106 “The Air Force is okay”: Gaylord White interview, March 3, 2007.
107 “Leave it to divers”: Ibid.
107 On the afternoon of February 2: SAC Historical Study #109, p. 196; and Angier Biddle Duke,
“Notes Taken after First Visit to the Palomares Site,” April 5, 1968 (Duke). Duke’s notes on the trip come from this document. The April 5, 1968, date is written on a cover sheet that appears to have been attached to the notes when Duke gave them to Duke University. The notes themselves appear to have been written by Duke during the February 1966 visit or very soon afterward. The visit is also mentioned in Szulc, The Bombs of Palomares, pp. 165–166.
107 Right after the accident: The account of Smith and Towell’s first visit to Palomares comes from author’s interviews with Joseph Smith, January 23, 2007, and Timothy Towell, January 5 and 8, 2007. Their visit is also discussed in Szulc, The Bombs of Palomares, pp. 162–163.
107 “Just go in”: Joseph Smith interview, January 23, 2007.
107 “General Wilson was totally dismissive”: Timothy Towell interview, January 5, 2007.
107 “If you take care of sovereign people”: Timothy Towell interview, January 8, 2007.
108 Duke had already complained: Cable, Embassy in Madrid to the Department of State, January 27, 1966, #903 (LBJ). Duke’s views on openness with the press also come from the author’s interview with Robin Duke, June 7, 2007.
109 he called a press conference: SAC Historical Study #109, pp. 320–321; Szulc, The Bombs of Palomares, p. 166.
109 approximately six hundred people gathered: SAC Historical Study #109, pp. 299–300 (a copy of the handbill is on p. 300); Szulc, The Bombs of Palo mares, pp. 166–167; “600 Spanish March in Anti-U.S. Protest,” The New York Times, February 5, 1966, p. 8; Simons, “Some Experts Fear Strategic Loss,” p. 11.
CHAPTER 8: ALVIN AND THE DEEP, DARK SEA
110 Alvin and her crew had arrived: Alvin’s trip to Rota and the mechanical problems discovered there are discussed in Aircraft Salvops Med, Final Report, vol. 1, part I, chap. 2, p. 21; Memo, W. O. Rainnie to Office of Naval Research, “Quarterly Informal Letter Status Report of Contract Nonr 3834(00), Deep Submergence Research Vehicle Project, January 1, 1966 through April 9, 1966,” June 10, 1966 (WHOI). Also, author’s interviews with Arthur Bartlett, February 5, 2007, and Chester Porembski, November 17, 2006. Additional information about working at Otis Air Force Base is from author’s interview with Clyde Tyndale, November 3, 2006. Footage of Alvin at Rota can be found at NARA, 342-USAF-40730A.
111 Marvin J. McCamis, known universally as “Mac”: Personal background on McCamis comes from author’s interviews with Marvin McCamis, January 31, 2003; Arthur Bartlett, February 5, 2007; Chester Porembski, November 17, 2006; Andrew Eliason, October 4, 2006; Barrie Walden, July 25, 2006; and John Porteous, September 6, 2006. See also Victoria Kaharl, Water Baby: The Story of Alvin (New York: Oxford University Press, 1990), p. 57.
112 called the crew together: Marvin McCamis interview, January 31, 2003.
112 Alvin was an experimental sub: Kaharl, Water Baby, pp. 59–62.
112 “We knew the country had a big problem”: Marvin McCamis interview, January 31, 2003.
113 it also formed a small committee: The background on TAG comes from Aircraft Salvops Med, Final Report, vol. 1, part I, chap. 2, pp. 8–9; Aircraft Salvops Med, Interim Report, pp. 5, B1, B4, B15.
113 The idea of Alvin: The background on Allyn Vine comes from Naomi Oreskes, “A Context of Motivation: U.S. Naval Oceanographic Research and the Discovery of Sea-Floor Hydrothermal Vents,” Social Studies of Science 33, no. 5 (October 2003), p. 701, and Kaharl, Water Baby, pp. 10–11, 19.
