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

by Barbara Moran

  170 That day Mac McCamis: McCamis, “‘Captain Hook's’ Hunt,” p. 25.

  170 because today was his son's birthday: Ibid.

  170 Wilson saw the track: Alvin's discovery of the parachute on March 15 is detailed in ibid.; author's interviews with Marvin McCamis, January 31, 2003, and Art Bartlett, February 5, 2007; Aircraft Salvops Med, Final Report, vol. 1, part I, chap. 2, pp. 59–60. In his interview, McCamis said the code word was “bent nail,” but Navy sources say it was “instrument panel.”

  171 “We found a parachute”: Kaharl, Water Baby, p. 74. The reel-to-reel audiotape for the March 15, 1966, dive (Dive 128) is missing from the WHOI archives. However, the author viewed photographs taken by the pilots on this dive.

  171 “Had a hell of a time”: Marvin McCamis interview, January 31, 2003.

  171 the USS Albany had arrived: Lewis, One of Our H-Bombs, p. 209; Aircraft Salvops Med, Final Report, vol. 1, part I, chap. 2, pp. 59–60.

  171 Deep below the surface: Marvin McCamis interview, January 31, 2003; Art Bartlett interview, February 5, 2007; Kaharl, Water Baby, p. 76.

  172 the men discussed what to do: Art Bartlett interview, February 5, 2007.

  172 Alvin could remain submerged for twenty-four hours: Everett S. Allen, “Research Submarine Alvin,” U.S. Naval Institute Proceedings, April 1964, p. 138.

  172 Mooney suggested sending Aluminaut down: Brad Mooney interview, March 30, 2007.

  173 “I can fly my F4s”: George Martin interview, May 9, 2007.

  173 The sub picked up a transponder: E-mail, Red Moody to author, December 14, 2007.

  173 got a quick battery charge: Art Markel interview, September 25, 2006.

  173 “He thought we were a bunch”: Ibid.

  173 The Alvin crew sat in the dark: McCamis, “‘Captain Hook's’ Hunt,” p. 25.

  173 “It was beautiful”: Quoted in Lewis, One of Our H-Bombs, p. 208.

  173 cautiously parking herself about twenty-five yards: Aircraft Salvops Med, Final Report, vol. 1, part I, chap. 2, p. 66.

  173 Alvin surfaced after ten hours: Ibid.

  173 entered the well deck at 8:12: Deck logs of the USS Fort Snelling, March 15, 1966 (NARA).

  173 The Alvin crew sent their photographs: Aircraft Salvops Med, Final Report, vol. 1, part I, chap. 2, pp. 66, 69–70.

  173 Mac McCamis was outraged: McCamis, “‘Captain Hook's’ Hunt,” p. 25.

  173 “How do you know”: Quoted in Kaharl, Water Baby, p. 77.

  173 “What else”: Ibid.

  173 “In all my life”: McCamis, “‘Captain Hook's’ Hunt,” p. 25.

  174 Admiral Guest wrote a situation report: Cable, CTF Sixty-five to REUCW/CNO, “Sitrep Seventy-nine,” March 16, 1966 (LBJ).

  174 The other memo: Aircraft Salvops Med, Final Report, vol. 1, part I, chap. 2, p. 67.

  174 Robert Sproull, the chair of the Cyrus Vance committee: Robert Sproull interview, May 11, 2007.

  174 That morning in Rota: E-mail, Red Moody to author, December 19, 2007.

  174 That afternoon in Spain: Tony Richardson, diary, March 15 to April 7, 1966 (author's collection); author's interviews with Tony Richardson, October 31, 2007, and John Bruce, August 17, 2006.

  175 news of the Gemini 8 space shot: John Noble Wilford, “Gemini Is Fueled for Link-up Today,” The New York Times, March 16, 1966, p. 1; John Noble Wilford, “Gemini 8 Crew Is Forced Down in Pacific after Successful Linkup with Satellite; Spacemen Picked Up after 3 Hours in Sea,” The New York Times, March 17, 1966, p. 1.

