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

MK-4 "Fat Man" Nuclear Bomb, 49kt

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February 13, 1950 - British Columbia, Canada
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.
August 5, 1950 - Fairfield Suisun-AFB, California DOD: 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.