Tybee Bomb

The Tybee Bomb is a 7,600 pound (3,500 kg) Mark 15 hydrogen bomb that was lost in the waters off Savannah, Georgia, USA on February 5,1958. The bomb was jettisoned during a practice exercise after a B-47 bomber carrying it collided in midair with an F-86 fighter plane. Following several unsuccessful searches, it was presumed lost somewhere in Wassaw Sound off the shores of Tybee Island.

The accident

The B-47 bomber was on a simulated combat mission from Homestead Air Force Base in Florida. It was carrying a single 7,600 pound (3,500 kg) bomb. At about 2:00 AM, the B-47 collided with an F-86. The F-86 crashed after the pilot ejected from the plane. The B-47 was damaged but still operational. The crew then requested permission to jettison the bomb. Permission was granted and the bomb was jettisoned at 7,200 feet (2,200 m) while traveling about 200 knots (370 km/h). The crew did not see an explosion upon impact. They then managed to land the B-47 safely at Hunter Air Force Base.

Recovery efforts

Starting on February 6, 1958, the Air Force 2700th Explosive Ordnance Disposal Squadron and 100 Navy personnel equipped with hand held sonar and galvanic drag and cable sweeps mounted a search. On April 16,1958 the announcement was made that the search efforts had been unsuccessful. Based upon a hydrologic survey, the bomb was thought to lie buried under 5 to 15 feet (2 to 5 m) of silt at the bottom of Wassaw Sound.

Recent recovery efforts have been spearheaded by retired Air Force Colonel Derek Duke. In 2004, Duke claimed to have found the possible resting spot of the bomb in just twelve feet of water less than one mile from shore. He and his partner located the spot by trawling the area in their boat with a Geiger counter in tow. The spot that Duke believes is the final resting place of the bomb reads seven to ten times as high on the geiger counter as do the surrounding areas. Interest in recovery of the bomb has resurfaced among residents of nearby Tybee Island.

The Air Force completed its study of the area in September or October 2004, and then was due to release a report in mid April 2005. [ [http://www.tybeetyme.com/tb/statesboro_times_article.pdf Awaiting answers on lost nuke near Tybee] "Statesboro Herald" March 27, 2005]

The report was finally released in June 2005. The Air Force stated that high radiation measurements are from naturally occurring radioactive materials, and that the location of the bomb is still unknown. [ [http://media.mgbg.com/wsav/tybeebombreport.pdf Air Force Assessment of Reported Elevated Radiation Resulting from a 1958 B-47 Accident] ]

The bomb

The 12-foot (4 m) long Mark 15 bomb weighs 7,600 pounds (3,500 kg) and bears the serial number "No. 47782". It contains 400 pounds (180 kg) of conventional high explosives and highly enriched uranium. The Air Force maintains that the bomb's nuclear capsule was removed prior to its flight aboard the B-47. As noted in the Atomic Energy Commission "Form AL-569 Temporary Custodian Receipt (for maneuvers)" signed by the aircraft commander, the bomb contained a simulated 150 cap (which was made of lead).

Potential threat

In 2001, the United States Air Force conducted a study to determine whether the bomb posed a threat to residents of the surrounding area. The study [cite web | url = http://www.af.mil/library/posture/savannah.pdf | title = Savannah | publisher = US Air Force | format = PDF] concluded that the bomb does not pose a significant threat because it is missing the nuclear capsule that is used to initiate the nuclear reaction. The bomber pilot maintains that the weapon did not have the nuclear capsule when he took off. The Air Force says with all certainty that the bomb does contain conventional explosives and highly enriched uranium, which could pose an environmental or proliferation threat. The Air Force determined that it was prudent to leave the bomb entombed in mud at the bottom of the sea floor rather than disturb it and risk the potential of detonation or contamination.

ee also

* List of nuclear accidents
* List of military nuclear accidents
*Broken Arrow

References

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* Michael H. Maggelet and James C. Oskins, "Broken Arrow: The Declassified History of U.S. Nuclear Weapons Accidents". ISBN 978-1-4357-0361-2.

Footnotes

External links

* Informational site about the Tybee Bomb: [http://www.tybeebomb.com Tybeebomb.com]
* Chart of nuclear bombs, including the Mark 15: [http://www.strategic-air-command.com/weapons/nuclear_bomb_chart.htm Strategic Air Command.com]