B-36 Bomber Nuclear Accident, Albuquerque, 1957

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.
This is original content based on research by The History Guy. Images in the Public Domain are carefully selected and provide illustration. As images of actual events are sometimes not available, images of similar objects and events are used for illustration.
All events are portrayed in historical context and for educational purposes. No images or content are primarily intended to shock and disgust. Those who do not learn from history are doomed to repeat it. Non censuram.
Find The History Guy at:
Facebook: / thehistoryguyyt
Patreon: / thehistoryguy
The History Guy: History Deserves to Be Remembered is the place to find short snippets of forgotten history from five to fifteen minutes long. If you like history too, this is the channel for you.
Subscribe for more forgotten history: / @thehistoryguychannel .
Awesome The History Guy merchandise is available at:
teespring.com/stores/the-hist...
Script by THG
#ushistory #thehistoryguy #USAirForce

Пікірлер: 1 300

  • @cwp3420
    @cwp3420 Жыл бұрын

    I was surprised to see your story pop up, as my dad was involved in this. He didn’t tell us he was there until the story finally came out. He was a P-51 pilot in WWII, and after his discharge my parents moved to Albuquerque so he could begin work as a security guard in Kirkland. He said he was on duty that day, and a radio transmission had come in saying that there was a nuclear bomb on a B-36 en route to the base, and that the flight crew was having an unspecified problem with it. The Air Force sent out some security guards who were close by so they could cordon off the plane was it set down. My dad said they saw it come over the Sandia mountains, and as it got closer to them they saw the bomb fall through the plane and begin tumbling toward them. My dad said some security guards begin running, since it was a nuclear device, but he said if it was armed it wouldn’t do any good running, so they watched it until it hit and exploded. As soon as it landed, they cordoned it off and no one approached it until the big brass arrived. Like you said, it was a different time, and no one in my family ever knew it occurred until much later. Thanks for the video. I enjoyed it tremendously.

  • @street-level

    @street-level

    10 ай бұрын

    It can't have happened, since nobody was held responsible.

  • @johngreen4610
    @johngreen46105 жыл бұрын

    "The Air Force Decided not to assign blame to the officers involved" In other words they couldn't find any enlisted personnel to blame.

  • @robertheinkel6225

    @robertheinkel6225

    4 жыл бұрын

    So true, so true. We had a KC-135 blow all MLG tires on landing. The tried to blame the ground crew for under inflated tires, but all the evidence was gone. They also chose to ignore the fact the anti skid controller had failed, and had to be replaced. The real facts were the brakes locked after landing, causing the tires to slide until they all blew. I saw many more incidents during my 24 year career.

  • @belliott538

    @belliott538

    4 жыл бұрын

    ALL TO TRUE... smh... Being BLAMED for my Lt's Decision for an Incident involving the Rolling of an M-60A3 while on a Training Mission in West Germany back in 1986 which Ended ANY Desire I may have had in a Career in the US Army.... I'm certain that Lt Dumb Arse went on to Ruin many other Good Men during his long & Storied Carer. I also blame First Sergeant Numb Nutz for his part. Such Is The Life of an Enlisted Man... What Turds Those Guys Were.

  • @HarryBalzak

    @HarryBalzak

    4 жыл бұрын

    More likely they wanted it to be kept as quiet as possible. The less paperwork the better.

  • @CaesarInVa

    @CaesarInVa

    4 жыл бұрын

    @dwiggins01 I can see where PF would make the assumption about you having been assigned to SAC. He was speaking specifically about SAC, your response directly repudiate his statement about SAC and then you qualified your statement with a comment about having 24 years of experience. Sure sounded like you were SAC to me.

  • @Odin31b

    @Odin31b

    4 жыл бұрын

    So true..

  • @copperhamster
    @copperhamster5 жыл бұрын

    "Two turning, two burning, two smoking, two choking, and two more unaccounted for." -- unofficial version of the B-36's 'ready to go'.

  • @bigblue6917

    @bigblue6917

    5 жыл бұрын

    Two burning. Well everyone likes a good BBQ.

  • @jamesricker3997

    @jamesricker3997

    5 жыл бұрын

    That explains exactly why the B-36 left service so quickly after being replaced in the bomber roll

  • @kylieadams5414

    @kylieadams5414

    5 жыл бұрын

    Oh my god, that's real. I thought you were just making a joke.

  • @copperhamster

    @copperhamster

    5 жыл бұрын

    @@kylieadams5414 The crew would actually do at-engine adjustments and maintenance in-flight via tunnels in the wings. Also, due to the engine's design, (they were not intended for a pusher configuration), they had an unfortunate number of mechanical issues. And tendency to catch fire. I met one of Convair's (later General Dynamics) former test pilots, who was a friend of my father. (Who worked for Convair/GD as an aeronautical Engineer.) He had some interesting comments on that aircraft. Especially as he was also part of the 'nuclear aircraft' test where they put a tiny nuclear reactor in the back of the damn thing. I also knew the test pilot who bent the landing gear of the number 2 YF-16 prototype during an acrobatic display practice less than 2 weeks before the Paris air show. The first prototype still had the black and white prototype paint markings all over it plus was actually partially disassembled for maintenance and they ended up loading it on the transport aircraft with the red white and blue livery still wet.

  • @bcaffrey98

    @bcaffrey98

    5 жыл бұрын

    @@jamesricker3997 The B-36 story is quite interesting. The proposal for an intercontinental bomber started in 1941 when US planners thought Britain might fall to the German "blitz". In that case, the US would need a very long range bomber to bomb Berlin or parts of Europe from North America. War delays and design changes slowed development. The bomber was unveiled in August 1945, about 2 weeks after the nuclear bombs were dropped on Japan. With the war over, the B-36 could have been canceled. But the emerging Soviet threat saw the bomber put into service because it was the only plane capable of bombing Russia from North America. It was also the only bomber that could carry the large Hydrogen bombs of the day. It was certainly obsolete by the mid-50s, however it could still fly higher than most fighters of that era, thanks to the lift of that large wing. Mission logs recorded frequent operations at 49,000 ft and sometimes over 50,000 ft. These altitudes were not stable flight regimes for early jet fighters. Only after about 1956 did newer jet fighter designs begin to threaten the bomber. By then the B-52 was coming into service and there was no need for a slow strategic bomber.

