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The Broken Arrow Project : Visualizing the Dangers of Maintaining the U.S. Nuclear Arsenal
Main Menu
About The Project
The 1950s
The 1960s
The 1980s
Map of Incidents
A map showing the location of Broken Arrow incidents across the globe
Test Timeline.JS page
The CSU Digital Liberal Arts Hub
dcd1fa950418cd1d967e420466b28e86af65a7d1
November 4, 1958 - Dyess Air Force Base
1
2017-09-05T14:51:04-07:00
Timea Balogh
a8e888c2850bb770a37479bd94c676943a4d85e4
21642
5
A B-47 bomber caught fire during take off, killing one crew member, injuring two others, and creating a 35 feet wide 6 feet deep crater.
image_header
2017-09-29T13:39:36-07:00
November 4, 1958
32.378485, -99.875114
Colin Behnke
5fce0a26cbce062414f550c0cd06d456b8fdc9a4
DOD: Abilene,Texas A B-47 caught fire on take-off. Three crew members successfully ejected; one was killed when the aircraft crashed from an altitude of 1,500 feet. One nuclear weapon was on board when the aircraft crashed. The resultant detonation of the high explosive made a crater 35 feet in diameter and six feet deep. Nuclear materials were recovered near the crash site.
This page has paths:
1
2017-09-01T12:00:58-07:00
The CSU Digital Liberal Arts Hub
dcd1fa950418cd1d967e420466b28e86af65a7d1
Test Timeline.JS page
Colin Behnke
22
timeline
2017-09-28T14:09:16-07:00
Colin Behnke
5fce0a26cbce062414f550c0cd06d456b8fdc9a4
Contents of this path:
1
2017-08-25T12:22:18-07:00
February 13, 1950 - British Columbia, Canada
106
A B-36 enroute from Eilson AFB to Carwell AFB experiences mechanical difficulties and drops its payload near the Heida Gwaii Islands.
image_header
496082
2017-09-04T21:55:58-07:00
February 13, 1950
52.2686343,-130.0061443
1
media/B29.jpg
media/B29.jpg
2017-08-25T12:23:03-07:00
April 11, 1950 -- Manzano Base, New Mexico
21
A B-29 bomber crashes in to a mountain three minutes after take off.
image_header
2017-09-19T13:08:17-07:00
April 11, 1950
35.012914, -106.489384
1
2017-08-29T13:51:28-07:00
July 13, 1950 - Lebanon, Ohio
14
A B-50 bomber crashes near Cincinnati killing 16 airmen and creating a 25 foot deep crater.
image_header
2017-09-21T12:07:46-07:00
July 13, 1950
39.433538, -84.205906
1
media/B29.jpg
media/B29.jpg
2017-08-30T11:56:27-07:00
August 5, 1950 - Fairfield Suisun-AFB, California
9
A B-29 bomber explodes on take-off while carrying a MK-4 nuclear bomb, and 5,000 pounds of explosives.
image_header
2017-09-13T12:17:14-07:00
August 05, 1950
38.254025, -121.940359
1
2017-08-30T12:52:21-07:00
November 10, 1950 - Over Water, outside United States
8
A B-50 bomber jettisoned its payload supposedly over the St. Lawrence river in Canada.
image_header
2017-09-19T13:11:08-07:00
November 10, 1950
46.196827, -72.832323
1
2017-08-30T13:29:36-07:00
March 10, 1956 - Mediterranean Sea
7
A B-47 disappears near the Mediterranean Sea while carrying two nuclear capsules.
image_header
2017-09-27T12:23:07-07:00
March 10, 1956
35.385873, -1.421263
1
2017-08-31T12:20:29-07:00
July 27, 1956 - Overseas Base, England
5
A B-47 crashes on the runway and into an igloo holding three Mark 6 nuclear bombs and 24,000 lbs of high explosives.
image_header
2017-10-02T12:35:42-07:00
July 27, 1956
52.403493, 0.554380
1
2017-08-31T12:54:32-07:00
May 22, 1957 - Kirtland Base, New Mexico
21
A bomb detonates after dropping from the bomb bay, destroying the weapon and creating a 25 ft. diameter and 12 ft. deep crater.
