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/
Let's keep that to ourselves, yes?
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.
SNAFU was invented by our military, but we are still the greatest in the world.
Staying awake on that third watch was difficult at times.
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.
http://www.iht.com/articles/reuters/2008/03/26/asia/OUKWD-UK-USA-NUCLEAR-TAIWAN.php
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.
This only happened because of frozen brain cells!
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
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.
I apologize, I made a mistake.
I meant WOULD NOT HAVE LAUNCHED on command.
""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!
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.
I agree. The 2 man concept was always taken very seriously back when I was in.
Viking, where did you do your missile tour? I was stationed at FE Warren from 84-89, then went to Vandenberg from 90-94.
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