The Day We Lost the H-Bomb

Memo, ATSD (AE) to Secretary of Defense et al. “Situation report, B-52/KC-135 Accident, 17

January 1966,” January 18, 1966. National Security File, Country File, Spain 1/17/66, TS/RD B-52/KC-135 Accident, Box 204. Secret. (LBJ.)

Memo, William Barton. “The Missing Bomb,” undated. Randall Maydew files. (SNL.) Memo, “B-52/KC-135 Mid-Air Collision.” Undated. National Security File, Country File, Spain 1/17/66, TS/RD B-52/KC-135 Accident, Box 204. Secret. (LBJ.) Memo, Commander Task Group 65.3 to Commander Task Force 65. “Report of Inshore Search, Identification and Recovery Unit,” March 13, 1966. EOD U2, Post 46, Command Files, Operational Archives. Confidential. (NHC.)

Memo, Barrett Fountos to Tom Bell et al. “Trip Report to Spain with Accomplishments Related to Palomares Program Review,” September 23, 1998. Author’s collection.

Memo, Bill Hoagland to Jack Howard. “Summary Prepared by Stu Asselin,” document

#SAC200118490000. Undated. (NNSA, FOIA.)

Memo, Art Markel to office, “Tape 3,” recorded March 19, 1966. (SMV.) Memo, Art Markel to office, “Tape 4,” recorded March 20, 1966. (SMV.) Memo, Art Markel to office, “Tape 5,” recorded March 22, 1966. (SMV.) Memo, Art Markel to office, “Tape 6,” recorded March 23, 1966. (SMV.) Memo, Art Markel to office, “Tape 17,” recorded April 11, 1966. (SMV.) Memo, R. C. Maydew and W. R. Barton to G. A. Fowler. “Chronological Summary of Significant Events in the 9300 Participation in Broken Arrow Operation,” March 29, 1966. Randall Maydew files. (SNL.)

Memo, Art McCafferty to Bromley Smith, January 17, 1966. National Security File, Country File, Spain 1/17/66, TS/RD B-52/KC-135 Accident, Box 204. Top Secret. (LBJ.) Memo, Robert L. McNeill to William N. Caudle. “Field Observation Operation Sunday,” February 15, 1966. Document #SAC200118670000. Secret. (NNSA, FOIA.)

Memo from Lewis Melson. “WHOI’s OCEANUS WINTER 1988/1989 Issue Extract for 1 March 1966,” undated. Author’s collection.

Memo, Dewitt H. Moody to Commander, Naval Ordnance Systems Command. “Report of Explosive Ordnance Disposal Operation (OPNAV REPORT 3571-1),” May 10, 1966. EOD U2, Post 46, Command Files, Operational Archives. Secret. (NHC.)

Memo from National Military Command Center. “Special Situation Report for the White House: B-52/KC-135 Accident in Southeastern Spain,” January 19, 1966. National Security File, Country File, Spain 1/17/66, TS/RD B- 52/KC-135 Accident, Box 204. Top Secret. (LBJ.) Memo, W O. Rainnie to Files. “Weekly Progress Report of ALVIN Field Operations, Week of January 23 to January 30, 1966,” March 4, 1966. Directors Collection, P. Fye. Folder, Vessels: Alvin,

“Adventures in Spain,” 1966. (WHOI.)

Memo, W O. Rainnie to Files. “Weekly Progress Report of ALVIN Field Operations, Week of January 31 through February 7, 1966,” March 4, 1966. Directors Collection, P. Fye. Folder, Vessels: Alvin, “Adventures in Spain,” 1966. (WHOI.)

Memo, W O. Rainnie to Files. “Weekly Progress Report of ALVIN Field Operations, Week of February 8 through February 14, 1966,” March 4, 1966. Directors Collection, P. Fye. Folder, Vessels: Alvin, “Adventures in Spain,” 1966. (WHOI.) Memo, W O. Rainnie to Files. “Weekly Progress Report of ALVIN Field Operations, Week of February 15 through February 21, 1966,” March 4, 1966. Directors Collection, P. Fye. Folder, Vessels: Alvin, “Adventures in Spain,” 1966. (WHOI.) Memo, W O. Rainnie to Files. “Weekly Progress Report of ALVIN Field Operations, Week of February 22 through February 28, 1966,” March 7, 1966. Alvin Ops, DSV Alvin Records AC18, Box 3, Folder 7. (WHOI.)

Memo, W O. Rainnie to Files. “Weekly Progress Report of ALVIN Field Operations, Week of March 1 through March 7, 1966,” March 29, 1966. Directors Collection, P. Fye. Folder, Vessels: Alvin, “Adventures in Spain,” 1966. (WHOI.)