image_header
2017-09-27T12:44:41-07:00
May 22, 1957
35.015415, -106.624671
1
2017-08-31T13:19:30-07:00
July 28, 1957 - Atlantic Ocean
11
A C-124 enroute to Dover Base, Delaware suffered a loss of power to their engines and in the interest of safety, two bombs were dropped , but detonation did not occur.
image_header
2017-09-19T13:56:35-07:00
July 28, 1957
38.287543, -74.075211
1
2017-08-31T14:02:40-07:00
October 11, 1957 - Homestead Base, Florida
8
A B-47 bomber crashes into uninhabited area and two low order explosive detonations occurred, damaging all major components
image_header
2017-09-20T12:13:30-07:00
October 11, 1957
25.424111, -80.427016
1
2017-08-31T14:06:56-07:00
January 31, 1958 - Overseas Base
13
A B-47 bomber caught fire after its left rear wheel casting failed and contamination of the immediate area of the crash was high, despite no detonation.
image_header
2017-10-02T12:37:24-07:00
January 31, 1958
34.236698, -6.046491
1
2017-08-31T14:19:57-07:00
February 5, 1958 - Savannah River, Georgia
9
A B-47 bomber collides with another aircraft and is forced to jettison the explosive on board into the water, where it was never found.
image_header
2017-09-20T12:35:26-07:00
February 5, 1958
32.027304, -80.823269
1
2017-09-05T13:14:29-07:00
March 11, 1958 - Florence, South Carolina
13
A B-47 bomber accidentally drops its payload, causing property damage and injuries at the impacted area following the explosion
image_header
2017-10-18T12:52:28-07:00
March 11, 1958
34.200900, -79.657029
1
2017-09-05T14:51:04-07:00
November 4, 1958 - Dyess Air Force Base
5
A B-47 bomber caught fire during take off, killing one crew member, injuring two others, and creating a 35 feet wide 6 feet deep crater.
image_header
2017-09-29T13:39:36-07:00
November 4, 1958
32.378485, -99.875114
1
2017-09-06T13:28:51-07:00
November 26, 1958 - Chennault Air Force Base, Louisiana
5
A B-47 bomber catches fire, destroying the nuclear weapon on board and leading to contamination within the reckage
image_header
2017-09-29T13:43:00-07:00
November 26, 1958
30.210556, -93.143056
1
2017-09-06T13:32:46-07:00
January 18, 1959 - Pacific Base
6
A F-100 carrying a nuclear weapon exploded and a fire ensued during a routine practice alert.
image_header
2017-09-29T13:48:25-07:00
January 18, 1959
37.090620, 127.029605
1
2017-09-06T13:35:22-07:00
July 6, 1959 - Barksdale Air Force Base, Louisiana
6
A C-124 crashed on take-off and weapon exploded after designed safety features and devices failed.
image_header
2017-10-06T13:36:13-07:00
July 6, 1959
32.476108, -93.642929
1
2017-09-06T13:43:42-07:00
September 25, 1959 - Off Whidbey Island, Washington
10
A P-5M aircraft was ditched in Puget Sound, carrying an unarmed nuclear antisubmarine weapon.
image_header
2017-10-11T13:31:23-07:00
September 25, 1959
47.964808, -122.487915
1
2017-09-07T13:47:29-07:00
October 15, 1959 - Hardinsberg, Kentucky
7
A B-52 and KC-135 collided during refueling, fatally injuring all crew members and partially burning two unarmed nuclear weapons.
image_header
2017-10-11T13:38:28-07:00
October 15, 1959
37.800487, -86.425492
1
2017-09-07T13:56:45-07:00
June 7, 1960 - McGuire Air Force Base, New Jersey
9
A BOMARC defense missile was destroyed by explosion after a high pressure helium tank ruptured the missile's fuel tanks.