  175 he sent three nuclear weapons experts: Cable, from 16ADVON Spain to RUCSC/SAC, March 17, 1966, #71560 (LBJ).

  176 The man on the phone was Harry Stathos: Lewis, One of Our H-Bombs, pp. 212–213; SAC Historical Study #109, pp. 331–332.

  177 “The undersea vessel, Alvin, made contact”: Cable, Embassy in Madrid to SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE, March 17, 1966, #1219 (LBJ).

  177 At 12:45 a.m., as reporters gathered: SAC Historical Study #109, pp. 331–332.

  177 “Recovery promises to be”: “Sub Finds H-Bomb off Spain: Weapon Reported Intact in Water 2500 Feet Deep,” The Washington Post, March 18, 1966, p. 1.

  177 “No pictures of the bomb”: “H-Bomb Located in Sea off Spain,” The New York Times, March 18, 1966, p. 1.

  178 to ensure credibility: Angier Biddle Duke, Living History interview, October 24, 1990, pp. 23–24 (Duke).

  178 Duke formed a committee: SAC Historical Study #109, p. 336.

  178 “The fourth and final weapon”: Cable, Embassy in Madrid to SEC-STATE, March 18, 1966, #1226 (LBJ).

  178 On March 16, McCamis and Wilson: “‘Captain Hook's’ Hunt,” p. 25; William O. Rainnie, “Alvin … and the Bomb,” Oceanus 12, no. 4 (August 1966), p. 19.

  179 Alvin by now had a mechanical arm: Allen, “Research Submarine Alvin,” p. 140.

  CHAPTER 15: POODL VERSUS THE BOMB

  180 On March 22, 1966, CBS News: “Special Report: Lost and Found, One H-Bomb,” CBS News, March 22, 1966.

  181 Alvin or Aluminaut could carry: Red Moody interview, November 7, 2006; Brad Mooney, e-mail to author, September 17, 2008. Mooney pointed out another problem: the weight of the line should not be heavier than the positive buoyancy of the sub.

  181 Working with two consultants: The description of POODL comes from author's interview with Red Moody, November 7, 2006; D. H. Moody, “40th Anniversary of Palomares,” Faceplate 10, no. 2 (September 2006), p. 18; Aircraft Salvops Med, Final Report, vol. 4, appendix B, pp. 42–44; Aircraft Salvops Med, Interim Report, pp. 39, D59, D61. POODL was rebuilt several times during the bomb recovery effort, so it is difficult to determine its exact specifications at the time of the first recovery attempt. When there was a discrepancy in the records, author relied on Aircraft Salvops Med, Final Report, vol. 4, appendix B. The height of POODL (seven feet) comes from e-mail, Red Moody to author, September 17, 2008.

  182 “Oh, my God”: Author's interview with Malcolm MacKinnon, December 4, 2006.

  182 “gypsy-engineered”: Red Moody interview, November 7, 2006.

  182 That fear overshadowed everything: Aircraft Salvops Med, Final Report, vol. 1, part I, chap. 2, p. 69.

  182 the captain of the Mizar: Aircraft Salvops Med, Interim Report, pp. C12–C13.

  182 it had carried a light line: Even this light polypropylene line, hand-tended from the surface, was a struggle for Alvin to carry down to the bottom. Aircraft Salvops Med, Final Report, vol. 1, part I, chap. 2, p. 73; Memo, W.O. Rainnie to Office of Naval Research, “Quarterly Informal Letter,” June 10, 1966, p. 9; Rainnie, “How We Found the Missing H-Bomb,” Popular Mechanics, August 1966, p. 78. According to Red Moody (e-mail to author, September 17, 2008) the sub crews had never attempted such a risky maneuver before and were understandably reluctant to try.

  182 the task force members tried another tactic: Aircraft Salvops Med, Final Report, vol. 1, part I, chap. 2, p. 75.