114 By the 1950s: The background on SOSUS comes from Oreskes, “A Context of Motivation,” p. 702.
114 “Manned submersibles are badly needed”: Memo, Allyn C. Vine to Paul Fye, “ASW,” October 10, 1960 (WHOI).
114 signed a contract in 1962: Alvin, originally called Seapup, was contracted from General Mills in 1962. General Mills had a Mechanical Division to build and repair the machines that mixed and cooked cereal. In 1940, the firm began building torpedo and gun parts to support the U.S. war effort.
After the war, “the government contracts kept coming,” as one historian put it. For more on the complicated history of Alvin’s purchase and construction, see Kaharl, Water Baby, chaps. 1–6.
114 Alvin’s curious name: Kaharl, Water Baby, pp. 32–33.
114 On the morning of April 9, 1963: The background on the Thresher comes from the following sources: George W. Martin, “Lasting Legacies of Thresher” The Submarine Review, July 2003, pp. 77–88; George W. Martin, “The Search for Thresher” The Submarine Review, April 2003, pp. 48–58; Frank A. Andrews, “Search Operations in the Thresher Area—1964, Section I,” Naval Engineers Journal, August 1965, pp. 549–561; Frank A. Andrews, “Search Operations in the Thresher Area—1964, Section II,” Naval Engineers Journal, October 1965, pp. 769–779; Frank A. Andrews, “Searching for the Thresher” U.S. Naval Institute Proceedings, May 1964, pp. 69–77; E. W. Grenfell, “USS Thresher (SSN-593), 3 August 1961–10 April 1963,” U.S. Naval Institute Proceedings, March 1964, pp. 37–47; and Norman Polmar, The Death of the USS Thresher: The Story behind History’s Deadliest Submarine Disaster (Guilford, Conn.: Lyons Press, 1964).
115 “One of the many lessons”: Andrews, “Search Operations in the Thresher Area,” p. 550.
115 the secretary of the Navy formed a committee: Hearings before the Joint Committee on Atomic Energy, Congress of the United States, Eighty-eighth Congress, First and Second Sessions on the Loss of the USS Thresher. June 26, 27, July 23, 1963, and July 1, 1964 (Washington, D.C.: Government Reprints Press, 2001), p. 50; author’s interview with John Craven, April 19, 2007.
115 The Stephan Committee released its report: John Peña Craven, The Silent War: The Cold War Battle beneath the Sea (New York: Simon &Schuster, 2001), p. 109; Martin, “Lasting Legacies of Thresher” pp. 85–86.
116 The Deep Submergence Systems Project: Craven, Silent War, pp. 109–111; author’s interview with John Craven, April 19, 2007.
116 Senator William Proxmire: Craven, Silent War, p. 125.
116 a conference called “Man’s Extension”: “Man’s Extension into the Sea,” Symposium Proceedings, January 11–12, 1966 (Washington, D.C.: Marine Technology Society, 1966). The Baldwin quote comes from p. 3.
117 The program called Object Location: U.S. Department of the Navy, Office of the Chief of Naval Operations, Aircraft Salvage Operation Mediterranean (Aircraft Salvops Med), Lessons and Implications for the Navy (Washington, D.C.: Office of the Chief of Naval Operations, April 7, 1967), p. 2.
117 We had “almost nothing”: John Craven interview, April 19, 2007.
117 “No assignments had gone on”: J. Bradford (henceforth “Brad”) Mooney interview, March 30, 2007.
117 “The Navy had achieved”: Aircraft Salvops Med, Lessons and Implications for the Navy, p. 2.
CHAPTER 9: THE FISHERMAN’S CLUE
118 he started jotting notes: Notebook shown to author during interview with Joe Ramirez.