image_header
2017-10-11T13:40:06-07:00
June 7, 1960
40.028220, -74.594723
1
2017-09-13T13:21:33-07:00
January 24, 1961 - Goldsboro, North Carolina
13
A failure in a B-52 bomber's right wing leads to airborne break up of the aircraft and dropping of both weapons on board.
image_header
2017-10-24T12:17:35-07:00
January 24, 1961
35.493041, -77.859262
1
2017-09-13T13:33:36-07:00
March 14, 1961 - Yuba City, California
10
A B-52 experiences a failure of the crew compartment pressurization system forcing a descent and crashing away from a populated area.
image_header
2017-10-24T12:31:59-07:00
March 14, 1961
39.1167, -121.8833
1
2017-09-13T13:37:42-07:00
November 13, 1963 - Atomic Energy Commission Storage Igloo/Medina Base, Texas
12
An explosion occurred involving 123,000 lbs of high explosive components of a nuclear weapon, causing little contamination but injuring three.
image_header
2017-10-17T12:18:07-07:00
November 13, 1963
1
2017-09-13T14:02:35-07:00
December 8, 1964 - Bunker Hill Air Force Base, Indiana
10
A B-58 catches fire and burns part of the five nuclear weapons on board, when due to a variety of circumstances, the pilot lost control and slid off the taxiway, hitting a concrete electrical box.
image_header
2017-10-24T12:44:30-07:00
December 8, 1964
40.660961, -86.138168
1
2017-09-13T13:48:55-07:00
January 13, 1964 - Cumberland, Maryland
10
A B-52 bomber crashes on its way to Albany, Georgia, killing all crew members but the pilot and co-pilot.
image_header
2017-10-24T12:39:20-07:00
January 13, 1964
39.565278, -79.075833
1
2017-09-13T13:56:06-07:00
December 5, 1964 - Ellsworth Air Force Base, South Dakota
9
An LGM 30B (Minuteman ICBM) missile's retrorocket fired, removing all sources of power from the Reentry Vehicle and severely damaging it, but no detonation or contamination occurred.
image_header
2017-10-10T12:54:25-07:00
December 5, 1964
1
2017-09-13T14:23:23-07:00
October 11, 1965 - Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, Ohio
7
A fire occurs in a C-124, destroying components of nuclear weapons and a dummy training unit on board, but with minor contamination.
image_header
2017-10-25T12:47:22-07:00
October 11, 1965
39.823056, -84.049444
1
2017-09-13T14:26:32-07:00
December 5, 1965 - At Sea, Pacific
9
What is suspected to be a B-43 bomb rolls out of an A-4 aircraft, falling into the sea where it has yet to be found.
image_header
2017-10-11T12:41:28-07:00
December 5, 1965
1
2017-09-13T14:38:47-07:00
January 17, 1966 - Palomares, Spain
10
A B-52 carrying four nuclear weapons crashed and lead to about 1400 tons of slightly contaminated soil and vegetation, culminating as one of the most well-publicized nuclear accident.
image_header
2017-10-24T12:40:01-07:00
January 17, 1966
37.249167, -1.796944
1
2017-09-13T14:41:55-07:00
January 21, 1968 - Thule, Greenland
8
A B-52 bomber crashes and burns, killing one crew member, and destroying the four weapons the bomber carried, leading to some radioactive contamination that required a cleanup operation monitored by the Danish government.
image_header
2017-10-24T12:36:18-07:00
January 21, 1968
76.527778, -69.281944
1
2017-09-13T14:44:45-07:00
Spring 1968 - At Sea, Atlantic
14
The accident likely refers to the nuclear powered attack submarine, the USS Scorpion, which sank and forever lost 99 men.
image_header
2017-10-24T12:34:56-07:00
Spring 1968
32.915, -33.148167
1
2017-09-13T14:48:13-07:00
September 19, 1980 - Damascus, Arkansas
6
A Titan II silo IBM exploded when a wrench was dropped during routine maintenance, striking a leak in the pressurized fuel tank and causing an explosion that injured 21 and fatally injured one.
