Nuclear Weapon Accident Near Thule Air Base, Greenland Part 1 - Photograpg Captions & Descriptions

Page 1

Nuclear Weapon Accident Near Thule Air Base, Greenland PART I - Photograph Captions & Descriptions Los Alamos National Laboratory (Retired)

Page 2

Captions for Photographs of the Nuclear Weapons Accident at Thule, Greenland, January 21,1968 The photographs in this collection were obtained from the following sources: They were organized by events and captioned by John Taschner, Los Alamos National Laboratory. Maps of Greenland & B-52 Flight Path 001 Map of Greenlamd This map of Greenland was hand drawn by Mr. William Crismon while he was at Thule AB for weapon debris identification and packing for shipment to the US. 001a Mission profile for the northern route of Operation This is the mission profile for the Strategic Air Chrome Dome. The mission involved a B-52 from Plattsburgh AFB, NY with four thermonuclear weapons. The flight took the bomber and crew around Canada, up to Thule, Greenland the return on a route to the east of Greenland. It was part of SAC’s airborne alert program Operation Chrome Flight path of the B-52 involved in the nuclear weapon accident near Thule AB, Greenland on January Flight path of the B-52 carrying four nuclear weapons. The crash site was 7 !4 miles from Thule Air Base between Thule AB and Saunders, Island. Following a mid-air refueling operation, a fire broke out in the aircraft. The pilot requested permission for an immediate descent and emergency landing at Thule Air Base. When the fire became uncontrollable and all electrical power was lost the pilot ordered the crew to bailout. All but one of the crew parachuted to safety. One crew member was killed as he left the aircraft. 002 N5618 Flight path of B-52 and crash site near Thule AB, Enlarged map of the flight path of the B-52 and the B-52 Aircraft Crash Sequence 003 B52 A B-52 bomber in flight. A B-52 bomber in flight 004 Fuel distribution for the This drawing shows the fuel tanks on the B-52 aircraft and the estimated amount of fuel on board at the time of the accident. 005 N5382 B-52 crash sequence 1 The first in a sequence of five sketches showing the B-52 crashing on the Sea Ice, 7 miles from Thule AB, Greenland. After the crew ejected from the aircraft the bomber’s left wing dropped and the aircraft began a steep left turn, rapidly loosing 006 N5383 B-52 crash sequence 2 The second in a sequence of five sketches showing

Page 3

the B-52 crashing on the Sea Ice, 7 miles from Thule AB, Greenland. After the crew ejected from the aircraft the bomber’s left wing dropped and the aircraft began a steep left turn, rapidly loosing altitude. This sketch shows the left wing of the aircraft striking the sea ice. 007 N5384 B-52 crash sequence 3 The third in a sequence of five sketches showing the B-52 crashing on the Sea Ice, 7 miles from Thule AB, Greenland. After the crew ejected from the aircraft the bomber’s left wing dropped and the aircraft began a steep left turn, rapidly loosing altitude. This sketch shows the left wing of the aircraft breaking away and the forward section of the aircraft striking the sea ice. 008 N5385 B-52 crash sequence 4 The fourth in a sequence of five sketches showing the B-52 crashing on the Sea Ice, 7 miles from Thule AB, Greenland. After the crew ejected from the aircraft the bomber’s left wing dropped and the aircraft began a steep left turn, rapidly loosing altitude. This sketch shows the B-52 aircraft exploding as it impacts the sea ice. 009 N5386 Enlarged view of the crash site showing the “blackened area” and fractured ice. The B-52 crashed with almost a full load of fuel. The conventional explosives in all four thermonuclear weapons exploded. These combined to create a burned area on the sea ice, called the fractured ice at the impact point and blackened area. 0100 N5391 B-52 crash sequence This is a graphical presentation of the final moments of the B-52 as it crashed into the sea ice near Thule, Blackened Area on the Ice Cap Oil N5387 Crash site showing the The B-52 crashed with almost a full load of fuel. The conventional explosives in all four thermonuclear weapons exploded. These combined to create a burned area on the sea ice, called the fractured ice on the left at the impact point and blackened area was caused by burning jet fuel. This Blackened Area was caused by the detonation of the conventional high explosives in the four nuclear weapons and fire that resulted from the ignition of the B-52 aircraft’s jet fuel when the bomber crashed near Thule AB, Greenland. The Blackened area measured 720 yards x 155 yards and contained much of the plutonium contamination. 013 N5389 Enlarged view of the crash site showing the “blackened area” and fractured ice. The conventional explosives in all four thermonuclear weapons exploded. These combined to create a burned area on the sea ice, called the “blackened area” and a large circular area of 014 N5390 Blackened area after an The B-52 crashed with almost a full load of fuel. The conventional explosives in all four thermonuclear weapons exploded. These combined

