The Day We Lost the H-Bomb: Cold War, Hot Nukes, and the Worst Nuclear Weapons Disaster in History

by Barbara Moran

  68 The Spanish magazine ¡Hola!: Author's reading of ¡Hola! magazine.

  69 keeping a lid on the press: Bill Moyers, letter to Flora Lewis, August 11, 1966: The Spanish government “was acutely sensitive to any public statements made about the incident and the presence of nuclear weapons.”

  69 On the day of the accident: The first few days of press coverage are detailed in Cable, CSAF to Joint Chiefs of Staff et al., January 19, 1966, #59032 (LBJ); SAC Historical Study #109, pp. 311–312; Cable, Embassy in Madrid to the Department of State, January 19, 1966, #855 (LBJ); Cable, Embassy in Madrid to the Department of State, January 19, 1966, #856 (LBJ).

  70 Duke sat down to discuss: Cable, Embassy in Madrid to the Department of State, January 21, 1966, #869 (LBJ); Cable, Embassy in Madrid to the Department of State, January 19, 1966, #855 (LBJ).

  70 Although the U.S. military had stored nuclear weapons: To the best of the author's knowledge, the United States has never publicly admitted storing nuclear weapons in Spain. However, the fact of their existence has long been accepted. See Robert S. Norris, William M. Arkin, and William Burr, “Where They Were,” The Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists, November-December 1999, pp. 26 ff.

  70 “The subject was still very touchy”: Joseph Smith interview, August 9, 2007.

  71 On January 19, a secret cable: Cable, CSAF to Joint Chiefs of Staff et al., January 19, 1966, #59032 (LBJ).

  71 A young reporter: Andró del Amo's story is told in Szulc, The Bombs of Palomares, pp. 107–116, and SAC Historical Study #109, pp. 314–315.

  73 Duke got wind of del Amo's dispatch: Cable, Embassy in Madrid to the Department of State, January 19, 1966, #857 (LBJ).

  73 Exercising its iron grip: Cable, Embassy in Madrid to the Department of State, January 21, 1966, #869 (LBJ).

  74 the UPI article landed on Franco's desk: The fallout over the UPI article is detailed in Cable, Embassy in Madrid to the Department of State, January 22, 1966, #871 (LBJ).

  75 “the only friend we really had”: George Landau interview, August 9, 2007.

  75 Muñoz Grandes's decree: Author's interviews with George Landau, August 9, 2007, and Joseph Smith, January 23, 2007. See also Lewis, One of Our H-Bombs, pp. 98–99, and Howard Simons, “Some Experts Fear Strategic Loss if Curbs Are Put on Nuclear Routes,” The Washington Post, February 27, 1966, p. A1.

  76 Believe we must be prepared: Cable, Embassy in Madrid to the Department of State, January 22, 1966, #871 (LBJ).

  CHAPTER 5: PARACHUTES

  77 Joe Ramirez pushed aside: Joe Ramirez interview, January 27, 2007.

  79 had found the combat mission folder: SAC Historical Study #109, pp. 39–40.

  79 General Wilson realized: Ibid., p. 75.

  79 “Until every avenue of search”: Ibid.

  79 Hundreds of searchers: Ibid., pp. 81–82, 89–90; author's interviews with Robert Finkel, April 4, 2007, and Phil Durbin, March 15, 2007.

  80 Wilson's men got organized: The ground search is described in SAC Historical Study #109, pp. 95–98; see also author's interviews with Walter Vornbrock, April 23, 2008, and Phil Durbin, March 15, 2007.

  80 a reservoir—a piece of a bomb: SAC Historical Study #109, pp. 42–43.

  80 a searcher found a round metal plate: Ibid., pp. 40–42; Cable, from 16th AF Torrejón AB Spain to RUEKDA/Secretary of Defense, January, 1966, #61642 (LBJ); Randall C. Maydew, America's Lost H-Bomb! Palo mares, Spain, 1966 (Manhattan, Kans.: Sunflower University Press, 1997), p. 54.

  81 The engineers at Sandia: The background on Sandia comes from author's interviews with William Barton, January 22, 2004, and October 23, 2006; William Caudle, January 22, 2004; Sam McAlees, October 23, 2006; William Pepper, October 21, 2006; and Rebecca Ulrich, October 24, 2006. For additional information on the history of Sandia National Laboratories, see Necah Furman, Sandia National Laboratories: The Postwar Decade (Albuquerque, N.M.: University of New Mexico Press, 1989), and Leland John son, Sandia National Laboratories: A History of Exceptional Service in the National Interest (Albuquerque, N.M.: Sandia National Laboratories, 1997).