image_header
2017-10-03T13:39:43-07:00
September 19, 1980
1
2017-08-29T12:26:59-07:00
Colin Behnke
5fce0a26cbce062414f550c0cd06d456b8fdc9a4
Map of Incidents
Colin Behnke
26
A map showing the location of Broken Arrow incidents across the globe
google_maps
2017-09-29T13:49:04-07:00
Colin Behnke
5fce0a26cbce062414f550c0cd06d456b8fdc9a4
Contents of this path:
1
2017-08-25T12:22:18-07:00
February 13, 1950 - British Columbia, Canada
106
A B-36 enroute from Eilson AFB to Carwell AFB experiences mechanical difficulties and drops its payload near the Heida Gwaii Islands.
image_header
496082
2017-09-04T21:55:58-07:00
February 13, 1950
52.2686343,-130.0061443
1
media/B29.jpg
media/B29.jpg
2017-08-25T12:23:03-07:00
April 11, 1950 -- Manzano Base, New Mexico
21
A B-29 bomber crashes in to a mountain three minutes after take off.
image_header
2017-09-19T13:08:17-07:00
April 11, 1950
35.012914, -106.489384
1
2017-08-29T13:51:28-07:00
July 13, 1950 - Lebanon, Ohio
14
A B-50 bomber crashes near Cincinnati killing 16 airmen and creating a 25 foot deep crater.
image_header
2017-09-21T12:07:46-07:00
July 13, 1950
39.433538, -84.205906
1
media/B29.jpg
media/B29.jpg
2017-08-30T11:56:27-07:00
August 5, 1950 - Fairfield Suisun-AFB, California
9
A B-29 bomber explodes on take-off while carrying a MK-4 nuclear bomb, and 5,000 pounds of explosives.
image_header
2017-09-13T12:17:14-07:00
August 05, 1950
38.254025, -121.940359
1
2017-08-30T12:52:21-07:00
November 10, 1950 - Over Water, outside United States
8
A B-50 bomber jettisoned its payload supposedly over the St. Lawrence river in Canada.
image_header
2017-09-19T13:11:08-07:00
November 10, 1950
46.196827, -72.832323
1
2017-08-30T13:29:36-07:00
March 10, 1956 - Mediterranean Sea
7
A B-47 disappears near the Mediterranean Sea while carrying two nuclear capsules.
image_header
2017-09-27T12:23:07-07:00
March 10, 1956
35.385873, -1.421263
1
2017-08-31T12:20:29-07:00
July 27, 1956 - Overseas Base, England
5
A B-47 crashes on the runway and into an igloo holding three Mark 6 nuclear bombs and 24,000 lbs of high explosives.
image_header
2017-10-02T12:35:42-07:00
July 27, 1956
52.403493, 0.554380
1
2017-08-31T12:54:32-07:00
May 22, 1957 - Kirtland Base, New Mexico
21
A bomb detonates after dropping from the bomb bay, destroying the weapon and creating a 25 ft. diameter and 12 ft. deep crater.
image_header
2017-09-27T12:44:41-07:00
May 22, 1957
35.015415, -106.624671
1
2017-08-31T13:19:30-07:00
July 28, 1957 - Atlantic Ocean
11
A C-124 enroute to Dover Base, Delaware suffered a loss of power to their engines and in the interest of safety, two bombs were dropped , but detonation did not occur.
image_header
2017-09-19T13:56:35-07:00
July 28, 1957
38.287543, -74.075211
1
2017-08-31T14:02:40-07:00
October 11, 1957 - Homestead Base, Florida
8
A B-47 bomber crashes into uninhabited area and two low order explosive detonations occurred, damaging all major components
image_header
2017-09-20T12:13:30-07:00
October 11, 1957
25.424111, -80.427016
1
2017-08-31T14:06:56-07:00
January 31, 1958 - Overseas Base
13
A B-47 bomber caught fire after its left rear wheel casting failed and contamination of the immediate area of the crash was high, despite no detonation.
