Oh, I forgot - part of second bomb - secondary package of radioactive
material (200 to 300 lbs) is still in the ground, depth unknown, maybe 180
feet or so. Unable to recover it in '61 because of water, mud, etc.
Wilt
----- Original Message -----
From: "WILTON" <wilt...@nc.rr.com>
To: "Mercedes Discussion List" <mercedes@okiebenz.com>
Sent: Sunday, September 22, 2013 12:23 AM
Subject: Re: [MBZ] OT but interesting
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
_______________________________________
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