The Day We Lost the H-Bomb: Cold War, Hot Nukes, and the Worst Nuclear Weapons Disaster in History
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Cable, Embassy in Madrid to the Department of State, January 19, 1966, #857. National Security File, Country File, Spain 1/17/66, TS/RD B-52/KC-135 Accident, Box 204. Secret. (LBJ.)
Cable, Embassy in Madrid to the Department of State, January 21, 1966, #867. National Security File, Country File, Spain 1/17/66, TS/RD B-52/KC-135 Accident, Box 204. Confidential. (LBJ.)
Cable, Embassy in Madrid to the Department of State, January 21, 1966, #869. National Security File, Country File, Spain 1/17/66, TS/RD B-52/KC-135 Accident, Box 204. Confidential. (LBJ.)
Cable, Embassy in Madrid to the Department of State, January 22, 1966, #871. National Security File, Country File, Spain 1/17/66, TS/RD B-52/KC-135 Accident, Box 204. Secret. (LBJ.)
Cable, Embassy in Madrid to the Department of State, January 26, 1966, #896. National Security File, Country File, Spain 1/17/66, TS/RD B-52/KC-135 Accident, Box 204. Confidential. (LBJ.)
Cable, Embassy in Madrid to the Department of State, January 27, 1966, #903. National Security File, Country File, Spain 1/17/66, TS/RD B-52/KC-135 Accident, Box 204. Confidential. (LBJ.)
Cable, Embassy in Madrid to the Department of State, February 21, 1966. Madrid Post Files: Lot 71 A 2420, Def 17. Secret. (DOS.)
Cable, Embassy in Madrid to the Department of State, February 25, 1966, #1054. National Security File, Country File, Spain 1/17/66, TS/RD B-52/KC-135 Accident, Box 204. Confidential. (LBJ.)
Cable, SAC Comm. Ctr. Offutt AFB to Air Staff OASD-DA, January 19, 1966. National Security File, Country File, Spain 1/17/66, TS/RD B-52/KC-135 Accident, Box 204. (LBJ.)
Cable, SAC to RUEAHQ/CSAF, undated, #67467. National Security File, Country File, Spain 1/17/66, TS/RD B-52/KC-135 Accident, Box 204 Secret. (LBJ.)
Cable, SAC to White House Lt. Col. Cross Armed Forces Aide to the President, January, 1966, #00527. National Security File, Country File, Spain, vol 1. Secret. (LBJ.)
Cable, SECDEF to SAC, February 12, 1966. National Security File, Country File, Spain 1/17/66, TS/RD B-52/KC-135 Accident, Box 204. Confidential. (LBJ.)
Cable, SECDEF to 16ADVON Spain and CTF 65, “Observation of Weapon During and Immediately Post Recovery,” March 23, 1966. National Security File, Country File, Spain 1/17/66, TS/RD B-52/KC-135 Accident, Box 204. Confidential. (LBJ.)
Cable, SECSTATE WASHDC to DOD WASHDC, January 25, 1966, Deptel 888. National Security File, Country File, Spain 1/17/66, TS/RD B-52/KC-135 Accident, Box 204. Confidential. (LBJ.)
Cable, SECSTATE WASHDC to RUEHEX/White House Immediate, January 20, 1966, #341. National Security File, Country File, Spain 1/17/66, TS/RD B-52/KC-135 Accident, Box 204. Secret. (LBJ.)
Cable, from 16ADVON Spain to RUCSC/SAC, March 17, 1966, #71560. National Security File, Country File, Spain 1/17/66, TS/RD B-52/KC-135 Accident, Box 204. Secret. (LBJ.)
Cable, from 16AF AD VON to RUEKDA/SECDEFWASH, undated, #67589. National Security File, Country File, Spain 1/17/66, TS/RD B-52/KC-135 Accident, Box 204. Secret. (LBJ.)
Cable, from 16AF AD VON Spain to SEC of DEF, undated, #71088. National Security File, Country File, Spain 1/17/66, TS/RD B-52/KC-135 Accident, Box 204. Secret. (LBJ.)
Cable, from 16th AF Torrejón AB Spain, January 19, 1966, #41960. National Security File, Country File, Spain 1/17/66, TS/RD B-52/KC-135 Accident, Box 204. Secret. (LBJ.)
