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Since 1950, there have been 32 nuclear weapon accidents, known as Broken Arrows. A Broken Arrow is defined as an unexpected event involving nuclear weapons that result in the accidental launching, firing, detonating, theft or loss of the weapon.
The accident was categorized as a Broken Arrow, that is an accident involving a nuclear weapon but which does not present a risk of war. April 11, 1950 Albuquerque, New Mexico, US Loss and recovery of nuclear materials
DateLocationTypeDescriptionFebruary 13, 1950British ColumbiaLoss of nuclear bomb/non-nuclear ...Main article: 1950 British Columbia B-36 ...April 11, 1950Loss and recovery of nuclear materialsThree minutes after departure from ...July 13, 1950Lebanon, Ohio, USNon-nuclear detonation of an atomic bombA USAF B-50 aircraft on a training ...August 5, 1950Fairfield-Suisun AFB, California, USNon-nuclear detonation of an atomic bombMain article: 1950 Fairfield-Suisun ...People also ask
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May 12, 2023 · 15 minutes. 0. depositphotos. “Broken Arrow” is the name given to nuclear weapon accidents, whether the accident is due to accidental launching, firing, detonating, theft, or loss of the...
- Marcia Wendorf
Broken Arrow. Broken Arrow refers to an accidental event that involves nuclear weapons, warheads or components that does not create a risk of nuclear war. These include: Accidental or unexplained nuclear explosion; Non-nuclear detonation or burning of a nuclear weapon; Radioactive contamination; Loss in transit of nuclear asset with or without ...
- May 22, 1957: Kirtland Air Force Base, New Mexico. Albuquerque residents enjoying a spring day on May 22, 1957, found themselves literally rocked by what felt like a nuclear explosion.
- February 5, 1958: Savannah River, Georgia. When a B-47 carrying a nuclear device experienced a midair collision with an F-86 aircraft during a training simulation in February 1958, officials decided to jettison the bomb into the Savannah River.
- March 11, 1958: Florence, South Carolina. In March 1958, as a team of military divers scoured the Savannah River in Georgia for a broken arrow, another one fell in the southeast quadrant of the United States.
- November 4, 1958: Dyess Air Force Base, Texas. When a B-47 carrying a nuclear warhead catches fire on takeoff, it’s a problem. That’s what happened when a B-47 left Texas’ Dyess Air Force Base in November 1958 to transport a thermonuclear device to another location.
Nov 4, 2019 · By Elizabeth Haynes, History Stories. On May 22, 1957, a “broken arrow” rattled Albuquerque, New Mexico, frightening residents and killing one very unlucky cow. Used by the U.S. military, the term refers to a thermonuclear bomb that is accidentally detonated or lost. The Department of Energy has acknowledged more than two dozen such ...
As the U.S. and the Soviet Union developed and enhanced their arsenals during the Cold War arms race, both experienced a number of nuclear accidents. Since 1950, the Defense Department has reported 32 Broken Arrows. Three of the most notable U.S. incidents involving thermonuclear weapons are detailed below.