  182 That evening, Admiral Guest wrote: Ibid.

  182 Art Markel thought Aluminaut: Art Markel interview, September 25, 2006; Memo, Art Markel to office, “Tape 3,” recorded March 19, 1966 (SMV); Aircraft Salvops Med, Final Report, vol. 1, part I, chap. 2, p. 76.

  183 Markel was excited: For example: Memo, Art Markel to office, “Tape 4,” recorded March 20, 1966; Memo, Art Markel to office, “Tape 5,” recorded March 22, 1966; Memo, Art Markel to office, “Tape 6,” recorded March 23, 1966, all at SMV.

  183 to share some of Alvin's limelight: Memo, Art Markel to office, “Tape 3,” recorded March 19, 1966 (SMV).

  183 “It is quite apparent”: Letter, Art Markel to Carrie, March 28, 1966 (SMV).

  183 Markel had half a mind: Letter, Art Markel to Carrie, April 6, 1966 (SMV).

  183 On March 22, the Los Angeles Times: Robert C. Toth, “H-Bomb May Slip into Deep Sea Crevice, Balk Recovery,” Los Angeles Times, March 22, 1966, p. 1.

  183 Duke, disturbed by such gloomy press: Cable, Embassy in Madrid to SECSTATE WASHDC, March 22, 1966, Deptel 1185 (LBJ).


  183 The Air Force thought: SAC Historical Study #109, pp. 320, 334–335.

  183 But Guest suspected the embassy: Author's interviews with Brad Mooney, March 30, 2007, and Robert Kingsbery, July 19, 2007.

  184 he seemed as mystified: Author's interviews with Robin Duke, June 7, 2007, and Tim Towell, January 8, 2007. See also SAC Historical Study #109, p. 335.

  184 Mizar had landed the anchor and POODL: Aircraft Salvops Med, Final Report, vol. 1, part I, chap. 2, pp. 78–79; Aircraft Salvops Med, Interim Report, p. C13. See also Tad Szulc, “H-Bomb Searchers Fail Again as Sea Cable Snaps,” The New York Times, March 26, 1966, p. 9. March 23 was also the day that the diver Carl Brashear was injured in an accident aboard the USS Hoist, nearly severing his left lower leg. Brashear's story was dramatized in the feature film Men of Honor.

  184 Guest's staff met aboard the Mizar: Aircraft Salvops Med, Final Report, vol. 1, part I, chap. 2, pp. 79–80; Jon Lindbergh interview, July 11, 2007.

  184 Mizar would hover directly above: E-mail, Red Moody to author, December 19, 2007.

  185 McCamis, still underwater in Alvin: Marvin McCamis interview, January 31, 2003.

  185 Red Moody was having his own argument: Red Moody interview, November 7, 2006; e-mail, Red Moody to author, December 19, 2007.

  185 The Mizar's crew snagged the floating buoy: The description of the lift at tempt comes from Aircraft Salvops Med, Final Report, vol. 1, part I, chap. 2, pp. 80–81, and author's interviews with Jon Lindbergh, July 11, 2007, and Red Moody, November 7, 2006. There are some small (fifteen-minute) discrepancies in the timeline of events.

  186 “Oh, boy”: Marvin McCamis interview, January 31, 2003.

  186 Alvin needed a battery charge: Aircraft Salvops Med, Final Report, vol. 1, part I, chap. 2, pp. 81–82.

  186 “The slope looked”: McCamis, “‘Captain Hook's’ Hunt,” p. 27.

  186 The pilots found: Ibid.

  186 The broken line seemed: Aircraft Salvops Med, Final Report, vol. 1, part I, chap. 2, p. 81.

  186 The Soviet newspaper Izvestia: “Soviet Asks World Check on U.S. H-Bomb off Spain,” The New York Times, March 19, 1966, p. 7.