Cable, from 16th AF Torrejón AB Spain, January 19, 1966, #49311. National Security File, Country File, Spain 1/17/66, TS/RD B-52/KC-135 Accident, Box 204. Secret. (LBJ.)
Cable, from 16th AF Torrejón AB Spain, January 19, 1966, #57879. National Security File, Country File, Spain 1/17/66, TS/RD B-52/KC-135 Accident, Box 204. Secret. (LBJ.)
Cable, from 16th AF Torrejón AB Spain, January, 1966, #59141. National Security File, Country File, Spain 1/17/66, TS/RD B-52/KC-135 Accident, Box 204. Secret. (LBJ.)
Cable, State and Defense to Embassy in Madrid, March 30, 1966, Deptel 1240. National Security File, Country File, Spain 1/17/66, TS/RD B-52/KC-135 Accident, Box 204. Secret. (LBJ.)
Letter, Nathan Arrow to Angier Biddle Duke, March 11, 1966. Angier Biddle Duke Papers, Box 5. (Duke.)
Letter, John Bruce to Paul Fye, February 28, 1966. Directors Collection, P. Fye. Folder, Vessels: Alvin, “Adventures in Spain,” 1966. (WHOI.)
Letter, John Bruce to Paul Fye, March 9, 1966. Directors Collection, P. Fye. Folder, Vessels: Alvin, “Adventures in Spain,” 1966. (WHOI.)
Letter, Angier Biddle Duke to Jack Valenti, March 14, 1966. Confidential File, CO 272 Spain, Box 11. Confidential. (LBJ.)
Letter, Earl Hays to Paul Fye, March 8, 1966. Directors Collection, P. Fye. Folder, Vessels: Alvin, “Adventures in Spain,” 1966. (WHOI.)
Letter, Jacqueline Kennedy to Angier Biddle Duke, March 12, 1966. Angier Biddle Duke Papers, Box 5. (Duke.)
Letter, Flora Lewis to Bill Moyers, August 3, 1966. National Security File, Country File, Spain 1/17/66, TS/RD B-52/KC-135 Accident, Box 204. (LBJ.)
Letter, Art Markel to Carrie, February 18, 1966. (SMV.)
Letter, Art Markel to Carrie, March 28, 1966. (SMV.)
Letter, Art Markel to Carrie, April 6, 1966. (SMV.)
Letter, Art Markel to Louis Reynolds, February 23, 1966. (SMV.)
Letter, Lewis Melson to Folks, February 12, 1966. Author's collection.
Letter, Lewis Melson to Adm. Leyton, February 15, 1966. Author's collection.
Letter, Lewis Melson to Adm. Leyton, February 25, 1966. Author's collection.
Letter, Bill Moyers to Flora Lewis, August 11, 1966. National Security File, Defense, Gen ND 21, 6/9/66–6/30/67, Box 425. (LBJ.)
Letter, Arthur Schlesinger, Jr., to Angier Biddle Duke, March 15, 1966. Angier Biddle Duke Papers, Box 5. (Duke.)
Letter, Jack Valenti to Angier Biddle Duke, March 9, 1966. White House Central Files, Name File, Duke, Angier Biddle. (LBJ.)
Memo, S.V. Asselin to S. A. Moore. “Trip to Pantex, April 27 and 28, 1966,” undated. Document #SAC200118240000. Confidential. (NNSA, FOIA.)
Memo, ATSD (AE) to Secretary of Defense et al. “Situation report, B-52/KC-135 Accident, 17 January 1966,” January 18, 1966. National Security File, Country File, Spain 1/17/66, TS/RD B-52/KC-135 Accident, Box 204. Secret. (LBJ.)
Memo, William Barton. “The Missing Bomb,” undated. Randall Maydew files. (SNL.)
Memo, “B-52/KC-135 Mid-Air Collision.” Undated. National Security File, Country File, Spain 1/17/66, TS/RD B-52/KC-135 Accident, Box 204. Secret. (LBJ.)
Memo, Commander Task Group 65.3 to Commander Task Force 65. “Report of Inshore Search, Identification and Recovery Unit,” March 13, 1966. EOD U2, Post 46, Command Files, Operational Archives. Confidential. (NHC.)
