Montecresto
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The bomb that nearly exploded over North Carolina was 260 times more powerful than the device which devasted Hiroshima in 1945. Photo: Three Lions/Getty Images
A secret document, published in declassified form for the first time by the Guardian today, reveals that the US Air Force came dramatically close to detonating an atom bomb over North Carolina that would have been 260 times more powerful than the device that devastated Hiroshima.
US nearly detonated atomic bomb over North Carolina
I read about this in MotherJones. I think the plane spiraled out of control due to an airborn fueling mishap... Pretty scary stuff.
Wow! I mean we don't think about that much, but yes such an accident would be a catastrophe. Is it necessary to train with hot bombs? Maybe because of that incident, they don't anymore.
Makes me wonder if they would have blamed the Russians and used it as a pretext for WW3
I don't know about that, but I think they definitely would have lied about it if there was any plausible deniability.
Let the speculation begin!
I'm surprised that this incident isn't more well known. It's kind of a big deal that they almost wiped an entire state off the map. Possibly rendering the entire east coast uninhabitable for decades due to radioactive fallout.
I think you overstate things by an order of magnitude. A major city devastated yes, the state of North Carolina no. The entire eastern seaboard uninhabitable from one bomb definitely not. Nuclear weapons are indeed very powerful, just not that powerful. The biggest we ever made was 25MT's the biggest we ever detonated was 15mt accidently which resulted in a 1.42km fireball. Most of our weapons are 1mt or less which would have a .5km fireball.
The title is misleading, both bombs fell to the ground.
I think you overstate things by an order of magnitude. A major city devastated yes, the state of North Carolina no. The entire eastern seaboard uninhabitable from one bomb definitely not. Nuclear weapons are indeed very powerful, just not that powerful. The biggest we ever made was 25MT's the biggest we ever detonated was 15mt accidently which resulted in a 1.42km fireball. Most of our weapons are 1mt or less which would have a .5km fireball.
Hate to burst your bubble, but these bombs do not go off with impact. There was never any danger if it accidentally going off.
I think you're underestimating the dangers out radioactive fallout. Hey! don't forget about the Tsar bomb.
LOL I know it wasn't the Tsar bomb. Not sure what you're talking about with the switches? I take the ability to wipe massive amounts of people out in a matter of seconds pretty seriously, call it sensationalism if you want.You're overestimating the dangers and this wasn't a Tsar Bomb.
Also, nuclear weapons don't detonate like automobile gas tanks in hollywood films. "One low voltage switch." I.E. The switch that arms the device. That's like saying only one little switch is between me and total darkness right now: the light switch.
****ing nuclear sensationalism.
LOL I know it wasn't the Tsar bomb. Not sure what you're talking about with the switches? I take the ability to wipe massive amounts of people out in a matter of seconds pretty seriously, call it sensationalism if you want.
Well sure, that's all it is.
Hate to burst your bubble, but these bombs do not go off with impact. There was never any danger if it accidentally going off.
The bomb that nearly exploded over North Carolina was 260 times more powerful than the device which devasted Hiroshima in 1945. Photo: Three Lions/Getty Images
A secret document, published in declassified form for the first time by the Guardian today, reveals that the US Air Force came dramatically close to detonating an atom bomb over North Carolina that would have been 260 times more powerful than the device that devastated Hiroshima.
US nearly detonated atomic bomb over North Carolina
So the redundant safety systems worked...
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