| Tybee Bomb |
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Information About ™Tybee Bomb |
| CATEGORIES ABOUT TYBEE BOMB | |
| american cold war nuclear bombs | |
| nuclear accidents | |
| history of georgia u.s. state | |
| aviation accidents and incidents in 1958 | |
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The Tybee Bomb is a 7,600 pound (3,500 kg) ''Mark 15, Mod 0'' Hydrogen Bomb that was lost in the waters off Savannah, Georgia 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. It is presumed lost somewhere in Wassaw Sound off the shores of Tybee Island . The bomb is one of eleven known missing nuclear weapons from the U.S. nuclear arsenal. THE ACCIDENT The B-47 bomber was on a simulated combat mission from out. The B-47 was damaged but still operational. The crew made three unsuccessful attempts to land at Hunter Air Force Base in Georgia. 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 is thought to lay 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 trolling 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 of 2004, and then was due to release a report in mid April 2005. {Link without Title} In June, 2005, the Air Force stated that high radiation measurements are from natural occurring radioactive materials, and that the location of the bomb is still unknown. The full report is available at {Link without Title} . 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, a removable plutonium trigger capsule, and highly enriched uranium. The Air Force maintains that the bomb's nuclear capsule was removed prior to its flight aboard the B-47. However, this is the subject of some controversy due to a letter that indicates the capsule was present. The bomb's explosive yield is between 1.9 and 3.6 megatons. 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 (available here ) 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. However, 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. NOTABLE QUOTES
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SEE ALSO EXTERNAL LINKS # Informational site about the Tybee Bomb: Tybeebomb.com # Chart of nuclear bombs, including the Mark 15: Strategic Air Command.com |
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