Memo, Barrett Fountos to Tom Bell et al. “Trip Report to Spain with Accomplishments Related to Palomares Program Review,” September 23, 1998. Author's collection.
Memo, Bill Hoagland to Jack Howard. “Summary Prepared by Stu Asselin,” document #SAC200118490000. Undated. (NNSA, FOIA.)
Memo, Art Markel to office, “Tape 3,” recorded March 19, 1966. (SMV.)
Memo, Art Markel to office, “Tape 4,” recorded March 20, 1966. (SMV.)
Memo, Art Markel to office, “Tape 5,” recorded March 22, 1966. (SMV.)
Memo, Art Markel to office, “Tape 6,” recorded March 23, 1966. (SMV.)
Memo, Art Markel to office, “Tape 17,” recorded April 11, 1966. (SMV.)
Memo, R. C. Maydew and W. R. Barton to G. A. Fowler. “Chronological Summary of Significant Events in the 9300 Participation in Broken Arrow Operation,” March 29, 1966. Randall Maydew files. (SNL.)
Memo, Art McCafferty to Bromley Smith, January 17, 1966. National Security File, Country File, Spain 1/17/66, TS/RD B-52/KC-135 Accident, Box 204. Top Secret. (LBJ.)
Memo, Robert L. McNeill to William N. Caudle. “Field Observation Operation Sunday,” February 15, 1966. Document #SAC200118670000. Secret. (NNSA, FOIA.)
Memo from Lewis Melson. “WHOI's OCEANUS WINTER 1988/1989 Issue Extract for 1 March 1966,” undated. Author's collection.
Mem
o, Dewitt H. Moody to Commander, Naval Ordnance Systems Command. “Report of Explosive Ordnance Disposal Operation (OPNAV REPORT 3571-1),” May 10, 1966. EOD U2, Post 46, Command Files, Operational Archives. Secret. (NHC.)
Memo from National Military Command Center. “Special Situation Report for the White House: B-52/KC-135 Accident in Southeastern Spain,” January 19, 1966. National Security File, Country File, Spain 1/17/66, TS/RD B-52/KC-135 Accident, Box 204. Top Secret. (LBJ.)
Memo, W O. Rainnie to Files. “Weekly Progress Report of ALVIN Field Operations, Week of January 23 to January 30, 1966,” March 4, 1966. Directors Collection, P. Fye. Folder, Vessels: Alvin, “Adventures in Spain,” 1966. (WHOI.)
Memo, W O. Rainnie to Files. “Weekly Progress Report of ALVIN Field Operations, Week of January 31 through February 7, 1966,” March 4, 1966. Directors Collection, P. Fye. Folder, Vessels: Alvin, “Adventures in Spain,” 1966. (WHOI.)
Memo, W O. Rainnie to Files. “Weekly Progress Report of ALVIN Field Operations, Week of February 8 through February 14, 1966,” March 4, 1966. Directors Collection, P. Fye. Folder, Vessels: Alvin, “Adventures in Spain,” 1966. (WHOI.)
Memo, W O. Rainnie to Files. “Weekly Progress Report of ALVIN Field Operations, Week of February 15 through February 21, 1966,” March 4, 1966. Directors Collection, P. Fye. Folder, Vessels: Alvin, “Adventures in Spain,” 1966. (WHOI.)
Memo, W O. Rainnie to Files. “Weekly Progress Report of ALVIN Field Operations, Week of February 22 through February 28, 1966,” March 7, 1966. Alvin Ops, DSV Alvin Records AC18, Box 3, Folder 7. (WHOI.)
Memo, W O. Rainnie to Files. “Weekly Progress Report of ALVIN Field Operations, Week of March 1 through March 7, 1966,” March 29, 1966. Directors Collection, P. Fye. Folder, Vessels: Alvin, “Adventures in Spain,” 1966. (WHOI.)
Memo, W O. Rainnie to Files. “Weekly Report of Field Activity of ALVIN, March 8 through March 14, 1966,” March 29, 1966. Directors Collection, P. Fye. Folder, Vessels: Alvin, “Adventures in Spain,” 1966. (WHOI.)
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. Alvin Ops, DSV Alvin Records AC18, Box 17, Folder 3: Quarterly Reports. (WHOI.)
Memo, 16AF Torrejón AB Spain to US Embassy Spain and JUSMG Madrid Spain. February 2, 1966. (USAF, FOIA.)