  81 he called Secretary of Defense Robert McNamara: Letter, Bill Moyers to Flora Lewis, August 11, 1966. The author found no record of this conversation in the Johnson telephone archive, but not all telephone calls were recorded.

  81 Word was passed to Jack Howard: Author's interview with Jack Howard, April 3, 2007; 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).

  81 Pope called Randy Maydew: Randall Maydew, oral history, conducted by Necah Furman, December 1991, p. 5 (SNL).

  82 High-energy and hyperactive: The background on Randy Maydew comes primarily from author's interview with Jean and Barbara Maydew, October 21, 2006. Additional information is from interviews with William Barton, January 22, 2004, and October 23, 2006; William Caudle, January 22, 2004; and Sam McAlees, October 23, 2006.

  82 when he got the call: Maydew, America's Lost H-Bomb, pp. x, 43–44, 54; Randall Maydew, oral history, conducted by Necah Furman, December 1991, p. 5 (SNL).

  82 The parachute question was critical: The explanation of the Mark 28 parachute system comes from Maydew, America's Lost H-Bomb, pp. 21–24; “Description of Normal Operation,” document #SAC200118830000 (NNSA, FOIA); Randall Maydew, oral history, conducted by Necah Furman, December 1991, pp. 2–3 (SNL); Gibson, Nuclear Weapons of the United States, pp. 99–100.

  82 Sandia had developed this “laydown system”: Furman, Sandia National Laboratories, pp. 648–660; Johnson, Sandia National Laboratories, pp. 63–69; Randall Maydew, oral history, August 22, 1985 (SNL).

  82 According to intelligence experts: National Intelligence Estimate 11-4-61: Main Trends in Soviet Capabilities and Policies, 1961–1966, U.S. Director of Central Intelligence (RG 263, Box 16, Folder 9, NARA).

  83 The three bombs found on land: There are some minor disagreements about the speed at which bombs numbers one to three hit the ground. These numbers come from Randall Maydew, oral history, conducted by Necah Furman, December 1991, p. 3 (SNL).

  84 Since bomb number four's tail plate: Randall Maydew, oral history, August 22, 1985, pp. 11–12 (SNL); Maydew, America's Lost H-Bomb, pp. 53–54. Maydew's chronology is somewhat jumbled; the tail plate was found by January 20, well before Maydew left for Spain.

  84 37° 13.9′ N, 01° 42.3' W: SAC Historical Study #109, p. 48. The author typed these coordinates into atlas.mapquest.com/maps/latlong.adp to verify that they were in the Mediterranean, closer to Africa than to Spain.

  84 On January 27, General Wilson requested: Memo, Maydew and Barton to Fowler, March 29, 1966 (SNL).

  84 “furnishing data to unseeing computers”: SAC Historical Study #109, p. 49.

  84 ultimately generating a three-foot stack: “Vital Contributions Made by Sandia in Locating Lost Nuclear Weapon,” Sandia Lab News, April 22, 1966, pp. 4–5.

  84 a forked stick: Maydew, America's Lost H-Bomb, p. 52.

  84 Ramirez had another lead: Ramirez's first meeting with Simó comes from author's interview with Joe Ramirez, January 27, 2007.

  86 he found himself on the USS Pinnacle: SAC Historical Study #109, pp. 45–46; Department of the Navy, Naval Ship Systems Command, Aircraft Salvage Operation Mediterranean (Aircraft Salvops Med). Sea Search and Recovery of an Unarmed Nuclear Weapon by Task Force 65, Interim Report (Reston, Va.: Ocean Systems, 1966), pp. 7, C2; Joe Ramirez interview, January 27, 2007.

  86 The water was just over two thousand feet: The water depth was 340 fathoms, which converts to 2,041 feet. Aircraft Salvops Med, Interim Report, p. 7.

  86 “sharp and hazy”: SAC Historical Study #109, p. 46.

  86 President Johnson sat down: President's daily diary, January 22, 1966 (Box 5, LBJ).

  87 In the film: The description of Thunderball comes from the author's viewing of the film.

  87 When Jack Howard called Alan Pope: Maydew, America's Lost H-Bo
mb, ix.

  87 And early reports noted that real Soviets: Cable, Embassy in Madrid to the Department of State, January 21, 1966, #869 (LBJ).

