B-47 Crash Site

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B-47 crash site of 11 October 1957.

"October 11, 1957/B-47/Homestead Air Force Base, Florida
The B-47 deparated from Homestead Air Force Base shortly after midnight on a deployment mission. Shortly after liftoff one of the aircraft's outrigger tires exploded. The aircraft crashed in an unhabited area approxiately 3,800 feet from the end of the runway. The aircraft was carrying one weapon in ferry configuration in the bomb bay and one nuclear capsule in carrying case in the crew compartment. The weapon was enveloped in flames which burned and smoldered for approximately four hours after which time it was cooled with water. Two low order high explosive detonations occurred during the burning. The nuclear capsule and its carrying case were recovered intact and only slightly damaged by heat. Approximately one-half of the weapon remained. All major components were damaged but were identifiable and accounted for."

(Excerpt from DOD Narrative Summaries of Accidents Involving U.S. Nuclear Weapons, 1950-1980).
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Coordinates:   25°30'14"N   80°21'22"W
This article was last modified 14 years ago