Subject: Nuclear Weapon Incident
The following describes a nuclear weapons incident I personally was witness to.
Location:
Stony Brook Air Force Station (AMC), Chicopee Falls, Massachusetts Base located on grounds of Westover AFB (SAC)
Date:
Do not remember exact date - possibly summer of 1958 or 1957.
Description of Incident
Forklift operator was unloading MK28 weapons from flat bed trailer. Either 6 or 8 weapons were arranged on the bed at appropriate intervals to apportion weight. Operator had unloaded a number of weapons, but neglected to notice the impact on weight distribution. I was standing about 10 feet from the rear of the trailer. As another weapon was lifted from the bed, the weight shifted to one side, and one of the weapons tipped over and fell off the bed. The fall was about 5 to 6 feet to the concrete pad. (The configuration of the weapons being transported - tail sections had been disassembled and placed on top of the front section of the weapon. This assembly was mounted on dolly and covered with fitted cover.)
The weapon struck the concrete pad. The weapon had rotated to the point where the upper portion (the tail section) struck the concrete first. Needless to say, it seemed to fall in slow motion, and we all held our breath as it descended.
Nothing happened upon impact. No HE explosion, only the sound of metal crumpling.
As our personnel studied the situation, there was a concern that radioactive gas might have been released due to a possible rupture of a pressurized cylinder within the warhead section.
This gas would have been, hopefully, contained within the warhead section.
The damaged weapon was transported to a storage igloo, and they asked for a volunteer to enter the igloo with monitoring equipment, unscrew a small access plug into the weapon, and determine if any radioactive gas was present.
Being a youngster (19 at the time), I volunteered. The igloo blast doors were closed (with me and the weapon inside), and I gently unscrewed the access plug
slightly while holding the test equipment probe at the entrance. Luckily for me, there was no leakage detected. The access plug was tightened. I do not know the disposition of the damaged weapon.
I can furnish unit information if it is required.