Current Date: 16 Dec, 2025
{{entry.title}}

Nuclear bomb accidentally dropped on North Carolina in 196

4 January 1961: The 4241st Strategic Wing's Boeing B-52G-95-BW Stratofortress, serial number 58-0187, was on a 24-hour airborne alert mission off the United States' Atlantic Coast.

4 January 1961: The 4241st Strategic Wing’s Boeing B-52G-95-BW Stratofortress, serial number 58-0187, was on a 24-hour airborne alert mission off the United States’ Atlantic Coast. Major Walter S. Tulloch, US Air Force, piloted the bomber with Captain Richard W. Hardin and First Lieutenant Adam C. Mattocks. Major Eugene Shelton, Radar Navigator; Captain Paul E. Brown, Navigator; First Lieutenant William H. Wilson, Electronics Warfare Officer; Major Eugene H Richards, Electronics Warfare Instructor; and Technical Sergeant Francis R. Barnish, Gunner were among the other members of the crew. It was equipped with two Mark 39 thermonuclear bombs, each with a 3–4 megaton explosive yield.

The B-52 was refueled by an air tanker while in flight. Major Tulloch was told by the tanker crew that the B-52’s right wing was leaking fuel. More than 5,400 gallons (37,000 pounds/17,000 kilograms) of jet fuel were wasted in less than three minutes due to the massive leak. The B-52 was on its way to North Carolina’s Seymour Johnson Air Force Base.

nuclear bomb accidentally dropped on North Carolina 1
Boeing B-52G-95-BW Stratofortress 58-0190, the same type as Keep 19. (U.S. Air Force)

The bomber became increasingly difficult to control as they fell due to the unbalanced condition. Major Tulloch ordered the crew to abandon the fatal ship when the bomber lost control. Five crew members were evacuated, and one climbed through the top hatch. (Lieutenant Mattocks is thought to be the only member of the B-52 crew to have fled through the upper hatch.)

58-0187 shattered and exploded. Its debris reached an area of two square miles (5.2 square kilometers). Majors Shelton and Richards, as well as Sergeant Barnish, were killed.

The B-52’s two Mark 39 bombs fell out of the bomb bay as the plane exploded. One buried itself to a depth of more than 55 meters (180 feet). The parachute retarding mechanism on the other plane worked perfectly, and it landed safely. An bomb disposal team promptly detonated it and carried it away.

nuclear bomb accidentally dropped on North Carolina 2
One of the two Mk 39 bombs that fell from the B-52 as it broke up near Goldsboro, North Carolina, 24 January 1961. The parachute retarding system had deployed, allowing the bomb to touch down with minimal damage.

The buried bomb was extremely difficult to recover. The ordnance crew retrieved the majority of the bomb after eight days, including the 92 detonators and conventional explosive “lenses” of the “primary,” the first stage implosion portion. On January 29, the uranium-235/plutonium-239 “pit,” the bomb’s very core, was discovered. The “secondary,” on the other hand, was never discovered.

nuclear bomb accidentally dropped on North Carolina 3
Most of the Mark 39 bomb was uncovered from an excavation at the farm field near Goldsboro, North Carolina. (U.S. Air Force)

The fusion fuel is held in the secondary, but it cannot detonate without the primary exploding first. There is no threat of an explosion because the secondary is buried.

“During a B-52 airborne alert mission structural failure of the right wing resulted in two weapons separating from the aircraft during aircraft breakup at 2,000 – 10,000 feet altitude. One bomb parachute deployed and the weapon received little impact damage. The other bomb fell free and broke apart upon impact. No explosion occurred. Five of the eight crew members survived. A portion of one weapon, containing uranium, could not be recovered despite excavation in the waterlogged farmland to a depth of 50 feet. The Air Force subsequently purchased an easement requiring permission for anyone to dig there. There is no detectable radiation and no hazard in the area.”

The military code term for an accident like this involving the loss of nuclear weapons is BROKEN ARROW.

Though official declarations claim that neither weapon was in danger of exploding, others claim that five of the six steps (or six of seven) required for a thermonuclear detonation were followed.

The aircraft commander’s arming switch was the only one that had not been turned on.

nuclear bomb accidentally dropped on North Carolina 4
Bomb, Mark 39Y1 Mod 2, P/N 300611-00, serial number 4215, at the National Museum of the United States Air Force. Behind it is a Convair B-36 Peacemaker ten-engine strategic bomber. (U.S. Air Force)

The Mark 39 was a two-stage thermonuclear bomb with radiation-implosion. It was produced from 1957 to 1959, with over 700 units produced. It was fully fused, which meant it could be detonated by contact with the ground, as an air burst, or by “laid down,” in which a sequence of parachutes would slow the bomb and allow it to land on its intended target before detonating. This gave the bomber enough time to clear the area.