  186 U.N. Secretary General: Lewis, One of Our H-Bombs, p. 222.

  187 There was still the question of logistics: Aircraft Salvops Med, Final Report, vol. 1, part I, chap. 2, pp. 84–85; SAC Historical Study #109, pp. 337–339.

  187 Military officials hated the idea: Joseph Smith interview, January 23, 2007; Angier Biddle Duke, Living History interview, October 24, 1990, pp. 23–24.

  187 he broke protocol and called: Angier Biddle Duke, Living History interview, October 24, 1990, pp. 23–24.

  187 “Here we were in the ninth inning”: George Martin interview, May 9, 2007.

  188 The crew of the USS Albany: Deck logs of the USS Albany, March 29, 1966; Francis Smith, e-mails to author, February 2 and 4, 2008. Smith was a gunner's mate on the USS Albany during the bomb search. The deck logs for the morning of March 29 say, “Commenced handling TALOS missile warheads.” TALOS was a long-range naval surface-to-air missile. It could be equipped with either a conventional or a nuclear warhead. To the best of the author's knowledge, this is the only mention of TALOS in the Albany deck logs during the Palomares mission.

  188 “Because arrangements for overflights”: Cable, State and Defense to Embassy in Madrid, March 30, 1966, Deptel 1240 (LBJ).

  188 Duke responded in a secret cable: Cable, Embassy in Madrid to SEC-STATE WASHDC PRIORITY, April 1, 1966, #849 (LBJ).

  189 Guest assumed that the weapon: Aircraft Salvops Med, Final Report, vol. 1, part I, chap. 2, p. 82.

  189 the crew found a track leading up: Ibid. and Rainnie, “How We Found the Missing H-Bomb,” p. 78.

  189 the Alvin pilots began to imagine: George Martin interview, May 9, 2007; Lewis, One of Our H-Bombs, pp. 223–224; Aircraft Salvops Med, Final Report, vol. 1, part I, chap. 2, p. 82; Rainnie, “How We Found the Missing H-Bomb,” p. 78.

  189 On the morning of April 2, Alvin dove: The description of this dive comes from author's interview with George Martin, May 9, 2007; Aircraft Salvops Med, Final Report, vol. 1, part I, chap. 2, p. 86; and McCamis, “‘Captain Hook's’ Hunt,” p. 27.

  190 Red Moody heard a buzz: Red Moody interview, November 7, 2006.

  APRIL

  CHAPTER 16: HOOKED

  193 a diver named Herman Kunz: Malcolm MacKinnon interview, December 4, 2006.

  193 MacKinnon and Kunz had visited: Ibid.

  194 The engineers and technicians at NOTS: The background on CURV comes mainly from author's interviews with Robert Pace, February 6, 2007, and Larry Brady, January 18 and 31, 2007; and e-mail, Larry Brady to author, September 18, 2008. See also Aircraft Salvops Med, Final Report, vol. 4, appendix B, pp. 45–52; and Aircraft Salvops Med, Final Report, vol. 1, part I, chap. 2, p. 86.

  195 “It looked like a python”: Larry Brady interview, January 31, 2007.

  196 The CURV team set up shop: The background on the Petrel and Max Harrell is from Sanchez Goode, “Postscript to Palomares,” U.S. Naval Institute Proceedings 94, no. 12 (December 1968), pp. 49–53.

  196 The Navy dropped a dummy bomb: Aircraft Salvops Med, Final Report, vol. 1, part I, chap. 2, p. 86; Aircraft Salvops Med, Final Report, vol. 1, annex I, part I, chap. 2, p. 7.

  196 The CURV team operated the device: Details on the CURV operations come mainly from author's interviews with Robert Pace, February 6, 2007, and Larry Brady, January 18 and 31, 2007, and e-mail, Larry Brady to author, September 18, 2008.

  196 CURV dove to 2,400 feet: Naval Ordnance Test Station, Pasadena Annex [NOTS Pasadena], AirsalopsMed/CURV Notes, 1966 (author's collection).