119 Maydew had flown to Spain: Maydew arrived in Palomares on January 29. Memo, R. C.
Maydew and W R. Burton to G. A. Fowler, “Chronological Summary of Significant Events in the 9300 Participation in Broken Arrow Operation,” March 29, 1966, Randall Maydew files (SNL).
119 “except for that blue, blue Mediterranean”: Randall Maydew, oral history, conducted by Necah Furman, December 1991, p. 7.
119 he found that Air Force staffers: Randall C. Maydew, America’s Lost H-Bomb, Palomares, Spain, 1966 (Manhattan, Kans.: Sunflower University Press, 1997), p. 58.
119 As a navigator in a B-29: Randall C. Maydew, ed., A Kansas Farm Family (Freeman, S.Dak.: Pine Hill Press, 1992), pp. 128–129.
119 one morning, Joe Ramirez stopped by: The story of Maydew’s meeting with Simó comes from Maydew, America’s Lost H-Bomb, pp. 55–58, and author’s interv
iew with Joe Ramirez, January 27, 2007. See also SAC Historical Study #109, p. 45; and “Staff Study by Systems Analysis Team of Search Operations,” February 7, 1966 (document no. SAC200118390000, Secret, NNSA, FOIA), pp. 11–14. “Staff Study” says the meeting took place on February 2, not February 3, as Maydew states in his book.
120 “Before I left the mayor’s office”: Randall Maydew, oral history, conducted by Necah Furman, December 1991, p. 10.
120 By the time Maydew reported: Maydew was part of a Systems Analysis Team that included experts from Sandia, Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, and Elgin Air Force Base, and was assisted by U.S. Air Force, Atomic Energy Commission, and Los Alamos personnel. Maydew left numerous descriptions of his role in Palomares, making it possible to tell the Systems Analysis Team’s story from his point of view. The author refers to the team as “Maydew’s team” or “the ballistics experts” to avoid confusion with TAG and the other groups mentioned in the book.
120 In their calculations: The Maydew team’s conclusions are from “Staff Study of Systems Analysis Team,” February 7, 1966 (NNSA); Memo, Delmar E. Wilson to SAC (Gen. John D. Ryan), “Search Operations, Palomares, Spain,” February 13, 1966 (DOD, FOIA); SAC Historical Study #109, p. 49.
121 It is unclear whether Admiral Guest: Guest’s reaction to the Systems Analysis Team report is in Aircraft Salvops Med, Final Report, vol. 1, part I, chap. 2, pp. 36–38. On page 37 it states, “Commander Task Force 65 was skeptical of the conclusions of this Sandia group and did not entirely accept their recommendations.”
121 On February 7, the USS Pinnacle again: Aircraft Salvops Med, Final Report, vol. 1, part I, chap. 2, pp. 38–39.
121 A few days later, Red Moody: Red Moody interview, November 7, 2006.
121 “Slick Willie”: The description of Mac’s relationship with Val Wilson comes chiefly from the author’s interviews with Chester Porembski, November 17, 2006, and John Porteous, September 6, 2006.
122 Alvin was trapped on the water’s surface: Alvin’s arrival in Palomares and the storm are discussed in Aircraft Salvops Med, Interim Report, p. C5; Memo, W. O. Rainnie to Office of Naval Research, “Quarterly Informal Letter,” June 10, 1966, p. 3; and Letter, Lewis Melson to Folks, February 12, 1966 (author’s collection).
122 The Plymouth Rock was a type of vessel: The description of a landing ship dock comes from the author’s visit to the USS Ashland (LSD 48) on September 29, 2006.
122 “We rushed out onto the main deck”: Letter, Lewis Melson to Folks, February 12, 1966 (author’s collection).
123 The OBSS: The description of the OBSS comes from Aircraft Salvops Med, Final Report, vol. 1, part I, chap. 2, pp. 42–43; Aircraft Salvops Med, Final Report, vol. 4, appendix B, pp. 57–62; SAC Historical Study #109, pp. 119–120; and Red Moody interview, July 17, 2007.
