Gavin Edwards
@gavindedwards.bsky.social
Chemistry professor, Eastern Michigan University.
Reposted by Gavin Edwards
the crew jettisoned two of the bombs, roughly 75 and 50 miles off the coast (they planned to jettison all three but ran out of time).
Despite an extensive and secret three-month search, neither atomic bomb was ever located or recovered. The Air Force did not publicly disclose their loss until 1977.
Despite an extensive and secret three-month search, neither atomic bomb was ever located or recovered. The Air Force did not publicly disclose their loss until 1977.
![The official Department of Defense description of this accident:
"Two weapons were jettisoned from a C-124 aircraft on July 28 off the east coast of the United States. There were three weapons and one nuclear capsule aboard the aircraft at the time. Nuclear components were not installed in the weapons. The C-124 aircraft was enroute from Dover AFB, Delaware when a loss of power from number one and two engines was experienced. Maximum power was applied to the remaining engines; however, level flight could not be maintained. At this point, the decision was made to jettison cargo in the interest of safety of the aircraft and crew. The first weapon was jettisoned at 4,500 feet altitude. The second weapon was jettisoned at approximately 2,500 feet altitude. No detonation occurred from either weapon. Both weapons are presumed to have been damaged from impact with the ocean surface. Both weapons are presume [sic] to have submerged almost instantly. The ocean varies in depth in the area of the jettisonings. The C-124 landed at an airfield in the vicinity of Atlantic City, New Jersey, with the remaining weapon and the nuclear capsule aboard. A search for the weapons or debris had negative results."](https://cdn.bsky.app/img/feed_thumbnail/plain/did:plc:iwbebt5r65c67xl5vy5iviwj/bafkreidoiplvuiwdkhaji5w7c5bw7otzpx2q33usrj2ogbx4uhqmmrzzpm@jpeg)
July 28, 2025 at 2:37 PM
the crew jettisoned two of the bombs, roughly 75 and 50 miles off the coast (they planned to jettison all three but ran out of time).
Despite an extensive and secret three-month search, neither atomic bomb was ever located or recovered. The Air Force did not publicly disclose their loss until 1977.
Despite an extensive and secret three-month search, neither atomic bomb was ever located or recovered. The Air Force did not publicly disclose their loss until 1977.