With a weight of 6,500–6,750 pounds (2,950–3,060 kilograms), the Mark 39 was considered a light weapon. The bomb was roughly 11 feet, 8 inches (3.556 meters) in length and 2 feet, 11 inches in diameter (0.889 meters). The Mark 39 had a 3–4 megaton explosive output. (For comparison, the Redwing Cherokee nuclear weapons test at Bikini Atoll in 1956 had a yield of 3.8.)

nuclear bomb accidentally dropped on North Carolina 5
Fireball from detonation of TX-15 weapon, Operation Redwing Cherokee, 21 May 1956. (Nuclear Weapons Archive)

In the mid-1960s, the Mark 39 was phased out of service and replaced by the more powerful Mk 41.

Similar Stories
How Sleep Deprivation Was Once Used as Torture

How Sleep Deprivation Was Once Used as Torture

Sleep deprivation, long before modern interrogation techniques, was considered a “clean” and effective form of torture—leaving no physical scars, yet breaking minds with haunting silence. Victims endured days and nights without rest, leading to vivid hallucinations, disorientation, and psychological torment. This article traces the dark history of sleep deprivation as a weapon, examines the science behind its effects on the brain, and shines a light on the painful balance between human endurance and cruelty in the annals of coercion.

George Dantzig solved two famous “unsolved” problems in statistics mistakenly as assignment

George Dantzig solved two famous “unsolved” problems in statistics mistakenly as assignment

In 1939, George Dantzig arrived late to his statistics class. On the board were two famous “unsolved” problems in statistics written as an example by his professor. Dantzig mistook the examples for homework assignments. He solved the “unsolved” problems and submitted the homework to his professor a few days later. His solutions earned him a doctorate.

Quaker Oats Fed Children with Radioactive Oatmeal

Quaker Oats Fed Children with Radioactive Oatmeal

In the 1940s and 1950s, Quaker Oats and MIT conducted experiments on radioactive iron and calcium-containing cereal. The diet was part of a study to see if the nutrients in Quaker oatmeal traveled throughout the body. In January 1998, a $1.85 million settlement was reached for 30 victims who came forward.

The Arabia Steamboat: Unearthing a 19th Century Time Capsule from the Missouri River

The Arabia Steamboat: Unearthing a 19th Century Time Capsule from the Missouri River

The Arabia was a steamboat that sank in the Missouri River in 1856. Over time, the river shifted 800 meters to the east, eventually turning the site of the sinking into a field. The steamboat remained under 45 feet of slit and topsoil until 1988, when it was excavated. The mud, as it turned out, was such a great preserver that most of the artifacts on board were found to be intact. They even found jars of preserved apples that were still edible!

The day Iceland's women went on strike

The day Iceland's women went on strike

Icelandic women went on strike for equal rights on October 24, 1975. 90% of women walked out of their jobs and homes, effectively shutting down the entire country. The men were struggling to keep up. The following year, Parliament passed a law requiring equal pay. Iceland elected the world's first female President five years later. Iceland now has the highest gender equality rate in the world.

What is the story behind Wrigley chewing gum?

What is the story behind Wrigley chewing gum?

Wrigley's was originally a soap company that gifted baking powder with their soap. The baking powder became more popular than the soap so they switched to selling baking powder with chewing gum as a gift. The gum became more popular than the baking powder so the company switched to selling gum.

Why the Word ‘Pen’ Comes from the Latin ‘Penna’ Meaning Feather

Why the Word ‘Pen’ Comes from the Latin ‘Penna’ Meaning Feather

The humble word “pen” carries a rich history rooted in ancient times, derived from the Latin word penna, meaning “feather.” Long before modern pens revolutionized writing, feather quills—especially from geese—were the essential tools of scribes, scholars, and artists. This article journeys through the origins of the pen, its evolution, and fascinating trivia about the timeless connection between feathers and writing.

Nathan's Famous Doctor Stunt

Nathan's Famous Doctor Stunt

When Nathan's Famous Hot Dogs first opened in 1916, the owner hired people to dress as doctors and eat hot dogs outside his shop, to convince people his hot dogs were healthy.

The History Behind the “No One Dies Alone” Program

The History Behind the “No One Dies Alone” Program

In 1986, while doing a night shift at the hospital, Sandra Clarke, a registered nurse, was asked by an elderly patient to stay. She promised to be back after checking on her other patients, but by the time she returned, the gentleman had passed away. Clarke became one of the key figures in launching No One Dies Alone, a program that allows volunteers to sit with terminal patients who have no one else.

How a Total Lunar Eclipse Saved Christopher Columbus in 1504

How a Total Lunar Eclipse Saved Christopher Columbus in 1504

In 1504, Christopher Columbus was stranded in Jamaica with natives who refused to give him food. But he knew the date and time of an upcoming lunar eclipse. So he told the natives that his gods were angry at their treatment of him, and would provide a clear sign. Once the eclipse started, the natives raced to give him food and begged for mercy.