Memo, W O. Rainnie to Files. “Weekly Report of Field Activity of ALVIN, March 8 through March 14, 1966,” March 29, 1966. Directors Collection, P. Fye. Folder, Vessels: Alvin, “Adventures in Spain,” 1966. (WHOI.)

Memo, W O. Rainnie to Office of Naval Research. “Quarterly Informal Letter Status Report of Contract Nonr 3834(00), Deep Submergence Research Vehicle Project, January 1, 1966 through April 9, 1966,” June 10, 1966. Alvin Ops, DSV Alvin Records AC18, Box 17, Folder 3: Quarterly Reports. (WHOI.)

Memo, 16AF Torrejon AB Spain to US Embassy Spain and JUSMG Madrid Spain. February 2, 1966. (USAF, FOIA.)

Memo, Bromley Smith to Bill Moyers, January 19, 1966. National Security File, Country File, Spain 1/17/66, TS/RD B-52/KC-135 Accident, Box 204.(LBJ.)

Memo, U.S. Information Agency to All Principal USIS Posts. “Talking Paper No. 28—‘The Bomb in Spain,’” March 4, 1966. Limited Official Use. (LBJ.)

Memo, Allyn C. Vine to Paul Fye, “ASW,” October 10, 1960. ODR 26/35 Folder: Personnel, Allyn C. Vine, 1960–61. (WHOI.)

Memo, White House Situation Room to President Johnson, January 17, 1966, 7:05 A.M. National Security File, Country File, Spain 1/17/66, TS/RD B-52/KC-135 Accident, Box 204. Top Secret.

(LBJ.)

Memo, White House Situation Room to President Johnson, January 17, 1966, 9:00 P.M. National Security File, Country File, Spain 1/17/66, TS/RD B-52/KC-135 Accident, Box 204. (LBJ.) Memo, White House Situation Room to President Johnson, January 18, 1966, 7:00 A.M. National Security File, Country File, Spain, vol 1. Secret. (LBJ.)

Memo, White House Situation Room to President Johnson, January 18, 1966, 9:05 P.M. National Security File, Country File, Spain, vol 1. Secret. (LBJ.)

Memo, White House Situation Room to President Johnson, January 22, 1966, 7:15 A.M. National Security File, Country File, Spain, vol 1. Secret.(LBJ.)

Memo, White House Situation Room to President Johnson, January 23,1966, 7:00 A.M. National Security File, Country File, Spain, vol 1. Secret. (LBJ.)

Memo, White House Situation Room to President Johnson. “Report on Nuclear Weapon in Spain,” March 17, 1966. National Security File, Country File, Spain, vol 1. Confidential. (LBJ.) Memo, Delmar E. Wilson to SAC (Gen. John D. Ryan). “Search Operations, Palomares, Spain,” February 13, 1966. (DOD, FOIA.)

Memorandum of Conversation, January 25, 1966. “Spanish Government Position on Overflights of Spain by Military Aircraft of NATO Countries Bound for or Going to Gibraltar.” RG 59, Central Files 1964–66, POL 19 GIB. Confidential. (NARA.)

Memorandum of Conversation, January 28, 1966. “Gibraltar.” RG 59, Central Files 1964–66, POL

19 GIB. Confidential. (NARA.)

Memorandum of Conversation, November 13, 1967. “Base Negotiations.” RG 59, Central Files 1967–69, DEF 15-4 SP-US. Confidential. (NARA.)

Memorandum for the Files, December 5, 1967. “Spanish Base Negotiations and Palomares.” RG 59, Central Files 1967–69, DEF 15-4 SP-US. Secret. (NARA.)

AUDIOVISUAL

“Air Force Gen. Curtis LeMay on Missing Bomb.” CBS News, March 12, 1966.

“American Experience: Victory in the Pacific.” Directed by Austin Hoyt. Documentary, 2005.

“Angier Biddle Duke radio interview with Jay Rutherfurd.” Audio recording, 1966. Angier Biddle Duke Papers, Box 65. (Duke.)

“Cold War.” Television documentary, CNN, 1998.

A Gathering of Eagles. Directed by Delbert Mann. Feature film, Universal Pictures, 1963.

“H-Bomb Lost in Spain.” CBS News, January 23, 1966.

“H-Bomb Recovered.” CBS News, April 8, 1966.

“The Mission of SAC: SAC Film Report No. 2.” U.S. Air Force, January 1961.

“Navy on Search for Bomb.” CBS News, March 10, 1966.

“Noticias NO-DO 1210 B” (Manuel Fraga Iribane visit to Palomares). Newsreel, Filmoteca Espanola, undated.

“Noticias NO-DO 1253 C” (Simo Orts receives award). Newsreel, Filmoteca Espanola, undated.

“Operacion Flecha Rota: Accidente nuclear de Palomares (Almeria).” Directed by