187 crashed 1/24/61 near
Goldsboro, NC, fatigue failure of starboard wing after fuel leak at high
altitude, wing failed when flaps selected during emergency approach to
Seymour Johnson AFB, two nuclear weapons (MK39’s) separated from the
aircraft, one fell by parachute, and the other broke apart on impact.
Classified
as a "Broken Arrow" an easement to the location was purchased by the Federal Government.
http://www.ibiblio.org/bomb/full-story.html
 
Military Aircraft
Accidents
Boeing B-52G-125-BW
Stratofortress
2576 crashed
3/30/61 near Lexington, NC, with a reported loss of control for an "unknown reason".
The crash occurred on Silver Hill Mine Road, between the Southmont and
Denton communities in a remote area off Hwy 8. Six were killed.
The aircraft lost control during aerial refueling attempt
and the crew was ordered to bail out. Only six of eight crew had
ejector seats. A massive explosion was reported to have occurred
when the aircraft crashed. Conflicting reports dispute the
placement of nuclear weapons on this aircraft at the time of the crash.
A note from
the webmaster: This crash occurred within seven miles of my home
at the time. At that point, I was less than three years old
but recall the stories of my parents, particularly my father, who did
respond to the scene. He recounted the findings of those who were
able to eject, and those who ejected after the decent slope was too
great for the ejector seat to clear the tail section. When the aircraft
struck the ground, several windows in our home were broken and many
items affixed to the wall fell to the floor. My father spent countless
hours in one military aircraft or another during his time in the US
Army, while he was never in a B-52, the destruction and the sound he
likened it to what he
saw during his three years in the European Theater of
WWII.
This site was last updated
12/12/08
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