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No. 12, February 5, 1958/B-47 Savannah River, Georgia
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The B-47 was on a simulated combat mission that
originated at Homestead Air Force
Base, Florida. While near Savannah, Georgia, the B-47 had a mid-air
collision at 3:30 a.m. with an F-86 aircraft [high performance fighter
interceptor of this era - MILNET]. Following the collision the B-47
attempted three times to land at Hunter Air Force Base, Georgia, with a
weapon aboard. Because of the condition of the aircraft, its airspeed
could not be reduced enough to insure a safe landing. Therefore, the
decision was made to jettison the weapon rather than expose Hunter Air
Force Base to the possibility of high explosive detonation. A nuclear
detonation was not possible since the nuclear capsule was not aboard the
aircraft. The weapon was jettisoned into the water several miles from the
mouth of Savannah River (Georgia) in Wassaw Sound off Tybee Beach. The
precise weapon impact point is unknown. The weapon was dropped from an
altitude of approximately 7,200 feet at an aircraft speed of 180-190
knots. No detonation occurred. After jetison the B-47 landed safely. A
three square mile area was searched using a ship with divers and
underwater demolition team techniques using Galvanic drag and hand-held
sonar devices. The weapon was not found. The search was terminated April
16, 1958. The weapon was considered to be irretrievably lost.
CDI: Some accounts of nuclear weapons accidents list a February 12,
1958 accident involving a B-47 off Savannah, Georgia. An earlier DOD
narrative was more precise on where it landed. "The best
estimate," they say, "was determined to be 31 degress xx' yy"
North, 80 degrees xx' yy" West." [coordinates censored by MILNET
- MILNET]
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