The Government Nuked North Carolina…Twice

Published on July 19, 2023
Duration: 15:50

This video details the 1961 Goldsboro incident where a B-52 bomber carrying two Mark 39 nuclear bombs broke apart over North Carolina. It highlights the near-catastrophic safety failures of the bombs, with one having five out of six safety mechanisms fail. The incident underscores the inherent risks of the Cold War's nuclear arms race and the frequency of 'Broken Arrow' events.

Quick Summary

In 1961, a B-52 bomber dropped two Mark 39 nuclear bombs over North Carolina. One bomb had five of six safety mechanisms fail, narrowly avoiding detonation. The second bomb's core was never fully recovered from the impact site.

Chapters

  1. 00:00Intro: NC Nuclear Bomb Drop
  2. 00:52Cold War Context
  3. 01:57Operation Chrome Dome Explained
  4. 05:13The 1961 Goldsboro Incident
  5. 06:18Mark 39 Bomb Specs
  6. 07:14B-52 Fuel Leak & Emergency
  7. 08:48Crash & Bomb Recovery
  8. 10:09Declassified Safety Failures
  9. 12:23Unrecovered Bomb Core
  10. 14:02Historical Marker & Conclusion

Frequently Asked Questions

What happened in the 1961 Goldsboro incident?

In January 1961, a B-52 bomber carrying two Mark 39 nuclear bombs broke apart over Goldsboro, North Carolina. One bomb landed safely via parachute, but the other impacted the ground, though neither detonated.

How close did the Mark 39 bombs come to detonating?

Declassified documents revealed that one of the Mark 39 bombs had five out of its six safety mechanisms fail. A single switch was all that prevented a catastrophic nuclear detonation over North Carolina.

What was Operation Chrome Dome?

Operation Chrome Dome was a Cold War initiative where B-52 bombers armed with nuclear warheads flew continuous airborne alert missions around North America to ensure immediate retaliatory capability against the Soviet Union.

Was the second nuclear bomb fully recovered after the 1961 crash?

No, the second Mark 39 bomb's thermonuclear stage was not fully recovered from the swampy ground. The U.S. government purchased an easement on the land to prevent construction over the remaining components.

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