B-36 next to a B-29 
B-36 main wheel 
Posted on 07/15/2019 8:33:10 AM PDT by Rebelbase
In 1986, the Albuquerque Journal received documents from an FOIA request. To their surprise, the Air Force had kept a nuclear accident secret for 29 years. The story of how a B-36 bomber dropped the biggest bomb the United States ever made on New Mexico deserves to be remembered.
Video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p0gRHgwSGhE
I was in the TV news business decades ago and learned that the main thing about bombs is than they are only newsworthy when they detonate.
Which may be why news has bombed.
Yeah, a MK 17 fell through the bomb bay doors south of the airbase.
There was also a broken arrow when a B29 crashed into the mountains near Manzano base in 1950. The core of the bomb had not been installed, but the HE all cooked off.
It’s a secret.
You can take a 4x4 out to the area of the impact and still find little scraps of it. No kidding.
“I knew I should have made that left toin at Albukoikee!”
I always thought Manzano was a name made up by the Perry Mason writers.
It, along with “Logan City” was used several times.
“OOps”
The Convair B-36 was a giant of a propeller drive bomber, assisted by some turbo jets. It was the only bomber at the time capable of delivering the Mark 17 thermonuclear weapon.
The Manzano Mountains are east and south of Albuquerque, with the highest being just over 10,000 feet.
Manzano means apple tree, and some, if not the oldest orchards in the country are there (Spanish settlers). Not that the growing season is all that great. Most of my trees were killed by a bad cold snap years ago.
B-36: Six Turnin’, Four Burnin’.
Got a lot of screen time in “Strategic Air Command” with Jimmy Stewart.
Thanks.
A local gun store owner was a retired Air Force Col. He flew B-36’s in addition to just about everything else.
He said that at one time, Eglin was one of a handful of bases which could handle the B-36.
I think they referenced “Bakerstown” one time.
Originally the B-36 was a WW2 design to bomb Germany from the E. Coast if the UK fell
B-36 next to a B-29 B-36 main wheel
I thought broken arrow meant a position had been overrun.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.