The Broken Arrow Project: Visualizing the Dangers of Maintaining the U.S. Nuclear Arsenal

January 18, 1959 - Pacific Base

DOD: The aircraft was parked on a reveted hardstand in ground alert configuration. The external load consisted of a weapon on the left intermediate station and three fuel tanks (both inboard stations and the right intermediate station.) When the starter button was depressed during a practice alert, an explosion and fire occurred when the external fuel tanks inadvertently jettisoned. Fire trucks at the scene put out the fire in about seven minutes. The capsule was not in the vicinity of the aircraft and was not involved in the accident. There were no contamination or cleanup problems.

CDI: During the late 1950s and early 1960s the F-100 Super Sabre served as a primary interceptor. The F-100 could carry nuclear capable air-to-air missiles. In 1959 the United States had bases in the Pacific on Okinawa, in the Philippines, Taiwan, South Korea and Thailand. 2,294 F-100s of all types were produced.

 

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