Page 4

to create a burned area on the sea ice, called the area" after an Arctic storm. Fractured Ice caused by B-52 crash 015 N86 Fractured sea ice caused by the impact of the B-52. The sea ice was 3-4 feet thick at the crash site. When the B-52 crashed, the sea ice was fractured creating large mounds of crashed ice. 016 N87 Fractured sea ice caused by the impact of the B-52. The sea ice was 3-4 feet thick at the crash site. When the B-52 crashed, the sea ice was fractured creating large mounds crushed ice like this one in the immediate area of the crash. 017 N88 Fractured sea ice caused by the impact of the B-52. The sea ice was 3-4 feet thick at the crash site. When the B-52 crashed, the sea ice was fractured creating large mounds of crushed ice like this one in the immediate area of the crash. 018 N5284 Fractured sea ice caused by the impact of the B-52. A large chuck of sea ice from the crash site of the B019 N5285 Fractured sea ice caused by the impact of the B-52. A large chuck of sea ice from the crash site of the B020 N5286 Fractured sea ice from the caused by the impact of the A large chuck of sea ice from the crash site of the B52. This piece is from the “blackened area”, the area where the B-52 crashed and burned. 021 N5287 Fractured sea ice from the the impact of the B-52. A large chuck of sea ice from the crash site of the B52. This piece is from the “blackened area”, the area where the B-52 crashed and burned. 022 C85-939 These two men are examining the fractured ice caused by the B-52 aircraft Two men are examining large chunks of ice caused by the B-52 crash. In the background is Saunders SAC Disaster Response Team Arrive at Thule AB, Greenland 023 N5292 Strategic Air Command transport aircraft arrives at Thule AB, Greenland. Air Force person guides a Strategic Air Command aircraft to its parking place at Thule Air Base, Greenland. This is the arrival of the SAC Disaster Control Team from Offiitt AFB, Omaha, NB. 024 N5293 Strategic Air Command transport aircraft arrives at Thule AB carrying the SAC Disaster Control Team. SAC Disaster Control Team arrives from SAC 025 N5294 A senior Air Force officer debarks from a Strategic Air Command transport aircraft at Thule AB, Greenland. A senior Air Force officer (possibly Col. Hackett, Chief of Staff) from SAC’s Disaster Control Team debarks from a Strategic Air Command transport aircraft at Thule AB, Greenland. 026 N5295 Senior Air Force Officer is greeted by Col. Dresser, Thule AB commander. A Senior Air Force Officer (possibly Col. Hockett, Chief of Staff) from HQ SAC is greeted by Col. Dresser, Thule AB commander. Thule Air Base, Greenland 027 N5377 This is a drawing of Thule Air Base, Greenland that shows the major facilities used thought out the This is a drawing of Thule Air Base, Greenland that shows the major facilities used thought out the recovery operations. The road across Thule Air Base leads past the Tank Farm where the contaminated snow and ice was stored during the winter months until the port opened and ships arrived to transport the debris back to the US.