Memo, Bromley Smith to Bill Moyers, January 19, 1966. National Security File, Country File, Spain 1/17/66, TS/RD B-52/KC-135 Accident, Box 204.(LBJ.)
Memo, U.S. Information Agency to All Principal USIS Posts. “Talking Paper No. 28—‘The Bomb in Spain,’” March 4, 1966. Limited Official Use. (LBJ.)
Memo, Allyn C. Vine to Paul Fye, “ASW,” October 10, 1960. ODR 26/35 Folder: Personnel, Allyn C. Vine, 1960–61. (WHOI.)
Memo, White House Situation Room to President Johnson, January 17, 1966, 7:05 A.M. National Security File, Country File, Spain 1/17/66, TS/RD B-52/KC-135 Accident, Box 204. Top Secret. (LBJ.)
Memo, White House Situation Room to President Johnson, January 17, 1966, 9:00 P.M. National Security File, Country File, Spain 1/17/66, TS/RD B-52/KC-135 Accident, Box 204. (LBJ.)
Memo, White House Situation Room to President Johnson, January 18, 1966, 7:00 A.M. National Security File, Country File, Spain, vol 1. Secret. (LBJ.)
Memo, White House Situation Room to President Johnson, January 18, 1966, 9:05 P.M. National Security File, Country File, Spain, vol 1. Secret. (LBJ.)
Memo, White House Situation Room to President Johnson, January 22, 1966, 7:15 A.M. National Security File, Country File, Spain, vol 1. Secret.(LBJ.)
Memo, White House Situation Room to President Johnson, January 23,1966, 7:00 A.M. National Security File, Country File, Spain, vol 1. Secret. (LBJ.)
Memo, White House Situation Room to President Johnson. “Report on Nuclear Weapon in Spain,” March 17, 1966. National Security File, Country File, Spain, vol 1. Confidential. (LBJ.)
Memo, Delmar E. Wilson to SAC (Gen. John D. Ryan). “Search Operations, Palomares, Spain,” February 13, 1966. (DOD, FOIA.)
Memorandum of Conversation, January 25, 1966. “Spanish Government Position on Overflights of Spain by Military Aircraft of NATO Countries Bound for or Going to Gibraltar.” RG 59, Central Files 1964–66, POL 19 GIB. Confidential. (NARA.)
Memorandum of Conversation, January 28, 1966. “Gibraltar.” RG 59, Central Files 1964–66, POL 19 GIB. Confidential. (NARA.)
Memorandum of Conversation, November 13, 1967. “Base Negotiations.” RG 59, Central Files 1967–69, DEF 15-4 SP-US. Confidential. (NARA.)
Memorandum for the Files, December 5, 1967. “Spanish Base Negotiations and Palomares.” RG 59, Central Files 1967–69, DEF 15-4 SP-US. Secret. (NARA.)
AUDIOVISUAL
“Air Force Gen. Curtis LeMay on Missing Bomb.” CBS News, March 12, 1966.
“American Experience: Victory in the Pacific.” Directed by Austin Hoyt. Documentary, 2005.
“Angier Biddle Duke radio interview with Jay Rutherfurd.” Audio recording, 1966. Angier Biddle Duke Papers, Box 65. (Duke.)
“Cold War.” Television documentary, CNN, 1998.
A Gathering of Eagles. Directed by Delbert Mann. Feature film, Universal Pictures, 1963.
“H-Bomb Lost in Spain.” CBS News, January 23, 1966.
“H-Bomb Recovered.” CBS News, April 8, 1966.
“The Mission of SAC: SAC Film Report No. 2.” U.S. Air Force, January 1961.
“Navy on Search for Bomb.” CBS News, March 10, 1966.
“Noticias NO-DO 1210 B” (Manuel Fraga Iribane visit to Palomares). Newsreel, Filmoteca Española, undated.
“Noticias NO-DO 1253 C” (Simó Orts receives award). Newsreel, Filmoteca Española, undated.
“Operación Flecha Rota: Accidente nuclear de Palomares (Almería).” Directed by José Herrera Plaza. Documentary, 2007.
“Palomares Recovery Operations.” CBS News, March 25, 1966.