  • @ZEZERBING
    @ZEZERBING5 жыл бұрын

    You sure that wasn't Slim Pickens in the bomb bay?

  • @misterjag

    @misterjag

    5 жыл бұрын

    Nobody told Slim Pickens they were making a satire. So, he approached his role as he would any Western. Pickens behaved, and dressed, identically onscreen and off --not because he was “staying in character,” but because he apparently always acted like that.

  • @kdnp529

    @kdnp529

    5 жыл бұрын

    I loved when Slim read out the contents of his survival kit!😂. YEE, HAA!!!🇺🇸

  • @michaelfodor6280

    @michaelfodor6280

    5 жыл бұрын

    @@kdnp529 "Shoot, a feller can have a good weekend in Vegas with all that stuff."

  • @anthonyglass170

    @anthonyglass170

    5 жыл бұрын

    @@michaelfodor6280 as originally written/spoken, it was " ... Have a good weekend in DALLAS with all that stuff". Because JFK was shot in Dallas,it was changed to "Vegas".

  • @johnmarcinko2484

    @johnmarcinko2484

    5 жыл бұрын

    "Dr Strangelove" and "Fail Safe" occured to me, also...

  • @briangarrow448
    @briangarrow4485 жыл бұрын

    I knew I should have took a left at Albuquerque.- Bugs Bunny, 1957.

  • @mikeyoung9810

    @mikeyoung9810

    5 жыл бұрын

    Love that line. I've used it often hehe.

  • @JasonLambek

    @JasonLambek

    5 жыл бұрын

    Pismo Beach!!

  • @santaclaus6602

    @santaclaus6602

    5 жыл бұрын

    You must be older than dirt to remember that line & bugs bunny 🤣

  • @infolord79

    @infolord79

    5 жыл бұрын

    @@santaclaus6602 You must be dumber than dirt if you don't know that line or Bugs freaking Bunny. What third world shit hole did you grow up in? Did your mud hut not have electricity?

  • @jackielinde7568

    @jackielinde7568

    5 жыл бұрын

    @@infolord79 Santa Claus is right. I'm a child of the 70's and 80's, and the Loony Toon cartoons were airing on cable. So I was able to see them and know the reference. But, that's a long time ago, and I don't know how often or even if they do still air. I know that if it weren't for me getting some old WB cartoons, my daughter would not have been exposed to it or would get the reference. I suspect most Millennials probably wouldn't get that reference. They may know who Bugs Bunny is, and they might even know his catch phrase of "Eh, what's up, Doc?" I doubt they'll know much more than that. Sadly they won't know that Bugs often gets lost at Albuquerque.

  • @ryanj9364
    @ryanj93645 жыл бұрын

    "Shit"...I think that is mild compared to the words I would have used.

  • @X8X8X8X8X8X8X8X8X8X

    @X8X8X8X8X8X8X8X8X8X

    5 жыл бұрын

    "Shit" is quite an understatement really...

  • @WALTERBROADDUS

    @WALTERBROADDUS

    5 жыл бұрын

    I drop a nuke on America? Yeah, a flood of dictionary words start flying fast.

  • @brokenarrow7871

    @brokenarrow7871

    5 жыл бұрын

    Levinworth prison is nice that time of year LOL

  • @FD2003Abc

    @FD2003Abc

    5 жыл бұрын

    @@X8X8X8X8X8X8X8X8X8X "OOps?"

  • @donparker1823

    @donparker1823

    5 жыл бұрын

    I worked in SAC & USAFE with nukes for ~ 8 years. I found your account of this Broken Arrow to be excellent! Thanks

  • @paulkolodner2445
    @paulkolodner24455 жыл бұрын

    I was a toddler living about 2 miles away at the time. I guess I lived to toddle another day.

  • @HugeWolf1

    @HugeWolf1

    5 жыл бұрын

    Booo, bad pun! :P

  • @markwhite1780

    @markwhite1780

    5 жыл бұрын

    I lived at Sandia Base during that exact time. My father was in the Army and was attached to the AEC.

  • @jonbold

    @jonbold

    4 жыл бұрын

    So, how is your thyroid gland doing? Energy crisis?

  • @paulkolodner2445

    @paulkolodner2445

    4 жыл бұрын

    @@jonbold My family lived in Albuquerque from 1956 to 1964. My brother (born 1951) and I (1953) have both avoided any diseases associated with radiation exposure.

  • @jonbold

    @jonbold

    4 жыл бұрын

    @@paulkolodner2445 I am so glad! You must not have played in my sandbox (1960-1963 ).

  • @karlslicher8520
    @karlslicher85205 жыл бұрын

    1st rule of warfare; Dead cows don't talk.

  • @brokenarrow7871

    @brokenarrow7871

    5 жыл бұрын

    Karl Slicher Poor cow gave it’s all for the country LOL

  • @fastst1

    @fastst1

    5 жыл бұрын

    Add a cow to the victory markings!

  • @thebonesaw..4634

    @thebonesaw..4634

    5 жыл бұрын

    @@brokenarrow7871 -- It was the very first recipient of the Cowgressional Medal of Honor. It was a very tender ceremony.

  • @rabbi120348

    @rabbi120348

    5 жыл бұрын

    “Once upon a time and a very good time it was there was a moocow coming down along the road and this moocow that was coming down along the road met a nicens little boy named baby tuckoo” James Joyce

  • @jwflyaway

    @jwflyaway

    5 жыл бұрын

    The Air Force did pay farmer for lost of his 🐄, LOL.

  • @funkyzero
    @funkyzero5 жыл бұрын

    Six turnin' and 4 burnin' baby! what a cool era in aircraft development.

  • @peachtrees27
    @peachtrees275 жыл бұрын

    15 megatons... When you absolutely, positively have to annihilate something....

  • @Inviting1word

    @Inviting1word

    5 жыл бұрын

    and everything next to something.

  • @jwenting

    @jwenting

    5 жыл бұрын

    it was designed to hit Soviet command and control bunkers, structures designed to withstand the blast of smaller nuclear weapons. Same reason the Soviets kept a number of weapons in the same class around to take out Cheyenne Mountain, home of NORAD.

  • @gerfmon1

    @gerfmon1

    5 жыл бұрын

    Not nearly as big as the Soviet Tsar Bomba, 50 megatons of nuke.