  CHAPTER 6: CALL IN THE NAVY

  88 Red Moody sat in the cockpit: Author's interview with DeWitt (hence forth “Red”) Moody, November 7, 2006; D. H. Moody, “40th Anniversary of Palomares,” Faceplate 10, no. 2 (September 2006), p. 15. The arrival of the divers in Spain and the early days of the search are chronicled in Memo, Commander Task Group 65.3 to Commander Task Force 65, “Report of In shore Search, Identification and Recovery Unit,” March 13, 1966 (NHC).

  88 On January 22: Maydew, America's Lost H-Bomb, pp. ix-x.

  88 the CNO had established a task force: Aircraft Salvops Med, Interim Report, 1966, p. C2.

  89 Four U.S. Navy minesweepers: The ships were the USS Sagacity (MSO-469), USS Pinnacle (MSO-462), USS Skill (MSO-471), USS Nimble (MSO-459), USNS Dutton (T-AGS-22), and USS Macdonough (DLG-8). Aircraft Salvops Med, Interim Report, pp. C1–C2.

  89 A small team of EOD divers: Author's interviews with Oliver Andersen, January 22, 2007, and March 31, 2007, and Red Moody, November 7, 2006. Also Memo, Commander Task Group 65.3 to Commander Task Force 65, “Report of Inshore Search,” March 13, 1966 (NHC).

  89 “His sole purpose in life”: Oliver Andersen interview, January 22, 2007.

  90 Then Moody made an announcement: The story of Red Moody's first visit to the Macdonough is from Red Moody interview, November 7, 2006.

  90 DeWitt “Red” Moody: Red Moody's personal history comes from author's interviews with Moody, November 7, 2006, and July 17, 2007.

  91 Admiral Guest paid a visit: Author's interview with Red Moody, November 7, 2006; Memo, Commander Task Group 65.3 to Commander Task Force 65, “Report of Inshore Search,” March 13, 1966 (NHC).

  92 He had been thrown: Admiral Guest arrived in Palomares on January 24, 1966. Aircraft Salvops Med, Interim Report, p. C2.

  92 Guest was a no-nonsense man: The description of Guest comes primarily from author's interviews with Douglas Kingsbery, July 27, 2007, and Robert Kingsbery, July 19, 2007. Additional information is from U.S. Department of the Navy, Biography of Rear Admiral William S. Guest (Washington, D.C.: Naval Historical Center, undated), and author's interviews with Red Moody, November 7, 2006, and July 17, 2007; Horace Page, April 3, 2007; and J. Bradford Mooney, March 30, 2007.

  93 Guest hit the ground running: Aircraft Salvops Med, Interim Report, pp. 9, 11.

  93 The wedge measured: Using the map shown in Aircraft Salvops Med, Interim Report, p. 9, the author calculated the area of the initial search area to be 51.03 square miles. Manhattan is 22.7 square miles.

  93 Oliver Andersen, left in charge: The description of the inshore searching comes primarily from author's interviews with Oliver Andersen, January 22, 2007, and March 31, 2007.

  93 The divers found a lot of debris: Memo, Commander Task Group 65.3 to Commander Task Force 65, “Report of Inshore Search,” March 13, 1966 (NHC).

  94 Underwater searching is complicated: The description of a jackstay search and other EOD diving background comes from the author's visit with the divers of EOD 6 on March 20–21, 2007, and interviews with Brad Andros and Ron Ervin during that time.

  95 and there were no decent charts: Aircraft Salvops Med, pp. 17, 75.

  95 One Navy captain named Lewis Melson: Author's interview with Lewis Melson, August 23, 2006.

  95 On January 27, the USS Kiowa arrived: The background on the Decca hi-fix and its installation problems are from Aircraft Salvops Med, Interim Report, p. 18; Aircraft Salvops Med, Final Report, vol. 1, p. 24; Aircraft Salvops Med, Final Report, February 15, 1967, vol. 4, appendix B, pp. 3–11; and SAC Historical Study #109, pp. 295, 304.

  96 “like going up here in the hills”: “William S. Guest Press Conference,” April 8, 1966.

  96 “throwing a needle”: Author's interview with Gaylord White, March 3, 2007.

  96 “finding a needle in a haystack”: “The Bomb Is Found,” Time, March 25, 1966, p. 77.

  96 “This must be the devil's”: Szulc, The Bombs of Palomares, p. 172.

  FEBRUARY

  CHAPTER 7: VILLA JARAPA

  99 “The once-deserted Mediterranean coast”: Richard Oulahan, “The Case of the Missing H-Bomb,” Life, February 25, 1966, p. 106B.

