B52 over America with 6 Nuclear War heads ** a Mistake **

[Gunship]

BBC just reported a B52 flew from one side to the other of America with an armed B52 containing 6 Nuclear war heads ...

best to come - It was a Mistake they say !

[Gunship]

Here you go : From The BBC




US B-52 'in nuclear cargo error'

A B-52 bomber flew across the US last week mistakenly loaded with up to six nuclear-armed missiles, unnamed air force officials are quoted as saying.

The missiles were unaccounted for during a three-hour flight from a North Dakota air base to one in Louisiana.

Air Force spokesman Lt Col Ed Thomas told Army Times the weapons were "always in our custody".

Army Times said the missiles were to be decommissioned but were mistakenly mounted on the bomber's wings.

The W80-1 warhead has a yield of five to 150 kilotons, the paper said.

A military official told AFP news agency that President George W Bush had been informed of the mix-up.

[Roadster280]

There is a 100% certainty that the RAF could not make a similar mistake.

[Gainesy]

Weeell, fair's fair, with all that stuff dangling under a Buff's wing it'd be easy to miss 'em on the walkround...

[charliegolf]

There is a 100% certainty that the RAF could not make a similar mistake

'Cos we don't have any B52s?

CG

[Roadster280]

Well I must admit I was thinking of the weapons, but on second thoughts, I don't know, and nor should I.

Imagine the surprise when the orderly officer conducts his ammo bunker check!

..."Ok, that's 45 W-80s I count. How many do you make it".

Or the receiving armourers. What the f*** is THAT!!

[speeddial]

I think you'll find it was the warheads within the missiles which were supposed to have been removed, not the whole missile assemblies.

[Wessex Boy]

If your needing to launch any kind of nuclear strike on the US, do it after September 15th, they are all being stood down pending a review.....

[PAXboy]

from the BBC:

Col Thomas said the loading crew involved had been temporarily "decertified" pending retraining.

Ah yes, we have ways and means. 'Retraining'? Sounds nasty.

[West Coast]

Some pending transfers to an unaccompnied three year tour of Diego Garcia on the horizon.

[ChristiaanJ]

Who needs 100 ml bottles and nailclippers if you can set out with six nukes under your wings?

[arcniz]

Nice quote of a comment attached to USA Today story about this:

"Ironically, it's our military that ensures your right to say stupid things...about our military."

[MungoP]

A military official told AFP news agency that President George W Bush had been informed of the mix-up.

Why would they bother ?

[rotornut]

Air Force spokesman Lt Col Ed Thomas told Army Times the weapons were "always in our custody".

Well, I would hope so!

[ChristiaanJ]

"Bush Narrowly Escapes Massive Nuclear Attack"

[Return to base]

Donīt you mean "school Narrowly Escapes Massive Nuclear Attack"

Newspapers please take note

[Pontius Navigator]

I wonder if the crew went through any practice launch sequences en route?

[cwatters]

"Iran puzzled by dummy bombs dropped on capital".

[strek]

Presently mopping keyboard after pint spillage laughing at 1 above!

[buoy15]

Come on
Had they moved them by train or road there would be helll to play
They moved them safely by air, transported by the most reliable carrier, inert and safe, and the breaking news tossers think they've got a story
Nuclear missiles are not armed prior to, or after loading, for transit - they are inert
Once loaded the crew will have no way of releasing them actively but will be able to abandon them (emergency safe release) if they have a problem with the aircraft
The worst that can happen is the TNT trigger may explode on impact with a posible release of radiation - but we are not talking mushroom clouds here
More concerning, how on earth does some base "mistakenly" load up a B52 bomber with nuclear missiles/bombs which are "unaccounted for" without the Pentagon, the President, and even the Base Cdr not knowing about this
British Press - give the yanks a break!