  • @brianreddeman951

    @brianreddeman951

    5 жыл бұрын

    @@gerfmon1 That wasn't a practical weapon and given the desire they could have gone much bigger. Fortunately some people decided the crew might want to live through that.

  • @user-vx6nc5wr5v

    @user-vx6nc5wr5v

    5 жыл бұрын

    "Fuck that general area"

  • @G-Nno
    @G-Nno5 жыл бұрын

    You hit 400K congrats you deserve it!

  • @mmclaurin8035

    @mmclaurin8035

    5 жыл бұрын

    500k coming soon

  • @travisinthetrunk

    @travisinthetrunk

    5 жыл бұрын

    Still seems low for how awesome this channel is.

  • @davimattos7081

    @davimattos7081

    5 жыл бұрын

    @@travisinthetrunk True. This guy has some unique high quality content.

  • @allenatkins2263

    @allenatkins2263

    5 жыл бұрын

    @Breezy Mods That seemed a little harsh and unnecessary.

  • @richbarr5959

    @richbarr5959

    5 жыл бұрын

    @Breezy Mods You are an example of how even such an awesome channel as this attracts a few dumbasses.

  • @richardklug822
    @richardklug8225 жыл бұрын

    There is no such thing as a "fool proof" safety device when humans are involved.

  • @july8xx

    @july8xx

    5 жыл бұрын

    Whenever a fool proof device is created, a better fool will be created.

  • @rogerdavies6226

    @rogerdavies6226

    5 жыл бұрын

    If you make something fool proof only fools will use it kinda like the democrats in congress

  • @rogerdavies6226

    @rogerdavies6226

    5 жыл бұрын

    sorry couldnt resist

  • @tpobrienjr

    @tpobrienjr

    4 жыл бұрын

    @@rogerdavies6226 Eisenhower was President when this accident happened.

  • @mrlucky5025

    @mrlucky5025

    3 жыл бұрын

    @@tpobrienjr The Democrats held a majority in both Houses of Congress.

  • @jhmcglynn
    @jhmcglynn5 жыл бұрын

    I was born in 1947 and lived at Roswell NM from 1953 to 1955 which was a B36 and B29 base. They were loud and shook the ground on takeoff.

  • @theuglybiker

    @theuglybiker

    5 жыл бұрын

    Stealth was not it's strong point to say the least.

  • @ronaldhorne5106

    @ronaldhorne5106

    4 жыл бұрын

    I lived in Roswell from 1952 to 1968. The air force base flew B-47’s and B-52’s . THEY were noisy! The Air Force shut Walker Air Force Base down in 1968. Roswell went from 52,000 to 33,000 in the space of six weeks. For that whole six weeks every major road was lined with moving vans 24 hours a day. Then they weren’t and Walker was a ghost town.

  • @Blogengezer

    @Blogengezer

    4 жыл бұрын

    @@ronaldhorne5106 -Today race horses [Mine that bird] graze in the lush pastures, training to win the Trifecta of the Triple Crown. :)

  • @buzztp5119

    @buzztp5119

    3 жыл бұрын

    How many GREYS did you see? lol

  • @craigbowie8925
    @craigbowie89255 жыл бұрын

    I visited the museum you mention at the end of your video back in the late 90's. At that time I thought it presented a fair and accurate history of nuclear energy in the U.S. After walking though many static displays of documents from the scientists comments about whether to use nuclear energy as a weapon you walked into a slightly darkened hall and made a sharp turn. There, bathed a pool of light was a model of one of the first nukes. It was chilling. As you went further through the exhibit and learned a chronological history of nuclear energy until the mid 50's where pulled the same trick of having you make a sharp turn only to be facing the Mark 17. It was an elegantly simple way of presenting something in a way that would be impact. One of the best museums I've ever visited. They showed both sides of the coin.

  • @folcwinep.pywackett8517

    @folcwinep.pywackett8517

    5 жыл бұрын

    I would second this opinion. Have been there several times. One of the best museums in the country. And in the back lot they have a B-29, B-52, snark, minuteman, titan, nuclear sub conning tower, and many other Cold War odds and ends. Well worth going out of your way for a visit.

  • @craigbowie8925

    @craigbowie8925

    5 жыл бұрын

    Folcwine P. Pywackett I should go back. If you ever gat a chance to go to the SAC museum west of Omaha it is with the trip.

  • @RCAvhstape

    @RCAvhstape

    5 жыл бұрын

    The Smithsonian Air & Space Museum has the restored Enola Gay B-29 and a model of the Little Boy bomb on display. About 10 or 15 years ago some wackjob protestors threw blood or red paint on the airplane, right after they had spent hundreds of man hours restoring it.

  • @folcwinep.pywackett8517

    @folcwinep.pywackett8517

    5 жыл бұрын

    @@craigbowie8925 Have not been to the SAC museum. From their website it looks really interesting. Never even been to Omaha but have put this one on my bucket list. Thanks for the ref!

  • @folcwinep.pywackett8517

    @folcwinep.pywackett8517

    5 жыл бұрын

    @@RCAvhstape Yes! Absolutely! The Smithsonian Air and Space is probably the greatest museum of its kind in the world. I was in complete awe when I visited a few years back. Everyone should put Air and Space on their bucket lists. That museum is really a "Must See" ! I don't remember reading about the criminal act which you mention but we are living in a world where everyone now has the right to put their stupidity on full display (just like my comment!).

  • @jamesbrown4092
    @jamesbrown40924 жыл бұрын

    At Farmers, we know a thing or two because we’ve seen a thing or two. Hello Farmers? Somebody dropped an H-bomb on my cow...

  • @Farweasel

    @Farweasel

    3 жыл бұрын

    Well Hey, Don't have a Cow man. Yes. That's what I said. .......... I don't even have the *hooves* On the up side sire, you do now have a watering hole?

  • @CEOkiller

    @CEOkiller

    3 жыл бұрын

    Duh duh. Duhdahdah

  • @gounderusbyMichaelTomlins
    @gounderusbyMichaelTomlins5 жыл бұрын

    I have lived in Albuquerque all my life, and this is the first time I have ever heard this! That's what I absolutely love about your videos History Guy - you present the most fascinating stories of forgotten history; and in this case, stories that literally, hit close to home! Thank you!

