ASN Wikibase Occurrence # 48306
This information is added by users of ASN. Neither ASN nor the Flight Safety Foundation are responsible for the completeness or correctness of this information.
If you feel this information is incomplete or incorrect, you can submit corrected information.
| Date: | Monday 17 January 1966 |
| Time: | 10:30 LT |
| Type: |  Boeing B-52G-115-BW Stratofortress |
| Owner/operator: | 68th (B) Wg SAC USAF |
| Registration: | 58-0256 |
| MSN: | 464324 |
| Fatalities: | Fatalities: 3 / Occupants: 7 |
| Other fatalities: | 4 |
| Aircraft damage: | Written off (damaged beyond repair) |
| Location: | near Palomares, Cuevas del Almanzora, Almería, -
 Spain
|
| Phase: | En route |
| Nature: | Military |
| Departure airport: | Seymour Johnson AFB, NC |
| Confidence Rating: |  Information is only available from news, social media or unofficial sources |
B-52G s/n 58‑0256 of 68th Bomb Wing, SAC, USAF operating out of Seymour Johnson Air Force Base in Goldsboro, N.C.
During 24 hour "Operation Chrome Dome", collided with KC‑135A 61-0273 (c/n 18180) during air‑to‑air refuelling near Palomares, Spain. A total of four nuclear weapons fell from wreckage. Both aircraft crashed, killing three on board the B-52G, and all four on board the KC-135.
Of the crew of seven on board the B-52G, four survived, three were killed:
Aircraft Commander instructor pilot Captain Charles "Charlie" Wendorf - ejected, landed in sea
Pilot Major Larry Messinger - ejected landed in sea
Co-pilot Michael Rooney - bailed out landed in sea
Radar Navigator Capt. Ivan Buchanan - ejected came down on land
First Lieutenant George J. Glesner (killed)
First Lieutenant Steven G. Montanus (killed)
Tech. Sergeant Ronald P. Snyder (missing - presumed KIA)
Of the four Mk 28 type hydrogen bombs the B-52G carried, three were found on land near the small fishing village of Palomares in the municipality of Cuevas del Almanzora, Almería, Spain. The non-nuclear explosives in two of the weapons detonated upon impact with the ground, resulting in the contamination of a 2-square-kilometer (490-acre) (0.78 square mile) area by plutonium. The fourth, which fell into the Mediterranean Sea, was recovered intact after a 2½-month-long search
Sources:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1966_Palomares_B-52_crash
http://www.joebaugher.com/usaf_serials/1958.html
http://web.archive.org/web/20171101061754/http://www.ejection-history.org.uk:80/aircraft_by_type/b52_stratofortress.htm
https://www.findagrave.com/page=dfl&GRid=49189942
http://www.ar15.com/archive/topic.html?b=1&f=5&t=1278350
Revision history:
| Date/time | Contributor | Updates |
|---|---|---|
| 07-Nov-2008 10:15 | ASN archive | Added |
| 12-Feb-2013 16:20 | Dr. John Smith | Updated [Time, Cn, Operator, Total fatalities, Total occupants, Other fatalities, Location, Country, Phase, Departure airport, Source, Narrative] |
| 12-Feb-2013 16:22 | Dr. John Smith | Updated [Narrative] |
| 28-Jun-2013 08:05 | Nepa | Updated [Operator] |
| 31-Jan-2019 18:16 | wf | Updated [Aircraft type, Narrative] |
| 02-Feb-2019 20:29 | Anon. | Updated [Narrative] |
| 07-Jun-2019 18:54 | Nepa | Updated [Operator, Operator] |
Corrections or additions? ... Edit this accident description
The Aviation Safety Network is an exclusive service provided by:
Quick Links:
| ASN Home | Send Correction / Feedback |
| FSF Home | Disclaimer | Copyright |
| Contact Us | Privacy Policy |
| Press / Media |
CONNECT WITH US:
©2023 Flight Safety Foundation