A piece of history

SEYMOUR JOHNSON AIR FORCE BASE, N.C.-- Dr. Jack B. ReVelle shares his experience with members of the 4th Fighter Wing Explosive Ordinance Disposal team during the near-explosive historic event that affected the communities of Goldsboro and Faro 50 years ago here, Feb. 9, 2011. Dr. ReVelle, then a 1st Lieutenant, was the team lead for Detachment 42702 EOD squadron from Wright Patterson AFB, Ohio that responded to the B-52 Crash in Faro. Dr. ReVelle is from Orange, Calif. (U.S. Air Force photo/Staff Sgt. Courtney Richardson) (RELEASED)

A piece of history

Published Feb. 10, 2011
By Staff Sgt. Courtney Richardson
4TH FIGHTER WING PUBLIC AFFAIRS

SEYMOUR JOHNSON AIR FORCE BASE, N.C. -- In January 24, 1961, a B-52G Stratofortress bomber suffered structural failure in mid-air and crashed 12 miles north of here near Faro, N.C.

During descent, two nuclear-weapons separated from the aircraft. One bomb parachute deployed receiving little impact damage as it landed in a nearby tree. The second bomb fell freely and a portion of the weapon, containing uranium, could not be recovered. Excavation attempts were made by first responders to recover the cylindrical device measuring 11 feet and seven inches in length and weighing between 9,000 and 10,000 pounds from the waterlogged farmland, however the more they dug into the ground, the further the weapon sunk. After determining their efforts were not working and the weapon reached a depth of 50 feet, they decided to stop digging and fill in the hole.

The Air Force ultimately purchased a radius of land surrounding the weapon which requires permission for anyone that would like to dig in the area. To this date, there is no detectable radiation or hazard in or around the area.