Page 5

028 N5288 Thule Air Base, Greenland. Aerial view of Thule Air Base, Greenland. The mountain in the right background is P mountain where the Thule AB radar site is located. 029 N5289 Thule Air Base, Greenland Aerial view of Thule Air Base, Greenland. In the foreground are the landing lights for the single runway at Thule AB. for Thule AB, Greenland. P-Mountain radar facility for Thule AB, Greenland. Munitions storage bunkers are in the foreground. 032 N5336 SAC Disaster Control Team Staff Organizational Chart Organization chart for the SAC Disaster Control 033 N5346 SAC Disaster Control Team Staff Organizational Chart This chart shows the organizational structure for the On-Scene SAC Disaster Control Team at Thule, code name for the nuclear weapons accident near 034 N5339 Weapons Recovery Group Center at Thule AB. The code name for the Broken Arrow near Thule AB, Greenland was “Project Created Ice”. This photograph is of the Weapons Recovery Group where personnel are planning the weapons recovery Camp Hunziker - On Scene Command Area General Hunziker was the SAC On-Scene Commander Hunziker” sign marks Maj. command post on the ice cap about 7.5 miles from Thule AB, Greenland. The “Welcome to Camp Hunziker” sign marks on the Ice Cap about 7.5 miles from Thule Air Base, Greenland. There were several structures built near the crash site that became known as “Camp 036 N5270 Decontamination and First Aid Center in the foreground. Camp Hunziker headquarters is to the right In the foreground is the decontamination and first aid building (building with the cross) on the sea ice. In the background is Gen. Hunziker’s command post. Saunders Island is to the left background. headquarters is in the right Island is in the background. Camp Hunziker headquarters is in the right background. Saunders Island is in the background. 038 N5318 Aerial view of Camp Hunziker near the crash site. Aerial view from a helicopter of Camp Hunziker showing the three ice roads leading back to Thule AB. The building in the right center is Maj. Gen Hunziker’s operations center. Saunders Island is in the background about 4 miles away. 039 Aerial view of Camp Hunziker near the crash site. Aerial view from a helicopter of Camp Hunziker showing the red cross first aid station and decontamination center in the right foreground. To the rear is General Hunziker’s operation center. Saunders Island is in the background about 4 miles 040 N5333 The Air Force’s Prime Beef team is assembling a “James The Air Force’s Prime Beef team assembles a Hunziker to store equipment and material at the

Page 6

Quonset hut). crash site. 041 N5332 The Air Force’s Prime Beef team is assembling a “James The Air Force’s Prime Beef team assembles a Hunziker to store equipment and material at the 042 N5334 The Air Force’s Prime Beef team is assembling a “James The Air Force’s Prime Beef team assembles a Hunziker to store equipment and material at the Prefabricated plywood huts 043 N5323 One of the plywood being assembled at the crash site for personnel to warm themselves during work The Thule AB shop personnel (Danish Contractor) built six 8 x 16 foot plywood prefabricated buildings in a hanger on Thule AB and then transported them to the crash site where the were assembled. The buildings were heated (see heater pipe on the left). 044 N5324 One of the plywood being assembled at the crash site for personnel to warm themselves during work The Thule AB shops built six 8 x 16 foot plywood prefabricated buildings in a hanger on Thule AB and then transported them to the crash site where the were assembled. The buildings were heated (see heater unit and fuel in foreground.). 045 N5325 An Air Force airman is filling the fuel tank for one of the heater units of one of the prefabricated buildings. This view shows an Air Force airman refueling one of the heater units for the prefabricated buildings. The building were constructed on Thule Air Base then hauled to the crash site and assembled. 046 N96 Pre-fabricated wooden huts. These pfe-fabricated wooden huts were constructed at Thule AB, and then towed to the accident site on skids to provide shelter against the bitter arctic cold. Igloos constructed by Greenlanders at Camp Hunziker 047 N5584 On the right is an Igloo that was constructed by the Greenlanders to provide personnel protection for workers in the event of a storm. A portable electric generator and a prefab hut are shown on the left. On the right is an Igloo that was constructed by the Greenlanders to provide personnel protection for workers in the event of a storm. A portable electric generator and a prefab hut are shown on the left. 048 Tasch-4 These igloos were built by the Greenlanders to provide protection on the ice cap in the event of an unexpected These igloos were built by the Greenlanders to provide protection on the ice cap in the event of an 049 N84 These igloos were built by the Greenlanders to provide protection on the ice cap in the event of an unexpected These igloos were built by the Greenlanders to provide protection on the ice cap in the event of an 050 N93 Igloo on the ice cap near accident site. Person Igloo on the ice cap near accident site. Person Route to and from the crash site 051 N5319 Looking east from the crash site towards Thule Air Base. Looking east from the crash site towards Thule Air Base. Three roads were made for travel to and from

Page 7

Three roads were made for travel to and from the base. The sea ice was 3-4 feet thick, enough to support the base. The sea ice was 3-4 feet thick, enough to support truck movement. 052 N5322 Helicopter landing at the Helicopter landing at the crash site. Initial Radiological Surveys at the crash site 053 This map shows one of the initial radiological surveys around the crash site. This map shows one of the initial radiological surveys around the crash site. The impact point shows the general shape of the “blackened area” caused by burning jet fuel. These surveys were accomphshed by EOD and radiological monitoring instruments fitted with The subzero temperatures at Thule caused batteries to freeze and survey instruments to fail. The problem was solved by soldering external cables to the instrument’s battery connections then wearing the battery packs in parkas or around the monitor’s waist inside the parka. Alpha radiation survey instruments …