124 The first to arrive was Deep Jeep: Aircraft Salvops Med, Final Report, vol. 4, appendix B, pp. 30–34; Aircraft Salvops Med, Final Report, vol. 1, part I, chap. 2, p. 29; W. M. Place et al., Palomares Summary Report (Kirtland Air Force Base, N.M.: Field Command, Defense Nuclear Agency, Technology and Analysis Directorate, 1975), p. 106.
124 Another sub, called Cubmarine: Aircraft Salvops Med, Final Report, vol. 4, appendix B, pp. 25–29.
124 “Alvin was decidedly mongrel”: Kaharl, Water Baby, p. 42.
124 it reminded people of a fishing lure: Ibid., p. 46.
124 “When people see it”: Ibid., p. 83.
124 At Alvin’s core: The description of Alvin comes from ibid., pp. 42–43; Aircraft Salvops Med, Final Report, vol. 4, appendix B, pp. 12–18; Everett S. Allen, “Research Submarine Alvin,” U.S. Naval Institute Proceedings, April 1964, pp. 138–140. The author toured Alvin on July 2, 2007.
125 The only other sub: The description of Aluminaut comes from Aircraft Salvops Med, Final Report, vol. 4, appendix B, pp. 19–24; “The Aluminaut Story,” March 6, 1986; Reynolds Aluminum, “Aluminaut: The Deep Diving Aluminum Submarine,” undated. The Aluminaut is now housed at the Science Museum of Virginia in Richmond. The author toured the vessel with Art Markel on September 25, 2006.
126 “The Old Testament promises”: Reynolds Aluminum, “Aluminaut: The Deep Diving Aluminum Submarine,” p. 11.
126 During 1965, it completed diving trials: “The Aluminaut Story,” March 6, 1986, pp. 3–4 (SMV).
126 the Aluminaut crew was eager: Author’s interview with Art Markel, September 25, 2006. Markel’s opinions about Aluminaut’s status are clear in his many letters to Reynolds headquarters during the mission in Spain. The letters are stored at the SMV.
126 Guest was quickly disillusioned: Author’s interviews with John Craven, April 19, 2007; George Martin, May 9, 2007; and Brad Mooney, March 30, 2007.
126 “no great shakes”: Letter, Earl Hays to Paul Fye, March 8, 1966 (WHOI). Hays’s full quote: “The Admiral here is no great shakes — sort of a scream and holler man. I think we have him convinced that we are reasonable people and are interested in doing all we can, but that we are not in the Navy and not likely to be.”
126 but their limited navigation: Aircraft Salvops Med, Final Report, vol. 1, part I, chap. 2, p. 29; Aircraft Salvops Med, Interim Report, pp. 76–77.
126 Alvin used a crude: William O. Rainnie, “Equipment and Instrumentation for the Navigation of Submersibles,” undated (DSV Alvin Records, 1949–1998 AC 18, Box 17, Folder 23: Navigation, General, WHOI), pp. 6–7.
126 the system could direct Alvin to within four hundred yards: Ibid. and Aircraft Salvops Med, Final Report, vol. 2, part I, chap. 8, p. V4.
126 none of the surface ships on the scene: Letter, Lewis Melson to Adm. Leyton, February 15, 1966 (author’s collection).
127 Alvin’s mechanical arm: Ibid.
127 he suggested they drop: Ibid.
127 “What did he ever have to do”: John Craven interview, April 19, 2007.
CHAPTER 10: GUEST CHARTS A COURSE
128 Mooney reported to the USS Boston: Mooney’s encounter with Admiral Guest comes from Brad Mooney interview, March 30, 2007.
129 At the time of the Tonkin Gulf: The explanation of Guest’s role in the Tonkin Gulf incident comes from author’s interview with Edwin Moïse, August 16, 2007. Admiral Guest was more involved with a third, lesser-known incident on September 18, which didn’t result in any retaliation and had little bearing on the escalation of the war. For more on the incident, see Moïse, Tonkin Gulf and the Escalation of the Vietnam War (Chapel Hill: University of North Carolina Press, 1996).