  • @skychildoflight9867
    @skychildoflight98675 жыл бұрын

    The B 36 was an awesome aircraft! While I was serving at Fort Bliss, I had heard of this incident. In the Franklin mountains, not too far away, there is the remains of a B 36 that crashed on approach to Biggs airfield.

  • @timothycook2917

    @timothycook2917

    5 жыл бұрын

    I did a write-up on that air crew lost in the crash shortly before the 60th anniversary of the incident. Apparently the navigator mistook the approach to the municipal airport instead of Biggs airfield during a snowstorm and they didn't realize they were on a collision course with Franklin mountain

  • @brasstard7.627

    @brasstard7.627

    5 жыл бұрын

    Another thing is most cities dont have a mountain range running through the middle of them

  • @MrKfq269

    @MrKfq269

    4 жыл бұрын

    I watched a C-5 land at El Paso International Airport. Immediately the plane took off with engines screaming, pilot looped the plane around and landed at the adjacent Biggs Field.

  • @christianfreedom-seeker934

    @christianfreedom-seeker934

    3 жыл бұрын

    Never heard about it, did the crew eject safely? Is the "lid" still officially on this?

  • @DoomerONE
    @DoomerONE5 жыл бұрын

    As a kid I used to crawl through the “City of Fort Worth” B-36 that was parked outside of General Dynamics in Fort Worth. I loved that plane and this story brings back many fond memories.

  • @allanbrogdon7453

    @allanbrogdon7453

    5 жыл бұрын

    I went to a&p school at Mecham Field we saw it on a field trip crawled all over it huge!

  • @hansfitting5019

    @hansfitting5019

    5 жыл бұрын

    JAS Aerial wasn’t there also a casing for the bomb there? As well as several other planes including a B58 Hustler?

  • @allanbrogdon7453

    @allanbrogdon7453

    5 жыл бұрын

    @@hansfitting5019 Yes it was huge i remember a B-52 in 86 not sure about B-58 I know they were built there my grandfather worked on B-36and B-58.

  • @carlstenger5893

    @carlstenger5893

    5 жыл бұрын

    JAS Aerial that must’ve been after they moved it from GSW. I toured that beauty back in the mid-60s when it was on display at Amon Carter field.

  • @hansfitting5019

    @hansfitting5019

    5 жыл бұрын

    Allan Brogdon you’re right, it was a B52. I was thinking of the B58 escape capsule. My mistake. Sad that all that stuff is gone now.

  • @terryboyer1342
    @terryboyer13425 жыл бұрын

    I'm impressed! Most "journalist" accounts of aviation matters are fraught with a myriad of inaccuracies and mistakes. But this was spot on. Kudos HG!

  • @jamestheotherone742

    @jamestheotherone742

    5 жыл бұрын

    They had 30 yrs to get the copy right.

  • @cojones8518
    @cojones85185 жыл бұрын

    "BOMBS AWAY!" Pilot's butt proceeds to eat the seat cushion.

  • @davefromoz2859

    @davefromoz2859

    4 жыл бұрын

    CO Jones Yea, Thats not what the poor enlisted Dudes butt in the back who pulled the PIN was eating 😰 His shorts were SO FULL of S#&#@% that they needed to be SCOOPED UP with a scoop shovel later & thrown into a fire😖😫

  • @cab4
    @cab45 жыл бұрын

    When I was 10, my grandparents took me to the USAF mueseum. I had known about the B36, but i wasn't prepared for just how massive it was. It made the B29 look small, and that plane already makes alot of planes look small. The propeller seemed taller than my house. It deserves the name Magnesium Overcast.

  • @itsjohndell

    @itsjohndell

    5 жыл бұрын

    Small snippet: When we built the building the B-36 is in we built it AROUND the 36. If you ever get to Pima Air and Space Museum at Tucson, AZ they have a B-36 outdoors. Great walk around. Sadly because she had to be moved in sections she can never fly again. What a a thing that would be to see!

  • @jayrodmurderface

    @jayrodmurderface

    5 жыл бұрын

    @@itsjohndell its sitting next to a few B-52s. It actually looks bigger than the 52's. Fucking massive.

  • @funkidyo

    @funkidyo

    4 жыл бұрын

    The strategic air command museum in Omaha has a b36 and a b52 in the same hangar, the b36 dwarfs it in comparison

  • @70nastyfish

    @70nastyfish

    4 жыл бұрын

    I thought it's nickname was the "magnesium monster"

  • @chuck8835

    @chuck8835

    3 жыл бұрын

    Magnesium Overcast relates to B-17s and B-24s over Europe during the 8th Air Force bombing of Europe during WW2. The EAA's B-17 carries this name.

  • @jenskunze4384
    @jenskunze43845 жыл бұрын

    Dear Mr. History Guy. I am a big Fan of history and first have to das thsnk you for the many stories "that deserve to be remembered". Very interesting and different. Not only American history. Please continue this education and good summarized lessions of history and side-places that influenced the whole World wide Evolution and history! Regards from Germany.

  • @thebonesaw..4634

    @thebonesaw..4634

    5 жыл бұрын

    If you watch his previous videos you will see that he does indeed cover events of world history.

  • @jenskunze4384

    @jenskunze4384

    5 жыл бұрын

    @@thebonesaw..4634 I excuse my bad english, but thats what i wanted to try to say. That he has Videos about history not only tells american history, but world wide one. Like what happened in other parts of the world, but i am glad you wrote this. So i apologize for my poor english and hope that now i could made my point better clear?

  • @thebonesaw..4634

    @thebonesaw..4634

    5 жыл бұрын

    @@jenskunze4384 -- Oh, no worries. I understand what you are saying now. No apology is necessary. I'm glad we understand each other better now an I apologize to you if my first response sounded bad, as it was not intended that way.

  • @richbarr5959

    @richbarr5959

    5 жыл бұрын

    Two people clarifying their statements and apologizing for misunderstanding...that shows the quality of this channel and the people who watch it. I salute both of you.

  • @smartyrdumb4681

    @smartyrdumb4681

    5 жыл бұрын

    🇺🇸👈👉🇩🇪 ☮️👍😊

  • @Ammo08
    @Ammo085 жыл бұрын

    I built nukes for the Air Force for 4 years. This was a big part of our studies..don't mess up. I only got to work on the MK-17 in tech school..it was humongous....

