Free Republic
Browse · Search
News/Activism
Topics · Post Article

Skip to comments.

Minot airmen fell asleep with classified nuke hardware

Posted on 07/24/2008 4:38:37 PM PDT by Perdogg

Link only Air Force Times

http://www.airforcetimes.com/news/2008/07/airforce_nuclear_072408w/


TOPICS: Government; US: North Dakota
KEYWORDS: arsenal; minot; minotafb; usaf

1 posted on 07/24/2008 4:38:37 PM PDT by Perdogg
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | View Replies]

To: Perdogg
I fell asleep on SP duty once.

Let's keep that to ourselves, yes?


2 posted on 07/24/2008 4:53:20 PM PDT by Viking2002 (Barak Obama is as inept as a bear cub with his dink.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Perdogg

Sounds like there was a window when some ICBM’s would’ve have launched when commanded. Severe issue to me, but of course the media’s more worried about fantisies of accidental launch.


3 posted on 07/24/2008 4:56:53 PM PDT by MartinStyles
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Perdogg
At least they didn't ship nukes to South Korea along with the fuses that were recently sent there. Or that time someone took our nukes on a joyride across USA

SNAFU was invented by our military, but we are still the greatest in the world.

4 posted on 07/24/2008 5:02:49 PM PDT by Selmore (Leave the gun. Take the cannoli.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Viking2002

Staying awake on that third watch was difficult at times.


5 posted on 07/24/2008 5:16:04 PM PDT by SoldierDad (Proud Dad of a U.S. Army Soldier soon to be training other Army Soldiers)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 2 | View Replies]

To: Selmore
At least they didn't ship nukes to South Korea along with the fuses that were recently sent there.

Got a link to that story? Must have missed it.

People working long shifts fall asleep all the time, the news is that this was leaked to the news.

6 posted on 07/24/2008 5:45:35 PM PDT by OCC
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 4 | View Replies]

To: OCC
my bad it was Taiwan,

http://www.iht.com/articles/reuters/2008/03/26/asia/OUKWD-UK-USA-NUCLEAR-TAIWAN.php

7 posted on 07/24/2008 6:04:04 PM PDT by Selmore (Leave the gun. Take the cannoli.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 6 | View Replies]

To: Selmore

U.S. mistakenly sent nuclear missile fuses to Taiwan
By Kristin Roberts Reuters
Published: March 26, 2008

WASHINGTON: The U.S. military mistakenly shipped four fuses for nuclear missiles to Taiwan in 2006 and never caught the error, the Pentagon said on Tuesday, acknowledging an incident likely to rile China.

The military was supposed to ship helicopter batteries to Taiwan, but instead sent fuses used as part of the trigger mechanism on Minuteman missiles. Taiwan returned the parts to U.S. custody last week.


8 posted on 07/24/2008 6:05:30 PM PDT by Selmore (Leave the gun. Take the cannoli.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 7 | View Replies]

Comment #9 Removed by Moderator

To: Perdogg
"Why not Minot? Freezin's the reason!"

This only happened because of frozen brain cells!

10 posted on 07/24/2008 6:26:52 PM PDT by higgmeister (In the Shadow of the Big Chicken!)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: MartinStyles
This story is a crock of crap. At no time was there ever a window when some ICBM’s would’ve have launched when commanded. I know, I was a Missile Launch Control Officer for the better part of my AF career.

First of all, any code component contains only half of the code used to encrypt and decrypt the launch or enable code of a missile. Code components are divided into “A” side and “B” side components. This is done so than no one person will ever have complete access to the launch or enable codes. These guys were either “A” side or “B” side.

Sounds to me like these guys were conducting an annual code change procedure. They change out all of the code components in the Launch Control Center. This procedure usually takes up an entire alert, or approximately 24-28 hours. Hence the propensity to fall asleep. However, what the conveniently left out of the article, is that only half of the code could have been compromised.

A career ender and a definite Bozo no-no but Slim Pickens wasn't getting ready to straddle a nuclear reentry vehicle.

Move along, nothing to see here.

RB

11 posted on 07/24/2008 6:29:21 PM PDT by RalphB
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 3 | View Replies]

To: RalphB

Reread what I said.

I said there may have been a situation of a non-launch on command.

I said the *exact* opposite of what you said. Which is just as bad.


12 posted on 07/24/2008 6:51:27 PM PDT by MartinStyles
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 11 | View Replies]

To: RalphB

I apologize, I made a mistake.

I meant WOULD NOT HAVE LAUNCHED on command.


13 posted on 07/24/2008 6:53:58 PM PDT by MartinStyles
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 11 | View Replies]

To: Viking2002
"I fell asleep on SP duty once."

""Let's keep that to ourselves, yes?""

I have a better one. I went to my branch chief's office to ask a question. He was a Chief Master Sergeant- AF. And sleeping at his desk. I quietly closed his door and spread the word around not to bother him and keep the noise to a minimum. Somebody put a piece of tape with 'do not disturb' on the door. 30 of us were in on it.

So the Squadron Commander walks right in past us and said "at ease" on his way directly to the Chief's office. A guy heard a snore from there. LOL!

How 'at ease' can you get? heh heh!

14 posted on 07/24/2008 6:54:47 PM PDT by BobS
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 2 | View Replies]

To: BobS
LMAO And I'd have lost my 'mosquito wings' for it.... :-)


15 posted on 07/24/2008 8:29:09 PM PDT by Viking2002 (Barak Obama is as inept as a bear cub with his dink.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 14 | View Replies]

To: Selmore
"SNAFU was invented by our military, but we are still the greatest in the world."

I remember when a guy ordered a single capacitor that was about 1/2" diameter from supply. His order numbers were correct. No mistakes on the requisition.

So, an hour later, here comes a flight line forklift with a brand new jet engine in a great big box and puts it on the loading dock and the guy asks for a sign-off. That brought the big-wigs out to the loading dock. After they were done laughing, I walked over and said to my MSGT supervisor that an aircraft engine won't fit in the equipment which needs a simple capacitor. A gal brought the guy's capacitor there. The guy delivered the jet engine to where it was supposed to be.

16 posted on 07/24/2008 9:11:37 PM PDT by BobS
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 4 | View Replies]

To: RalphB

I agree. The 2 man concept was always taken very seriously back when I was in.


17 posted on 07/24/2008 9:21:43 PM PDT by Mustng959
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 11 | View Replies]

To: Viking2002

Viking, where did you do your missile tour? I was stationed at FE Warren from 84-89, then went to Vandenberg from 90-94.


18 posted on 07/25/2008 5:30:46 AM PDT by RalphB
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 15 | View Replies]

To: RalphB
Actually, I was army - stationed at Ft. Sill in the mid '80's. Damn near went into the Air Force, though, but it turned out I was partially color-blind, and it locked me out of all the cool jobs. So, I went into artillery, and made big holes in the dirt. With my personality, it was stress-relieving. LOL


19 posted on 07/25/2008 4:18:21 PM PDT by Viking2002 (Barak Obama is as inept as a bear cub with his dink.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 18 | View Replies]

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.

Free Republic
Browse · Search
News/Activism
Topics · Post Article

FreeRepublic, LLC, PO BOX 9771, FRESNO, CA 93794
FreeRepublic.com is powered by software copyright 2000-2008 John Robinson