170 Wilson saw the track: Alvin’s discovery of the parachute on March 15 is detailed in ibid.; author’s interviews with Marvin McCamis, January 31, 2003, and Art Bartlett, February 5, 2007; Aircraft Salvops Med, Final Report, vol. 1, part I, chap. 2, pp. 59–60. In his interview, McCamis said the code word was “bent nail,” but Navy sources say it was “instrument panel.” 171 “We found a parachute”: Kaharl, Water Baby, p. 74. The reel-to- reel audiotape for the March 15, 1966, dive (Dive 128) is missing from the WHOI archives. However, the author viewed photographs taken by the pilots on this dive.
171 “Had a hell of a time”: Marvin McCamis interview, January 31, 2003.
171 the USS Albany had arrived: Lewis, One of Our H-Bombs, p. 209; Aircraft Salvops Med, Final Report, vol. 1, part I, chap. 2, pp. 59–60.
171 Deep below the surface: Marvin McCamis interview, January 31, 2003; Art Bartlett interview, February 5, 2007; Kaharl, Water Baby, p. 76.
172 the men discussed what to do: Art Bartlett interview, February 5, 2007.
172 Alvin could remain submerged for twenty-four hours: Everett S. Allen, “Research Submarine Alvin,” U.S. Naval Institute Proceedings, April 1964, p. 138.
172 Mooney suggested sending Aluminaut down: Brad Mooney interview, March 30, 2007.
173 “I can fly my F4s”: George Martin interview, May 9, 2007.
173 The sub picked up a transponder: E-mail, Red Moody to author, December 14, 2007.
173 got a quick battery charge: Art Markel interview, September 25, 2006.
173 “He thought we were a bunch”: Ibid.
173 The Alvin crew sat in the dark: McCamis, “‘Captain Hook’s’ Hunt,” p. 25.
173 “It was beautiful”: Quoted in Lewis, One of Our H-Bombs, p. 208.
173 cautiously parking herself about twenty-five yards: Aircraft Salvops Med, Final Report, vol.
1, part I, chap. 2, p. 66.
173 Alvin surfaced after ten hours: Ibid.
173 entered the well deck at 8:12: Deck logs of the USS Fort Snelling, March 15, 1966 (NARA).
173 The Alvin crew sent their photographs: Aircraft Salvops Med, Final Report, vol. 1, part I, chap. 2, pp. 66, 69–70.
173 Mac McCamis was outraged: McCamis, “‘Captain Hook’s’ Hunt,” p. 25.
173 “How do you know”: Quoted in Kaharl, Water Baby, p. 77.
173 “What else”: Ibid.
173 “In all my life”: McCamis, “‘Captain Hook’s’ Hunt,” p. 25.
174 Admiral Guest wrote a situation report: Cable, CTF Sixty-five to REUCW/CNO, “Sitrep Seventy-nine,” March 16, 1966 (LBJ).
174 The other memo: Aircraft Salvops Med, Final Report, vol. 1, part I, chap. 2, p. 67.
174 Robert Sproull, the chair of the Cyrus Vance committee: Robert Sproull interview, May 11, 2007.
174 That morning in Rota: E-mail, Red Moody to author, December 19, 2007.
174 That afternoon in Spain: Tony Richardson, diary, March 15 to April 7, 1966 (author’s collection); author’s interviews with Tony Richardson, October 31, 2007, and John Bruce, August 17, 2006.
175 news of the Gemini 8 space shot: John Noble Wilford, “Gemini Is Fueled for Link-up Today,” The New York Times, March 16, 1966, p. 1; John Noble Wilford, “Gemini 8 Crew Is Forced Down in Pacific after Successful Linkup with Satellite; Spacemen Picked Up after 3 Hours in Sea,” The New York Times, March 17, 1966, p. 1.
175 he sent three nuclear weapons experts: Cable, from 16ADVON Spain to RUCSC/SAC, March 17, 1966, #71560 (LBJ).
176 The man on the phone was Harry Stathos: Lewis, One of Our H- Bombs, pp. 212–213; SAC Historical Study #109, pp. 331–332.
177 “The undersea vessel, Alvin, made contact”: Cable, Embassy in Madrid to SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE, March 17, 1966, #1219 (LBJ).
177 At 12:45 a.m., as reporters gathered: SAC Historical Study #109, pp. 331–332.
177 “Recovery promises to be”: “Sub Finds H-Bomb off Spain: Weapon Reported Intact in Water 2500 Feet Deep,” The Washington Post, March 18, 1966, p. 1.
177 “No pictures of the bomb”: “H-Bomb Located in Sea off Spain,” The New York Times, March 18, 1966, p. 1.
178 to ensure credibility: Angier Biddle Duke, Living History interview, October 24, 1990, pp. 23–
24 (Duke).
178 Duke formed a committee: SAC Historical Study #109, p. 336.
178 “The fourth and final weapon”: Cable, Embassy in Madrid to SEC-STATE, March 18, 1966, #1226 (LBJ).
178 On March 16, McCamis and Wilson: “‘Captain Hook’s’ Hunt,” p. 25; William O. Rainnie, “Alvin… and the Bomb,” Oceanus 12, no. 4 (August 1966), p. 19.
179 Alvin by now had a mechanical arm: Allen, “Research Submarine Alvin,” p. 140.
CHAPTER 15: POODL VERSUS THE BOMB 180 On March 22, 1966, CBS News: “Special Report: Lost and Found, One H-Bomb,” CBS News, March 22, 1966.
181 Alvin or Aluminaut could carry: Red Moody interview, November 7, 2006; Brad Mooney, e-mail to author, September 17, 2008. Mooney pointed out another problem: the weight of the line should not be heavier than the positive buoyancy of the sub.
181 Working with two consultants: The description of POODL comes from author’s interview with Red Moody, November 7, 2006; D. H. Moody, “40th Anniversary of Palomares,” Faceplate 10, no. 2 (September 2006), p. 18; Aircraft Salvops Med, Final Report, vol. 4, appendix B, pp. 42–44; Aircraft Salvops Med, Interim Report, pp. 39, D59, D61. POODL was rebuilt several times during the bomb recovery effort, so it is difficult to determine its exact specifications at the time of the first recovery attempt. When there was a discrepancy in the records, author relied on Aircraft Salvops Med, Final Report, vol. 4, appendix B. The height of POODL (seven feet) comes from e-mail, Red Moody to author, September 17, 2008.
182 “Oh, my God”: Author’s interview with Malcolm MacKinnon, December 4, 2006.
182 “gypsy-engineered”: Red Moody interview, November 7, 2006.
182 That fear overshadowed everything: Aircraft Salvops Med, Final Report, vol. 1, part I, chap. 2, p. 69.
