
_______________________________________
http://www.okiebenz.com
To search list archives http://www.okiebenz.com/archive/
To Unsubscribe or change delivery options go to:
http://mail.okiebenz.com/mailman/listinfo/mercedes_okiebenz.com
_______________________________________
http://www.okiebenz.com
To search list archives http://www.okiebenz.com/archive/
To Unsubscribe or change delivery options go to:
http://mail.okiebenz.com/mailman/listinfo/mercedes_okiebenz.com