image_header
2017-10-02T12:37:24-07:00
January 31, 1958
34.236698, -6.046491
1
2017-08-31T14:19:57-07:00
February 5, 1958 - Savannah River, Georgia
9
A B-47 bomber collides with another aircraft and is forced to jettison the explosive on board into the water, where it was never found.
image_header
2017-09-20T12:35:26-07:00
February 5, 1958
32.027304, -80.823269
1
2017-09-05T13:14:29-07:00
March 11, 1958 - Florence, South Carolina
9
A B-47 bomber accidentally drops its payload, causing property damage and injuries at the impacted area following the explosion
image_header
2017-10-02T12:40:07-07:00
March 11, 1958
34.200900, -79.657029
1
2017-09-05T14:51:04-07:00
November 4, 1958 - Dyess Air Force Base
5
A B-47 bomber caught fire during take off, killing one crew member, injuring two others, and creating a 35 feet wide 6 feet deep crater.
image_header
2017-09-29T13:39:36-07:00
November 4, 1958
32.378485, -99.875114
1
2017-09-06T13:28:51-07:00
November 26, 1958 - Chennault Air Force Base, Louisiana
5
A B-47 bomber catches fire, destroying the nuclear weapon on board and leading to contamination within the reckage
image_header
2017-09-29T13:43:00-07:00
November 26, 1958
30.210556, -93.143056
1
2017-09-06T13:32:46-07:00
January 18, 1959 - Pacific Base
6
A F-100 carrying a nuclear weapon exploded and a fire ensued during a routine practice alert.
image_header
2017-09-29T13:48:25-07:00
January 18, 1959
37.090620, 127.029605
1
media/intro-voiceover-file_1.7.mp3
2017-08-26T14:19:03-07:00
The CSU Digital Liberal Arts Hub
dcd1fa950418cd1d967e420466b28e86af65a7d1
The 1950s
Colin Behnke
19
plain
2017-09-29T13:55:20-07:00
Colin Behnke
5fce0a26cbce062414f550c0cd06d456b8fdc9a4
Contents of this path:
1
2017-08-25T12:22:18-07:00
February 13, 1950 - British Columbia, Canada
106
A B-36 enroute from Eilson AFB to Carwell AFB experiences mechanical difficulties and drops its payload near the Heida Gwaii Islands.
image_header
496082
2017-09-04T21:55:58-07:00
February 13, 1950
52.2686343,-130.0061443
1
media/B29.jpg
media/B29.jpg
2017-08-25T12:23:03-07:00
April 11, 1950 -- Manzano Base, New Mexico
21
A B-29 bomber crashes in to a mountain three minutes after take off.
image_header
2017-09-19T13:08:17-07:00
April 11, 1950
35.012914, -106.489384
1
2017-08-29T13:51:28-07:00
July 13, 1950 - Lebanon, Ohio
14
A B-50 bomber crashes near Cincinnati killing 16 airmen and creating a 25 foot deep crater.
image_header
2017-09-21T12:07:46-07:00
July 13, 1950
39.433538, -84.205906
1
media/B29.jpg
media/B29.jpg
2017-08-30T11:56:27-07:00
August 5, 1950 - Fairfield Suisun-AFB, California
9
A B-29 bomber explodes on take-off while carrying a MK-4 nuclear bomb, and 5,000 pounds of explosives.
image_header
2017-09-13T12:17:14-07:00
August 05, 1950
38.254025, -121.940359
1
2017-08-30T12:52:21-07:00
November 10, 1950 - Over Water, outside United States
8
A B-50 bomber jettisoned its payload supposedly over the St. Lawrence river in Canada.
image_header
2017-09-19T13:11:08-07:00
November 10, 1950
46.196827, -72.832323
1
2017-08-30T13:29:36-07:00
March 10, 1956 - Mediterranean Sea
7
A B-47 disappears near the Mediterranean Sea while carrying two nuclear capsules.
image_header
2017-09-27T12:23:07-07:00
March 10, 1956
35.385873, -1.421263
1
2017-08-31T12:20:29-07:00
July 27, 1956 - Overseas Base, England
5
A B-47 crashes on the runway and into an igloo holding three Mark 6 nuclear bombs and 24,000 lbs of high explosives.
