12017-08-26T12:49:50-07:00The CSU Digital Liberal Arts Hubdcd1fa950418cd1d967e420466b28e86af65a7d1216425A Mark-4 "Fat Man" Nuclear Bombplain2017-08-30T11:57:53-07:00Royal Aviation Museum of Western CanadaImageColin Behnke5fce0a26cbce062414f550c0cd06d456b8fdc9a4
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12017-08-25T12:22:18-07:00The CSU Digital Liberal Arts Hubdcd1fa950418cd1d967e420466b28e86af65a7d1February 13, 1950 - British Columbia, CanadaThe CSU Digital Liberal Arts Hub106A B-36 enroute from Eilson AFB to Carwell AFB experiences mechanical difficulties and drops its payload near the Heida Gwaii Islands.image_header4960822017-09-04T21:55:58-07:00February 13, 195052.2686343,-130.0061443The CSU Digital Liberal Arts Hubdcd1fa950418cd1d967e420466b28e86af65a7d1
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12017-08-25T12:22:18-07:00February 13, 1950 - British Columbia, Canada106A B-36 enroute from Eilson AFB to Carwell AFB experiences mechanical difficulties and drops its payload near the Heida Gwaii Islands.image_header4960822017-09-04T21:55:58-07:00February 13, 195052.2686343,-130.0061443
DOD: The B-36 was enroute from Eielson AFB to Carswell AFB on a simulated combat profile mission. The weaponaboard 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.
1media/B29.jpgmedia/B29.jpg2017-08-30T11:56:27-07:00August 5, 1950 - Fairfield Suisun-AFB, California9A B-29 bomber explodes on take-off while carrying a MK-4 nuclear bomb, and 5,000 pounds of explosives.image_header2017-09-13T12:17:14-07:00August 05, 195038.254025, -121.940359DOD: A B-29 carrying a weapon but no capsule, experienced two runaway propellers and landing gear retraction difficulties on takeoff from Fairfield-Suisun AFB (now Travis AFB). The aircraft attempted an emergency landing and crashed and burned. The fire was fought for 12-15 minutes before the weapon's high explosive material detonated. Nineteen crew members and rescue personnel were killed in the crash and/or the resulting detonation, including General Travis
CDI: The aircraft crashed near a trailer camp occupied by 200 service families. The explosion of 10-12 500 lb conventional explosive bombs shattered more than half of the fifty automobiles and trailers, blasted a crater 20 yards across and six feet deep and was felt 30 miles away. The fire could be seen for 65 miles. There were also 60 people hurt.
Fairfield Suisun AFB would go on to be renamed Travis AFB in honor of Brigadier General Robert F. Travis who died in the crash.
12017-08-30T12:52:21-07:00November 10, 1950 - Over Water, outside United States8A B-50 bomber jettisoned its payload supposedly over the St. Lawrence river in Canada.image_header2017-09-19T13:11:08-07:00November 10, 195046.196827, -72.832323DOD: Because of an in-flight aircraft emergency, a weapon containing no capsule of nuclear material was jettisoned over water from an altitude of 10,500 feet. A high-explosive detonation was observed.
CDI: There is no record of recovery of this nuclear weapon.
(Look into claims that the bomb was dropped over the St. Lawrence River?)