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February 13, 1950 - British Columbia, Canada

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DOD: The B-36 was enroute from Eielson AFB to Carswell AFB on a simulated combat profile mission. The weapon aboard the aircraft had a dummy capsule installed. After six hours of flight, the aircraft developed serious mechanical difficulties making it necessary to shut down three engines. The aircraft was at 12,000 feet altitude. Icing conditions complicated the emergency and level flight could not be maintained. The aircraft headed out over the Pacific Ocean and dropped the weapon from 8,000 feet. A bright flash occurred on impact, followed by a sound and shock wave. Only the weapon's high explosive material detonated. The aircraft was then flown over Princess Royal Island where the crew bailed out. The aircraft wreckage was later found on Vancouver Island.

CDI: Sixteen crewmen and one passenger parachuted safely and were rescued. An accompanying B-36 flew safely to Carswell Air Force Base. No mention is made of an attempt to recover the nuclear weapon and presumably it is still in the ocean. As early as 1950 nuclear weapons were carried to and from Alaska. The B-36 was operational from 1948-1959 and 325 were built.

As you view this page, feel free to pause or listen to the BBC interview with Sean Smyrichinsky, a local B.C. commercial diver who brought renewed international attention to this incident after he incorrectly claimed to have discovered the missing MK-4 nuclear bomb off the coast of the Haida Gwaii Islands in November 2016.

This page has paths:

  1. The 1950s Colin Behnke
  2. Map of Incidents Colin Behnke

Contents of this path:

  1. Department of Defense Narrative Summary of Accident - February 13, 1950
  2. B-36B Peacemaker
  3. MK-4 "Fat Man" Nuclear Bomb, 49kt
  4. Flight Path and Bomb Location Map
  5. Route of the U.S. Air Force B-36 Bomber
  6. Nukemap Blast Simulation #01
  7. "Storm Hides Fate of B-36, 17 Men" "12 Airmen Saved From B-36"
  8. "Planes, Boats Seek U.S. Bomber Down With 17 Men off B.C."
  9. Survivors of B-36B Crash
  10. BBC Interview with Sean Smyrichinsky
  11. Haida Gwaii Islands

This page has tags:

  1. The 1950s Colin Behnke
  2. Map of Incidents Colin Behnke

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