image_header
2017-10-02T12:35:42-07:00
July 27, 1956
52.403493, 0.554380
1
2017-08-31T12:54:32-07:00
May 22, 1957 - Kirtland Base, New Mexico
21
A bomb detonates after dropping from the bomb bay, destroying the weapon and creating a 25 ft. diameter and 12 ft. deep crater.
image_header
2017-09-27T12:44:41-07:00
May 22, 1957
35.015415, -106.624671
1
2017-08-31T13:19:30-07:00
July 28, 1957 - Atlantic Ocean
11
A C-124 enroute to Dover Base, Delaware suffered a loss of power to their engines and in the interest of safety, two bombs were dropped , but detonation did not occur.
image_header
2017-09-19T13:56:35-07:00
July 28, 1957
38.287543, -74.075211
1
2017-08-31T14:02:40-07:00
October 11, 1957 - Homestead Base, Florida
8
A B-47 bomber crashes into uninhabited area and two low order explosive detonations occurred, damaging all major components
image_header
2017-09-20T12:13:30-07:00
October 11, 1957
25.424111, -80.427016
1
2017-08-31T14:06:56-07:00
January 31, 1958 - Overseas Base
13
A B-47 bomber caught fire after its left rear wheel casting failed and contamination of the immediate area of the crash was high, despite no detonation.
image_header
2017-10-02T12:37:24-07:00
January 31, 1958
34.236698, -6.046491
1
2017-08-31T14:19:57-07:00
February 5, 1958 - Savannah River, Georgia
9
A B-47 bomber collides with another aircraft and is forced to jettison the explosive on board into the water, where it was never found.
image_header
2017-09-20T12:35:26-07:00
February 5, 1958
32.027304, -80.823269
1
2017-09-05T13:14:29-07:00
March 11, 1958 - Florence, South Carolina
13
A B-47 bomber accidentally drops its payload, causing property damage and injuries at the impacted area following the explosion
image_header
2017-10-18T12:52:28-07:00
March 11, 1958
34.200900, -79.657029
1
2017-09-05T14:51:04-07:00
November 4, 1958 - Dyess Air Force Base
5
A B-47 bomber caught fire during take off, killing one crew member, injuring two others, and creating a 35 feet wide 6 feet deep crater.
image_header
2017-09-29T13:39:36-07:00
November 4, 1958
32.378485, -99.875114
1
2017-09-06T13:28:51-07:00
November 26, 1958 - Chennault Air Force Base, Louisiana
5
A B-47 bomber catches fire, destroying the nuclear weapon on board and leading to contamination within the reckage
image_header
2017-09-29T13:43:00-07:00
November 26, 1958
30.210556, -93.143056
1
2017-09-06T13:32:46-07:00
January 18, 1959 - Pacific Base
6
A F-100 carrying a nuclear weapon exploded and a fire ensued during a routine practice alert.
image_header
2017-09-29T13:48:25-07:00
January 18, 1959
37.090620, 127.029605
1
2017-09-06T13:35:22-07:00
July 6, 1959 - Barksdale Air Force Base, Louisiana
6
A C-124 crashed on take-off and weapon exploded after designed safety features and devices failed.
image_header
2017-10-06T13:36:13-07:00
July 6, 1959
32.476108, -93.642929
1
2017-09-06T13:43:42-07:00
September 25, 1959 - Off Whidbey Island, Washington
10
A P-5M aircraft was ditched in Puget Sound, carrying an unarmed nuclear antisubmarine weapon.
image_header
2017-10-11T13:31:23-07:00
September 25, 1959
47.964808, -122.487915
1
2017-09-07T13:47:29-07:00
October 15, 1959 - Hardinsberg, Kentucky
7
A B-52 and KC-135 collided during refueling, fatally injuring all crew members and partially burning two unarmed nuclear weapons.
image_header
2017-10-11T13:38:28-07:00
October 15, 1959
37.800487, -86.425492