“Palomares Revisited re: Atom Bomb.” CBS News, December 20, 1966.
“Search for H-Bomb.” CBS News, March 14, 1966.
“Search for Missing Bomb.” CBS News, March 7, 1966.
“Special Report: Lost and Found, One H-Bomb.” CBS News, March 22, 1966.
Strategic Air Command. Directed by Anthony Mann. Feature film, Paramount Pictures Corp., 1955.
Thunderball. Directed by Terence Young. Feature film, United Artists, 1965.
“US Envoy Swims in Mediterranean.” CBS News, March 9, 1966.
“William S. Guest Press Conference.” Audio recording, April 8, 1966.
INTERVIEWS AND ORAL HISTORIES
All interviews were conducted by author unless otherwise noted. Most interviews were taped and transcribed, and many were followed up with additional interviews and/or correspondence.
Allsopp, Steven. Personal interview. August 17, 2006.
Andersen, Oliver. Telephone interview. January 22, 2007. Personal interview. March 31, 2007.
Andrews, Frank. Telephone interview. November 10, 2006.
Andros, Brad. Personal interviews. March 20–21, 2007.
Bartlett, Arthur C. Telephone interview. February 5, 2007.
Barton, William. Personal interviews. January 22, 2004, and October 23, 2006.
Bender, Harry. Personal interview. August 23, 2005.
Boykin, Rhodes. Telephone interview. March 16, 2007.
Brady, Larry. Telephone interviews. January 18 and 31, 2007.
Breuer, Glynn. Personal interview. August 23, 2005.
Broderson, Eva. Personal interview. October 4, 2006.
Brown, Robert. Personal interview. July 2, 2007.
Bruce, John. Personal interview. August 17, 2006.
Bruner, Gordon. Interview by Flora Lewis. AFHRA, K416.051-64 (tapes 1 and 2). Undated.
Burchinal, David K. U.S. Air Force Oral History interview by John B. Schmidt. AFHRA, K239.0512-837. April 11, 1975.
Cammack, Colonel (no first name lis
ted). Interview by Flora Lewis. AFHRA. July 11, 1966.
Canary, Robert. Telephone interview. November 14, 2006.
Caudle, William. Personal interview. January 22, 2004.
Chase, Donald. Personal interview. August 25, 2005.
Colucci, Anthony. Telephone interview. July 31, 2007.
Craven, John. Telephone interview. April 19, 2007.
DePriest, Eric. Personal interview. August 23, 2005.
Detmer, Charles. Telephone interview. December 13, 2006.
Duke, Angier Biddle and Robin. Duke Living History interview by James David Barber, John TePaske, and Taylor Cole, October 24, 1990. Duke Living History Program, Box 1. Duke.
Duke, Robin. Telephone interview. June 7, 2007.
Durbin, Phil. Telephone interview. March 15, 2007.
Eliason, Andrew. Personal interview. October 4, 2006.
Engelhardt, Henry “Bud.” Telephone interview. May 17, 2006.
Ervin, Ron. Personal interview. March 21, 2007.
Finkel, Robert. Telephone interview. April 4, 2007.
Foster, Dudley. Personal interview. July 25, 2006.
Fraga Iribarne, Manuel. Personal interview. February 15, 2007.
González, Manolo and Dolores. Personal interview. February 24, 2007.
Herb, Michael. Personal interview. January 8, 2007.
Herrera Plaza, José. Personal interview. February 25, 2007.
Holt, Ira. Telephone interview. November 9, 2006.
Hooper, Rich. Personal interview. January 8, 2007.
Howard, Jack. Telephone interview. April 3, 2007.
Iranzo, Emilio. Personal interview. February 16, 2007.
Jeffords, Ed. Telephone interview. November 27, 2006.
Jenkins, Ralph. Telephone interview. March 14, 2007.
Kennedy, Max. Personal interview. August 25, 2005.
Kingsbery, Douglas. Telephone interview. July 27, 2007.
Kingsbery, Robert. Telephone interview. July 19, 2007.
Landau, George. Telephone interviews. January 22, 2007, and August 9, 2007.
LeMay, Curtis. U.S. Air Force Oral History interview. AFHRA, K239.0512-714. January 1965.
——. U.S. Air Force Oral History interview by Bill Peck. AFHRA, K239.0512-785. March 1965.