129 “was an extremely important mission”: Author’s interview with Douglas Kingsbery, July 27, 2007.
129 Guest was deeply affected: Robert Kingsbery interview, July 19, 2007.
129 “like a ray of sunshine”: Aircraft Salvops Med, Final Report, vol. 1, part I, chap. 2, p. 35.
129 Red Moody was also impressed: Red Moody interview, November 7, 2006.
130 Mooney had orders to report: E-mail from Brad Mooney to author, June 20, 2008.
130 On February 17, 1966, he laid it out: Guest’s letter to the CNO is discussed at length in Aircraft Salvops Med, Final Report, vol. 1, part I, chap. 2, pp. 28–36.
130 adding paint cans, soup cans: Author’s interview with Jon Lindbergh, July 11, 2007.
130 “We enter this phase”: Quoted in Aircraft Salvops Med, Final Report, vol. 1, part I, chap. 2, p. 29.
130 Guest laid out his four search areas: Ibid., pp. 32–34.
130 the four search areas encompassed: Lewis, One of Our H-Bombs, p. 159.
130 Guest’s team created a 132-square-mile grid: Aircraft Salvops Med, Interim Report, p. 23.
131 he made a plan for the submersibles: Author’s interviews with Brad Mooney, March 30, 2007, and Art Markel, September 25, 2006.
131 the Aluminaut sonars picked up: Art Markel interview, September 25, 2006. Markel also discusses the “ship of antiquity” in Memo, Art Markel to office, “Tape 17,” recorded April 11, 1966 (SMV); Letter, Art Markel to Carrie, February 18, 1966 (SMV); and Letter, Art Marke
l to Louis Reynolds, February 23, 1966 (SMV).
131 He also suggested to Guest Art Markel interview, September 25, 2006.
132 On February 16, the Soviet foreign minister: “Russians Accuse U.S. in B-52 Crash,” The New York. Times, February 18, 1966, p. 4; Howard Simons, “Some Experts Fear Strategic Loss if Curbs Are Put on Nuclear Routes,” The Washington Post, February 27, 1966, p. A1; SAC Historical Study #109, pp. 297–298.
132 A week later, President Charles de Gaulle: Henry Tanner, “De Gaulle Insists on Rule of Bases of NATO in France,” The New York Times, February 22, 1966, p. 1; “Johnson Rebuffs de Gaulle Quickly in Bases Dispute,” The New York Times, March 9, 1966, p. 1.
132 Ambassador Duke received assurances: Cable, Embassy in Madrid to SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY, March 25, 1966, #23577 (LBJ); Cable, Embassy in Madrid to SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY, March 25, 1966, #24270 (LBJ).
132 a Soviet spy ship, the Lotsman: Aircraft Salvops Med, Final Report, vol. 1, part I, chap. 2, pp. 46–49; Toth, “Soviet Spy Ship Watches U.S. Hunt Bomb,” Los Angeles Times, March 8, 1966, p. 1; author’s interviews with Gary Montalbine, August 16, 2007, and Anthony Colucci, July 31, 2007.
133 the Soviets had two advanced submersibles: In an e-mail to the author on May 25, 2007, Anatoly Sagalevitch, who ran the Soviet submersible program, wrote that Russia had two “Sever-2” submersibles that could dive to two thousand meters, but that they were used for scientific purposes only. He doesn’t recall the Soviets sending any submersibles to Palomares during the hunt for the bomb.
133 Heads would roll: In more bureaucratic language: “Overshadowing all efforts was the apprehension that the weapon might not be located at all and the Navy would be called upon to justify both the cost and its methods in the unsuccessful search.” Aircraft Salvops Med, Final Report, vol. 1, part I, chap. 2, p. 3.
The Day We Lost the H-Bomb Page 32