How the Air Force Dropped a Nuclear Bomb on South Carolina by Mistake

On March 11, 1958, the sleepy town of Mars Bluff, South Carolina, became the unlikely epicenter of a Cold War nightmare. The U.S. Air Force accidentally dropped a nuclear bomb on American soil.¹

This wasn’t just a minor military mishap—it was an incident that would leave a lasting mark on the landscape and the psyche of a nation.

While disaster was narrowly averted, the Mars Bluff incident raised serious questions about nuclear safety and the potential for catastrophe. Let’s look into the sequence of events that led to this near-disaster, its immediate aftermath, and the far-reaching consequences that continue to resonate decades later.

Accidental Bombing

On that fateful day, a B-47 Stratojet bomber was flying a routine mission from Savannah, Georgia, to England. The aircraft was carrying a Mark 6 nuclear bomb, a staple of America’s Cold War nuclear arsenal.

During the flight, Captain Bruce Kulka, the bombardier, went to check on the bomb in the plane’s belly. In a moment of confusion and misfortune, Kulka accidentally grabbed the emergency release handle, sending the 7,000-pound bomb plummeting toward the unsuspecting town below.

The Mark 6 bomb was a thermonuclear weapon with a yield of up to 160 kilotons, about eight times more powerful than the bomb dropped on Hiroshima. Fortunately, the nuclear core of the weapon had been stored separately for safety reasons. However, the bomb still contained about 6,000 pounds of conventional explosives.

The Aftermath

The bomb crashed through the roof of Walter Gregg’s home, narrowly missing his wife and three children. The conventional explosives detonated, creating a massive crater approximately 70 feet wide and 35 feet deep.

The blast destroyed the Gregg family home and damaged several nearby buildings, including a church. Windows were shattered up to five miles away.

Miraculously, no one was killed, though the Gregg family suffered minor injuries. Walter Gregg, his wife, and three children were in a workshop near their house when the bomb struck.

They were knocked down by the blast but escaped with only cuts and bruises. The family’s pet chickens weren’t as lucky – they were all killed instantly.

The explosion left a surreal scene in its wake. The crater was filled with twisted metal, splintered wood, and scorched earth. Chunks of warhead and aircraft debris were scattered across the area.

The Air Force quickly cordoned off the site and began a thorough cleanup operation.

Lessons Learned

In the wake of the Mars Bluff incident, the U.S. military implemented stricter safety measures for handling nuclear weapons. These included:

• Improved training for personnel handling nuclear weapons
• Enhanced safety mechanisms on nuclear devices
• More rigorous protocols for transporting nuclear weapons
• Regular safety audits and inspections of nuclear facilities and operations

The event also contributed to growing public concern about nuclear proliferation and safety, playing a role in shaping nuclear policy and disarmament efforts in subsequent years. It highlighted the need for transparency in military operations and the importance of public awareness regarding nuclear risks.

A Lasting Legacy

Today, the crater left by the bomb still exists, serving as a sobering reminder of that day in 1958. It stands as a testament to how close we came to disaster and the importance of vigilance in handling nuclear weapons.

The site, now on private property, occasionally attracts curious visitors and history enthusiasts.

The Mars Bluff incident remains a fascinating chapter in Cold War history, demonstrating that sometimes truth really is stranger than fiction. It is a caution about the risks associated with nuclear weapons and the potential consequences of human error in high-stakes situations.

Source:

1. Florence County Museum