  • @jgvtc559

    @jgvtc559

    4 жыл бұрын

    Is it considered rocket science?

  • @kendavis8046
    @kendavis80465 жыл бұрын

    My wife and I visited that museum in Albuquerque earlier this year. Pretty fascinating museum, associated with the Smithsonian. And there are docents providing lots of interesting facts, as many of them are former pilots. I spoke at length with one gentleman who had piloted a B-36 (reconnaissance missions) in the Korean conflict, then piloted B-52's in Vietnam in the 1960's. Very interesting discussion, and the docents who served in the military are friendly, and don't mind even stupid questions (one of my specialties!) There are examples of the actual planes themselves as part of the outdoor exhibits at the museum.

  • @jrldjsln
    @jrldjsln5 жыл бұрын

    Wow! I was born in the hospital at Sandia Base in Albuquerque in 1958. My dad was a U.S Navy Yeoman stationed at Sandia Base. He was assigned to the Atomic Support Agency. This tour lasted from 1957 to 1962. Perhaps the History Guy could do a piece on the testing. I know my dad was part of Operation Dominic in 1962. And he was also at Eniwetok Atoll

  • @TrialzGTAS
    @TrialzGTAS5 жыл бұрын

    Congrats on the 400K, well deserved!

  • @rjs1jd

    @rjs1jd

    4 жыл бұрын

    Hes at 490,000 now 1 month later after ur comment .... Wow!

  • @rayceeya8659
    @rayceeya86595 жыл бұрын

    The B-36 was a hot mess of a bomber. 10 engines and a propensity to light itself on fire were just the beginning of the story. Still a remarkable piece of engineering.

  • @keptinkaos6384

    @keptinkaos6384

    5 жыл бұрын

    the untold story of a lot of those heavy bombers was the fact they were a very hazardous workplace

  • @RCAvhstape

    @RCAvhstape

    5 жыл бұрын

    IIRC it was conceived to be able to bomb Germany in case Britain got overrun but spent too much time in development to enter service in the war.

  • @sillyone52062

    @sillyone52062

    4 жыл бұрын

    In Strategic Air Command, Jimmy Stewert mentions fuel leaks.

  • @colingibson8018
    @colingibson80185 жыл бұрын

    Sir once again you smacked it out of the park. You and your wife are just amazing. Your depth of research for these videos is just amazing. Long may you reign for you are the tops. And from all of us regular followers Thank you Thank you.Looking forward as always to your next video. Be safe.

  • @SomeMadRandomPerson
    @SomeMadRandomPerson5 жыл бұрын

    Great Video, I love these little snippets of history, never even knew about that bomb, glad I do now 😁👍🏻

  • @geoffreysavitz1278
    @geoffreysavitz12785 жыл бұрын

    400K!! Congrats History Guy! You deserve 400 Million though! Your channel is a gem.

  • @brett4264
    @brett42645 жыл бұрын

    Happy Birthday History Guy! Thanks for the videos.

  • @derek45auto23
    @derek45auto235 жыл бұрын

    Excellent video, thanks for posting it

  • @sarjim4381
    @sarjim43815 жыл бұрын

    It was sure a good test of the fail safe concept of not loading pits until it's ready for a real drop. Too bad for the cow though.

  • @deadfreightwest5956

    @deadfreightwest5956

    5 жыл бұрын

    "Did you see the cow? She was asking for it!" - Bill O'reilly.

  • @sarjim4381

    @sarjim4381

    5 жыл бұрын

    @@deadfreightwest5956 "Did you see the cow? It was clearly racist...and xenophobic...against brown cows. She deserved it!" - Ilhan Omar, spokesMuslim for The Squad..

  • @thunderccr5056

    @thunderccr5056

    4 жыл бұрын

    It's a shame the cow didn't moooove!! 😁

  • @jameshepler62

    @jameshepler62

    3 жыл бұрын

    @@deadfreightwest5956 Bill is now writing his next book... “Killing the NM Cow.” Watch for it at your favorite book source soon.

  • @ThatBobGuy850
    @ThatBobGuy8505 жыл бұрын

    What an excellent episode! Some channels only pretend to provide content; this one provides it lb spades! This History Guy remains my favorite on KZread :-)

  • @randyhavener1851
    @randyhavener18514 жыл бұрын

    Well done History Guy! Thank you!

  • @Youre_Right
    @Youre_Right5 жыл бұрын

    I love this channel. Such great stories. The stories are perfect length for people like me. I have ADHD and lose focus on things quickly

  • @aceroadholder2185
    @aceroadholder21855 жыл бұрын

    In 1966 I worked for two brothers whose machine shop was in the valley off the end of the runway at Kirtland AFB. They saw the accident . They witnessed another accident at Kirtland when a B-36 crashed and cart-wheeled off the end of the runway. If I recall correctly, they said there were no survivors to that crash.

  • @ethanmorgaan

    @ethanmorgaan

    4 жыл бұрын

    F

  • @WeGoWalk
    @WeGoWalk4 жыл бұрын

    Your history accounts are perfect. Perfect length, perfect volume, perfect information; and it is always presented so well that I often hang on the edge of my seat until the very end, not able to stop or even pause. You have a gift - keep up the good work!

  • @troublecaine1728
    @troublecaine17284 жыл бұрын

    another great one Mr. History Guy...outstanding!!!

  • @michaelmccarthy4615
    @michaelmccarthy46155 жыл бұрын

    You can see an original B-36 bomber at the Pima air museum in Tucson Arizona. It is one very large plane. It stands out on a field of military planes.

  • @rjs1jd
    @rjs1jd4 жыл бұрын

    Awesome STORY! It cant get ANY better; 1) B36 peacemaker 2) H 💣 bomb 3)history guy telling the STORY!

  • @marksims6425
    @marksims64255 жыл бұрын

    The same thing happened outside of Florence SC in an area called Mars Bluff. About 50 miles from my home but don’t remember the year.

  • @chelinfusco6403

    @chelinfusco6403

    5 жыл бұрын

    1958 Mars Bluff B-47 nuclear weapon loss incident was an inadvertent nuclear weapon release

  • @marksims6425

    @marksims6425

    5 жыл бұрын

    Chelin Fusco correct !

  • @765kvline

    @765kvline

    3 жыл бұрын

    March 11, 1958 was the date.