  197 Sketching a grapnel: Robert Pace interview, February 6, 2007; Larry Brady interview, January 31, 2007.

  197 Alvin, left alone with the bomb: Aircraft Salvops Med, Interim Report, pp. C14–C15; deck logs of the USS Fort Snelling, April 3, 1966.

  197 now code-named “Robert”: Tony Richardson, diary, April 4, 1966; author's interview with Doug Kingsbery, July 27, 2007. Brad Mooney says that additional code words were used for underwater communications. Mooney recalls using codes based on the characters from “Peanuts” and the colors of the rainbow, so that “Lucy Red” might mean that a pilot had spotted something. (Brad Mooney interview, March 30, 2007.)

  197 To give CURV as much freedom: Goode, “Postscript to Palomares,” p. 52; Malcolm MacKinnon interview, December 4, 2006.

  198 The machine shop had finished: Robert Pace interview, February 6, 2007.

  198 The grapnel was attached: Larry Brady interview, January 31, 2007; Aircraft Salvops Med, Interim Report, p. 40.

  198 On April 4, just before 9 a.m.: Deck logs of the USS Petrel, April 4, 1966.

  198 Air Force experts had told: Larry Brady interview, January 18, 2007.

  198 Around noon, CURV reached the bomb: Deck logs of the USS Petrel, April 4, 1966; NOTS Pasadena, AirsalopsMed/CURV Notes.

  198 dug three tines of the grapnel: Brady says four tines; the final Navy report says three. The photographs are unclear. Larry Brady interview, January 18, 2007; Aircraft Salvops Med, Interim Report, p. 40.

  198 Sure that the grapnel: Larry Brady interview, January 31, 2007; Aircraft Salvops Med, Interim Report, p. 40.

  198 two guys flipped their car: Larry Brady interview, January 31, 2007.

  198 “you got that parachute”: Robert Pace interview, February 6, 2007.

  199 On April 5, Mac McCamis: Marvin J. McCamis, “‘Captain Hook's’ Hunt for the H-Bomb,” Oceanus, 31, no. 4 (Winter 1988–89), p. 27; Aircraft Salvops Med, Interim Report, p. C15.

  199 “This sixty-four-foot cargo chute”: Marvin McCamis, interview, January 31, 2003.

  199 “Scared him dead”: Ibid.

  199 If Alvin got trapped or tangled: The description of the Alvin emergency measures comes from the author's visit to Alvin and interviews with Bob Brown and Bruce Strickrott on July 2, 2007.

  199 Just before midnight on April 5: Deck l
ogs of the USS Petrel, April 5, 1966; NOTS Pasadena, AirsalopsMed/CURV Notes.

  199 Larry Brady twisted CURV's second grapnel: Aircraft Salvops Med, Interim Report, pp. 40, C15.

  200 the weather turned sour: “William S. Guest Press Conference,” April 8, 1966.

  200 Admiral Guest looked: Ibid.

  200 Just before 9 p.m.: Deck logs of the USS Petrel, April 6, 1966.

  200 Bad weather grounded CURV: Aircraft Salvops Med, Final Report, vol. 1, part I, chap. 2, p. 94.

  200 Around 1 a.m., CURV dove: Deck logs of the USS Petrel, April 7, 1966.

  200 The control shack was crowded: The main source for this scene is Larry Brady interview, January 31, 2007. Other sources disagree on several points in this scene. Some say that Guest and his staff were in the wardroom, watching the underwater drama on closed-circuit TV, when CURV became fouled; Brady, however, remembers the scene in the CURV control shack in detail. In addition, some accounts say that the CURV team drove the vehicle into the parachute on purpose, but Brady and Robert Pace say it was an accident.

  200 Guest thanked his lucky stars: “William S. Guest Press Conference,” April 8, 1966.

  200 The CURV crew waited: Larry Brady interview, January 31, 2007, and Robert Pace interview, February 6, 2007.