101 the military remained tight-lipped:
101 The Navy was ordered:
101 “There are no denials”: “H-Bomb Lost in Spain,” CBS News, January 23, 1966.
101 A rumor circulated: Author’s interview with Malcolm MacKinnon, December 4, 2006.
101 “So stringent is the official secrecy”: “An H-Bomb Is Missing and the Hunt Goes On,”
101 Press briefings were maddening: Szulc,
102 Even the Spanish reporters: Lewis,
102 The
102 Radio Espana Independiente: Ibid., p. 301; Szulc,
103 “It was a long”:
103 estimated that searchers covered: Walter Vornbrock interview, April 23, 2007.
103 “found they liked the outdoor life”:
103 Colonel Alton “Bud” White: White’s description of the cleanup operation comes from Flora Lewis, interview with Alton “Bud” White, undated (AFHRA).
103 they cleared about 150 tons: Ibid. says 150 tons;
104 Wilson and Montel spoke to a crowd:
104 Speaking through a translator: The text of Wilson’s speech can be found in Memo, 16AF Torrejon AB Spain to US Embassy Spain and JUSMG Madrid Spain, February 2, 1966 (USAF, FOIA).
104 he was surprised — and a bit shocked: Flora Lewis, interview with Alton White, undated (AFHRA).
104 A team of scientists: Emilio Iranzo interview, February 16, 2007.
105 Starting at each bomb’s impact point: White’s description of the radiation mapping comes from Flora Lewis, interview with Alton White, undated (AFHRA), and
105 But the PAC-1S: The problems with the PAC-1S are detailed in
106 “The only way you could treat that land”: Flora Lewis, interview with Alton White, undated (AFHRA).
106 The job of chief tomato plant chopper: Robert Finkel interview, April 4, 2007, and Szulc,
106 “the Boston Tomato Party”: Robert C. Toth, “Soviet Spy Ship Watches U.S. Hunt Bomb,”
106 As a gesture of goodwill:
106 “Anywhere you turned around”: Walter Vornbrock interview, April 23, 2007.
106 A bit farther down the beach: The description of the Navy EOD camp comes from author’s interviews with Red Moody, November 7, 2006; Denford Stevens, November 30, 2006; Gaylord White, March 3, 2007; Robert Singleton, November 27, 2006; Oliver Andersen, January 22, 2007, and March 31, 2007; Charles Detmer, December 13, 2006; Tom Ligon, November 30, 2006; and Ed Jeffords, November 27, 2006. Stevens and Singleton also supplied personal photographs. Footage of Camp Wilson can be found at NARA, 342-USAF- 40730A, reel 7.
106 “The Air Force is okay”: Gaylord White interview, March 3, 2007.
107 “Leave it to divers”: Ibid.
107 On the afternoon of February 2:
“Notes Taken after First Visit to the Palomares Site,” April 5, 1968 (Duke). Duke’s notes on the trip come from this document. The April 5, 1968, date is written on a cover sheet that appears to have been attached to the notes when Duke gave them to Duke University. The notes themselves appear to have been written by Duke during the February 1966 visit or very soon afterward. The visit is also mentioned in Szulc,
107 Right after the accident: The account of Smith and Towell’s first visit to Palomares comes from author’s interviews with Joseph Smith, January 23, 2007, and Timothy Towell, January 5 and 8, 2007. Their visit is also discussed in Szulc,
107 “Just go in”: Joseph Smith interview, January 23, 2007.
107 “General Wilson was totally dismissive”: Timothy Towell interview, January 5, 2007.
107 “If you take care of sovereign people”: Timothy Towell interview, January 8, 2007.
108 Duke had already complained: Cable, Embassy in Madrid to the Department of State, January 27, 1966, #903 (LBJ). Duke’s views on openness with the press also come from the author’s interview with Robin Duke, June 7, 2007.
109 he called a press conference:
109 approximately six hundred people gathered:
110
111 Marvin J. McCamis, known universally as “Mac”: Personal background on McCamis comes from author’s interviews with Marvin McCamis, January 31, 2003; Arthur Bartlett, February 5, 2007; Chester Porembski, November 17, 2006; Andrew Eliason, October 4, 2006; Barrie Walden, July 25, 2006; and John Porteous, September 6, 2006. See also Victoria Kaharl,
112 called the crew together: Marvin McCamis interview, January 31, 2003.
112
112 “We knew the country had a big problem”: Marvin McCamis interview, January 31, 2003.