  • @anthonyzinnanti7933
    @anthonyzinnanti7933 Жыл бұрын

    Great channel. I listen to you all day while I'm working. Great content!

  • @captbad9313
    @captbad93135 жыл бұрын

    400K! Keep it coming HG. I look forward to your historical stories everyday..

  • @jamestheotherone742
    @jamestheotherone7425 жыл бұрын

    The nuclear museum in Albuquerque is very nice. Along with the ballooning museum, they are "can't miss" if you are in the area.

  • @buckhorncortez

    @buckhorncortez

    4 жыл бұрын

    I'm "in the area" and I miss them every day.

  • @eaglegrip6879
    @eaglegrip68794 жыл бұрын

    There was also an aircraft accident involving a nuke at Travis AFB, Ca back in the 1950. The aircraft was carrying a live nuke when it crashed on the base. The airplane was buried right where it had crashed and they'd built an RV trailer park on the burial site. When I was there in the 1990's, more than a handful of people were suing the Airforce because of cancer. But of course, the Airforce denied all the allegations and liabilities. Might be worth a look, eh...Mr. history guy?

  • @mytg8

    @mytg8

    3 жыл бұрын

    en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1950_Fairfield-Suisun_Boeing_B-29_crash

  • @leelawrence3379
    @leelawrence33794 жыл бұрын

    I really appreciate your content and delivery. Many thanks for the education and entertaining stories.

  • @0159ralph
    @0159ralph4 жыл бұрын

    My father in law was part of the USAF disaster preparedness at KAFB and guarded the Broken Arrow site for several weeks. He didn't say a word about the incident even after the report was released by the media in 1986. My father in law passed away in March at 93 yoa. God bless you Danny and all of the USAF personnel who guarded the site and completed the clean up. Also thank you for your service during WW2 and the cold war. We miss you..

  • @catliftresearch

    @catliftresearch

    4 жыл бұрын

    My father in law worked for Raytheon at White Sands on the Nike-Shrike missile project in the 50's. Wouldn't discuss ANYTHING even though it was 1990 and the technology was antiquated. He did tell me that when stuff wasn't working right they would launch with a paper clip.

  • @chokkan7
    @chokkan74 жыл бұрын

    This was a very interesting story; I'm glad Albuquerque is still with us. What's really amazing, given the historical framework (as I know you've done other bits about nuclear silo accidents, etc.), is that despite all the gaffes that actually occurred, we've never had a nuclear accident in the US as a result. Say what you will, but someone was doing their job, even when it looked as though they weren't...

  • @mikeyoung9810
    @mikeyoung98105 жыл бұрын

    Nice video. I know there are other "broken arrows" worth remembering.

  • @GrahamCStrouse

    @GrahamCStrouse

    5 жыл бұрын

    Mike Young There was another one in North Carolina. That one actually nearly did blow. Good thing we have two Carolinas...

  • @vapsa56

    @vapsa56

    5 жыл бұрын

    Actually there are 2 in North Carolina. One off the coast. A B-47 had collided with an F-86 and the weapon was released off the outer banks. And the second one was from a B-52, from Seymour-Johnson AFB that developed a fuel leak and crash due to fuel starvation. The 2 bombs were released. One was recovered, the other buried itself deep in the ground of a local farm. Still a question as to whether that bomb was recovered or was to dangerous to be removed and was encased in concrete and left. Fascinating history but scary at the same time.

  • @MtnTow

    @MtnTow

    4 жыл бұрын

    Also one in BC, Canada.

  • @wd4edu

    @wd4edu

    4 жыл бұрын

    Mars Bluff, near Florence, S.C. March 11, 1958.

  • @robertnicholson771

    @robertnicholson771

    4 жыл бұрын

    I heard about a lot of those when I was in the Navy. I guess there is a reason the Triad does not include planes...

  • @manohore
    @manohore4 жыл бұрын

    Always the best bits of history. Thanks, History Guy!

  • @stone1andonly
    @stone1andonly5 жыл бұрын

    Yet another great clip, HG. You're like the ultimate deep miner of history - no matter how deep you have to dig, you find those nuggets of history gold!

  • @1shARyn3
    @1shARyn34 жыл бұрын

    ... and for all the years that I worked at Sandia, the mention of the incident was all that was said -- no details were given. Thanks

  • @zyxzevn
    @zyxzevn5 жыл бұрын

    Murphy's Law: If anything can go wrong... ..a nuclear bomb will fall on your cow. Did you already have a video on Murphy?

  • @jackielinde7568

    @jackielinde7568

    5 жыл бұрын

    Except that Murphy never said that. He said "If there is ten ways to do something and one wrong way to do it, you know someone is going to do it the wrong way." He was blaming a lab assistant for plugging in the wiring harness used to measure acceleration on a human body wrong. It resulted in a wasted rocket sled run that gathered no data. (Readings were zero.) However, one of his contemporaries at the ill fated run said that Dr. Murphy was most likely the cause of the error.

  • @HemlockRidge

    @HemlockRidge

    5 жыл бұрын

    @@jackielinde7568 Cool that you know that, but everyone is still going to use the "If anything can...". quote anyway.

  • @jackielinde7568

    @jackielinde7568

    5 жыл бұрын

    @@HemlockRidge That just goes to show how much garbage information is out in the collective knowledge.

  • @tokyosmash

    @tokyosmash

    4 жыл бұрын

    zyxzevn “Murphy is real and he is here”

  • @TheoneandonlyJobis

    @TheoneandonlyJobis

    4 жыл бұрын

    @@jackielinde7568 Murphy agreed when interviewed that "if something can go wrong, it will." Is an accurate summarization of his original quote. So you can take your comment to the landfill.

  • @shemp308
    @shemp3085 жыл бұрын

    always enjoy your videos!

  • @billybob9961
    @billybob99614 жыл бұрын

    I am still binge watching another great video very well done wonderful information thank you so much

  • @CapricornEGO
    @CapricornEGO5 жыл бұрын

    Please forgive me but I cannot stop laughing every time I imagine the expression on 1st Lt. Bob Carp face when he pulls the pin and the hydrogen bomb crashes through the bomb-bay door.

  • @cjack56

    @cjack56

    4 жыл бұрын

    Ummm... Oops?

  • @Fleetwoodjohn

    @Fleetwoodjohn

    4 жыл бұрын

    BOMBS AWAY! Haha Not funny but it is!