  99 Wilson decided that the barren: SAC Historical Study #109, p. 82.

  99 Camp Wilson served as home and office: Details on Camp Wilson can be found in SAC Historical Study #109, pp. 83–93. General Wilson's reports to SAC and the “Red-Eye Special” are discussed on pp. 72–74.

  100 Robert Finkel, the squadron commander: Robert Finkel interview, April 4, 2007.

  100 Joe Ramirez, also rooming happily: Joe Ramirez interviews, January 27, 2007, and April 27, 2007.

  101 they called Camp Wilson “Villa Jarapa”: Miguel Olid, “Luz sobre Palomares,” El País (Sunday supplement), April 22, 2007, p. 32.

  101 the military remained tight-lipped: SAC Historical Study #109, pp. 321–323; Szulc, The Bombs of Palomares, pp. 200–204.

  101 The Navy was ordered: Aircraft Salvops Med, Final Report, vol. 1, part I, chap. 2, p. 7.

  101 “There are no denials”: “H-Bomb Lost in Spain,” CBS News, January 23, 1966.

  101 A rumor circulated: Author's interview with Malcolm MacKinnon, December 4, 2006.

  101 “So stringent is the official secrecy”: “An H-Bomb Is Missing and the Hunt Goes On,” Newsweek, March 7, 1966, p. 55.

  101 Press briefings were maddening: Szulc, The Bombs of Palomares, p. 202.

  102 Even the Spanish reporters: Lewis, One of Our H-Bombs, p. 165. 102 London papers reported: SAC Historical Study #109, p. 365.

  102 The Sydney Sun: Ibid., p. 366.

  102 Radio España Independiente: Ibid., p. 301; Szulc, The Bombs of Palomares, pp. 157–158. The transcripts of REI broadcasts are located at the PCE Archive in Madrid. The author read a selection of them at the archive in February 2007.

  103 “It was a long”: SAC Historical Study #109, p. 80.

  103 estimated that searchers covered: Walter Vornbrock interview, April 23, 2007.

  103 “found they liked the outdoor life”: SAC Historical Study #109, p. 92.

  103 Colonel Alton “Bud” White: White's description of the cleanup operation comes from Flora Lewis, interview with Alton “Bud” White, undated (AFHRA).

  103 they cleared about 150 tons: Ibid. says 150 tons; SAC Historical Study #109, p. 133, says 100 tons.

  104 Wilson and Montel spoke to a crowd: SAC Historical Study #109, pp. 292–293; Szulc, The Bombs of Palomares, p. 161.

  104 Speaking through a translator: The text of Wilson's speech can be found in Memo, 16AF Torrejón AB Spain to US Embassy Spain and JUSMG Madrid Spain, February 2, 1966 (USAF, FOIA).

  104 he was surprised—and a bit shocked: Flora Lewis, interview with Alton White, undated (AFHRA).

  104 A team of scientists: Emilio Iranzo interview, February 16, 2007.

  105 Starting at each bomb's impact point: White's description of the radiation mapping comes from Flora Lewis, interview with Alton White, undated (AFHRA), and SAC Historical Study #109, pp. 141–146.

  105 But the PAC-1S: The problems with the PAC-1S are detailed in SAC Historical Study #109, pp. 271–277.

  106 “The only way you could treat that land”: Flora Lewis, interview with Alton White, undated (AFHRA).

  106 The job of chief tomato plant chopper: Robert Finkel interview, April 4, 2007, and Szulc, The Bombs of Palomares, p. 125.

  106 “the Boston Tomato Party”: Robert C. Toth, “Soviet Spy Ship Watches U.S. Hunt Bomb,” Los Angeles Times, March 8, 1966, p. 1.

  106 As a gesture of goodwill: SAC Historical Study #109, p. 156; Flora Lewis, interview with Alton White, undated (AFHRA).

  106 “Anywhere you turned around”: Walter Vornbrock interview, April 23, 2007.

  106 A bit farther down the beach: The description of the Navy EOD camp comes from author's interviews with Red M
oody, November 7, 2006; Denford Stevens, November 30, 2006; Gaylord White, March 3, 2007; Robert Singleton, November 27, 2006; Oliver Andersen, January 22, 2007, and March 31, 2007; Charles Detmer, December 13, 2006; Tom Ligon, November 30, 2006; and Ed Jeffords, November 27, 2006. Stevens and Singleton also supplied personal photographs. Footage of Camp Wilson can be found at NARA, 342-USAF-40730A, reel 7.

  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.