Atomic Bomb Hits South Carolina In Broken Arrow

[Sayeret]

March 11, 1958 Florence South Carolina

On March 11, 1958, at 3:52 P.M. (EST), a B-47E departed Hunter AFB, Georgia, as number three aircraft in a flight of four en route to an overseas base. After level off at 15,000 feet, the aircraft accidentally jettisoned an unarmed nuclear weapon which impacted on a sparsely populated area approximately 6 miles from Florence, South Carolina. The Bomb's high explosive material exploded on impact. The explosion caused property damage and several injuries on the ground.

http://www.vce.com/brokearrow.html

[Vance]

Just FYI, it wasn't Hiroshima or anything. Just a 'small' explosion.

[moughoun]

I thought a missing nuke was code worded "empty quiver" and a "broken arrow" was a US military unit about to be overrun?

[earl]

A nuclear weapon accident, incident, or deficiency (AID) is a condition which degrades nuclear surety/safety. This includes damage, loss, destruction, malfunction, or exposure to adverse weather conditions of any part of the weapon system. The classifications of accidents, incidents, and deficiencies are described below.


DULL SWORD
A nuclear weapon system deficiency
A situation, event, or condition not reportable as a BENT SPEAR or BROKEN ARROW which could or does degrade nuclear surety/safety.
damage or malfunction of a nuclear weapon, component, or associated equipment.
exposure of a weapon, warhead, or critical component to severe or unusual environments.
unplanned, unexpected, or inadvertent release, launch, loss, or destruction of a nuclear training device.
damage to nuclear certified ground support equipment including common commercial vehicles and munitions handling equipment.
damage, failure, or malfunction of a nuclear capable delivery vehicle, suspension, release, launch, separation, arming, monitoring, or control systems.


BENT SPEAR
A nuclear weapon system incident
significant incident or unexpected event involving a nuclear weapon, warhead, or nuclear component resu1ting in damage to the extent that major rework, examination, recertification, or complete replacement by the design agency is required.
an incident requiring immediate action in the interest of safety or nuclear weapons security which map result in adverse national or international public reaction.


BROKEN ARROW
A nuclear weapon system accident
an unexpected event involving a nuclear weapon, warhead, or nuclear component resulting in destruction of a nuclear weapon, radioactive contamination, or a hazard to the public either actual or implied, such as nuclear or non-nuclear detonation of a weapon.


NUCFLASH
An accidental or unauthorized launching, firing or use of a nuclear weapon or weapons system by US or non-US supported allied forces which could cause the outbreak of war.

The normal procedures for reporting accidents, incidents, or deficiencies is contained in AFI 91-204. The initial report, usually in message format, is also contained in AFI 91-204.


REMEMBER

DULL SWORD - Deficiency
BENT SPEAR - Incident
BROKEN ARROW - Accident
NUCFLASH - Possible War

These are flag words that used with the specific type of AID.


EMPTY QUIVER
Is a security flag word only.
The theft, loss, or seizure of a nuclear weapon or critical component.
U.S. custody of the weapon is lost

http://www.contrast.org/onkruit/axies/lessons.html#9


And ROGUE SPEAR is when it is confirmed that a non governmental agency has a nuclear weapon.

[mattnwnc03]

yeah theres a broken arrow here in north carolina.i believe it s in goldsboro? crashed in a farmers field.they never found it!

[Mudcat]

Truth be told we just wanted to make sure the Dawgs can beat the Gamecocks and Clemson every year. :D