  • @daviddewey2107

    @daviddewey2107

    3 жыл бұрын

    He's still on KP to this very day😉

  • @bwayne40004
    @bwayne400045 жыл бұрын

    If memory serves from a previous video, Happy Birthday to the History Guy. If I'm wrong, happy birthday anyway, you'll have one eventually! My suggestion for a video: The history of the "double nickle", the 55 mile speed limit. I also have been watching the subscribed numbers this year and congratulations on 400K.

  • @RCAvhstape

    @RCAvhstape

    5 жыл бұрын

    Sammy Hagar managed to get some pretty good mileage out of that one.

  • @shawnr771

    @shawnr771

    5 жыл бұрын

    They took away his license.

  • @bwayne40004

    @bwayne40004

    5 жыл бұрын

    I suggested the 55 mile per hour speed limit as I think the HG turned 55 this time around.

  • @terrymoody7739

    @terrymoody7739

    4 жыл бұрын

    Sir great comment, I haven't kept up with it either, but when I was in the Navy from 1979-1983 that was what we called it then!

  • @johnnydeville5701
    @johnnydeville57015 жыл бұрын

    What an amazing story! Great video from The History Guy!

  • @lukeday87
    @lukeday875 жыл бұрын

    Brilliant video as always, history guy (and the history family) i thank you

  • @shananagans5
    @shananagans55 жыл бұрын

    Oh how crazy. My father was a defense engineer in the 70's & 80's. I grew up with my dad working on various different projects and my friend's parents had similar kinda jobs. Early in my college years (89 or 90) my friend's father's house became the "hangout house". Anyways, we started hearing stories of a bomb being dropped on Albuquerque. This would have been after the Journal article came out but I never saw the article and my friend's dad was telling us unbelievable details like "It just ripped through the closed bombay doors". lol My friend's dad had a real knack of spinning and exaggerating stories and, to be honest, I never believed much of that story. lol I guess he wasn't exaggerating.

  • @steveskouson9620
    @steveskouson96205 жыл бұрын

    "Someone yelled SHIT! It might have been me!" Lance, that has GOT TO BE, the best line I've heard all (fiscal) week! One of your best episodes! I used to be an electrical systems installer at Mickey D's, (now Boeing.) I was doing an install on the #1 engine, and was sitting on the left wing, of an MD-11. I was working on wiring in the top of the pylon, and the engine crew was removing the engine. someone lowered the engine, without having one of the pins completely removed. When it let go, it felt like I was sitting on a kitchen table, and someone hit the underside with a sledge hammer. Only thing that kept me from flying, was what we referred to, in the Army, as "pucker factor." I didn't yell it, and was in NO condition to do it. This was outside of the assembly building, in an area referred to as the "East Ramp. Everyone within earshot was staring at me, like I dropped the engine. steve

  • @bcsbbq7829
    @bcsbbq78295 жыл бұрын

    This is why i love this channel great video

  • @davidgerlach514
    @davidgerlach5144 жыл бұрын

    Great Video, as always!

  • @qtig9490
    @qtig94905 жыл бұрын

    I would say this qualifies as the proverbial "Pucker factor of 10"

  • @MrSafer
    @MrSafer5 жыл бұрын

    Love some interesting history with my morning coffee.

  • @turtlenemo
    @turtlenemo4 жыл бұрын

    You sure can tell a good story history guy! Thank you Sir!!!

  • @militantfreedom4309
    @militantfreedom43094 жыл бұрын

    I totally enjoy all your videos. Thank you Mr. History Guy

  • @augustusaltuccini
    @augustusaltuccini5 жыл бұрын

    Brilliant video as per usual, and well done on the 400K! On the subject of aircraft, it would be interesting to look into the world's first transatlantic flight of Alcock and Brown. Had its 100th anniversary last month I believe

  • @luvr381
    @luvr3815 жыл бұрын

    More often 5 turnin, 5 burnin.

  • @TheHistoryGuyChannel

    @TheHistoryGuyChannel

    5 жыл бұрын

    LOL

  • @rickcentore2801

    @rickcentore2801

    4 жыл бұрын

    That made my day - thanks!

  • @the_langss
    @the_langss5 жыл бұрын

    Thanks for the Video.....

  • @eroche12
    @eroche124 жыл бұрын

    Thanks for this :-) great work

  • @travisinthetrunk
    @travisinthetrunk5 жыл бұрын

    Mutually assured destruction? That’s mad!

  • @rabbi120348

    @rabbi120348

    5 жыл бұрын

    MAD Magazine just announced it will cease publication this year.

  • @dalethelander3781

    @dalethelander3781

    5 жыл бұрын

    What, me worry?

  • @rogerdavies6226

    @rogerdavies6226

    5 жыл бұрын

    good one, bravo

  • @KlunkerRider
    @KlunkerRider5 жыл бұрын

    I visited the National Atomic Museum when it was in Kirkland NM, I saw that H bomb casing and that sucker was HUGE!

  • @teecar9868

    @teecar9868

    3 жыл бұрын

    KirTland, with a T, not kirkland. AFB

  • @ShinVega
    @ShinVega4 жыл бұрын

    Wonderful storytelling, thank you! Cheers!!

  • @ceasar3696
    @ceasar36964 жыл бұрын

    I was in the USAF and stationed at Kirkland and worked as a cable installer and maintenance for base communications. Our shop was right next door to the Nuclear museum when it was on the base, seen it many times but it's been 20 years. I didn't even know it moved. Thanks for bringing back old memories.

  • @badlandskid
    @badlandskid5 жыл бұрын

    Well, 1000 foot jump or not, if it had detonated we would never know what the crew said.

  • @algrayson8965

    @algrayson8965

    4 жыл бұрын

    bas - Aluminum tinsel (chaff).

  • @letsjet9900
    @letsjet99004 жыл бұрын

    "Whiter than any sheet you've ever seen!" 😆 At least he got his sheet together and didn't fall of the catwalk.

  • @eroche12
    @eroche124 жыл бұрын

    Great work. Thanks allot!

  • @dwightbusby8505
    @dwightbusby85054 жыл бұрын

    Another Great tidbit of fantastic history thank you for your efforts

  • @NVRAMboi
    @NVRAMboi5 жыл бұрын

    QUESTION/REQUEST: I could find no episode re: WWII Battle Off Samar within your channel, specifically the portion of the battle involving the USS destroyers/destroyer escorts of "Taffy 3" (and the captains/commanders of each of those little ships) charging headlong into the oncoming main IJN battle fleet. The story and their courage is not unknown but I do wonder if you could give that encounter a fresh look from a different angle w/possible new information. Apologies if you've already touched on the subject. Thanks for your great work.

  • @laurenceelisha689

    @laurenceelisha689

    4 жыл бұрын

    NVRAMboi that is one of my favorite stories from history. I got my son interested in World War II and he is quite interested in that battle as well.

  • @TheSoitenly
    @TheSoitenly5 жыл бұрын

    Wow, that's one big plane for a big bomb, all for one cow.

  • @TruthNerds

    @TruthNerds

    4 жыл бұрын

    PETA objects to dropping thermonuclear devices on cows, or any livestock for that matter…

  • @RajKoona
    @RajKoona4 жыл бұрын

    Thanks. This is very entertaining and educational

  • @rvasquez8057
    @rvasquez80575 жыл бұрын

    Terrific story. Sent it to my son in the Navy for laughs. Great job keeping history alive and interesting....Kudos my friend....

  • @zhubajie6940
    @zhubajie69405 жыл бұрын

    Mark 17 was second biggest in yield at 15 MT. The B41 (Mark 41) was 25 MT. Still, plenty enough reason to say :O Oh S***!

  • @deadendfriends1975
    @deadendfriends19755 жыл бұрын

    Do one on the Tybee Bomb. We've one " missing" off our coast.

  • @torgeirbrandsnes1916
    @torgeirbrandsnes19165 жыл бұрын

    Holy smokes! Great vlog as always!

  • @41plymouthnut87
    @41plymouthnut875 жыл бұрын

    Thanks for another great history lesson.

  • @constipatedinsincity4424
    @constipatedinsincity44245 жыл бұрын

    Gilligan!!!

  • @dalethelander3781

    @dalethelander3781

    5 жыл бұрын

    This made me LOL too much.

  • @constipatedinsincity4424

    @constipatedinsincity4424

    5 жыл бұрын

    @@dalethelander3781 You're Welcome!😁

  • @davefromoz2859

    @davefromoz2859

    4 жыл бұрын

    😲SORRY SKIPPER, I thought U said PULL THE PIN " " " " !

  • @W1se0ldg33zer
    @W1se0ldg33zer5 жыл бұрын

    A very expensive but required bomber. Each one cost a million dollars more than a B-29. Roughly two and a half times as much and that was with using older technologies. They were designed when it looked like the Germans were going to defeat the British in 1941. Would have needed a bomber that could make a round trip across the Atlantic.

  • @aidanpysher2764

    @aidanpysher2764

    4 жыл бұрын

    I've stood below the wings of one of these monsters. The way they sit low makes the forward fuselage look smaller than it actually is, but the wings are what put into perspective how huge it is.

  • @kellyreim6627

    @kellyreim6627

    4 жыл бұрын

    W1se0ldg33zer you sure it wasn’t Tokyo?

  • @Scottrchrdsn

    @Scottrchrdsn

    4 жыл бұрын

    Such was the stated reason for their initial development. However, in 1941, the United Kingdom took over Iceland; to keep it from being overrun by the Axis powers. That immediately ended the need for a transAtlantic bomber as B-29s (the prototype already built and flown) could carry out bombing of Continental Europe from Iceland in the event Great Britain was not available. Work on the B-36 pretty much stopped for the duration of the war and was picked up again when it became apparent that our next likely adversary would be the Soviet Union.

  • @theMemo-1
    @theMemo-15 жыл бұрын

    My Favorite History Channel!

  • @calvins4940
    @calvins49404 жыл бұрын

    I currently live about 45 minutes from Santa Fe and a hour and a half from Albuquerque, the history of this state never ceases to amaze me. Thanks History Guy, this will make a good bar bet in the future.

  • @jesusbeloved3953
    @jesusbeloved39535 жыл бұрын

    Now that it’s long over, we can chuckle at the reactions of the crew. Bet no one was laughing back then!

  • @justcarcrazy
    @justcarcrazy5 жыл бұрын

    "Two turning, two burning, two smoking, two choking, and two more unaccounted for..."

  • @badlandskid

    @badlandskid

    5 жыл бұрын

    justcarcrazy hahaha

  • @AngeloPerfili
    @AngeloPerfili5 жыл бұрын

    I have never heard this story. Love this channel....

  • @wilbertjohnson9289
    @wilbertjohnson928910 ай бұрын

    Love your show keep up the good work history is very important

  • @dusseau13
    @dusseau135 жыл бұрын

    And thus the invention of the self cooking cow

  • @dalethelander3781

    @dalethelander3781

    5 жыл бұрын

    I'll have the pastrami on plutonium, hold the mayo.

  • @brokenarrow7871
    @brokenarrow78715 жыл бұрын

    Fascinating, but also kind of humorous. Would have been better if PIRATES would have caused the accident LOL Thanks Mr. History

  • @johnnypopper-pc3ss

    @johnnypopper-pc3ss

    5 жыл бұрын

    It was the Gremlin from Bugs Bunny !!

  • @richbarr5959

    @richbarr5959

    5 жыл бұрын

    Maybe they were thinking about how Pittsburgh hadn't won the National League pennant since the 1920s.

  • @johnnypopper-pc3ss

    @johnnypopper-pc3ss

    5 жыл бұрын

    Naahh ... WHAT'S UP DOC ??!!

  • @sebastiansandhu4695

    @sebastiansandhu4695

    5 жыл бұрын

    What if all his vids are pirate activity he's subtly bringing to light

  • @RCAvhstape

    @RCAvhstape

    5 жыл бұрын

    @@johnnypopper-pc3ss "Blockbuster bombs...ya gotta hit 'em juuust right."

  • @CreativeWarrior-
    @CreativeWarrior-4 жыл бұрын

    Great work, sir!! I'm really enjoying your presentations and have subbed!! All my best regards to you!

  • @WX4EMT
    @WX4EMT5 жыл бұрын

    Big fan of THG and an old Minuteman Missileer / Cold Warrior. When the two intersect it is especially delightful. Thank you.