1950 — Apr 11, USAF B-29 mt. crash, Manzano Nuc. Wpn. Storage Area ~Kirtland AFB, NM–13

Compiled by Wayne Blanchard, 8-27-2023, for upload to: http://www.usdeadlyevents.com/

–13  Aviation Safety Network. USAF B-29 Superfortress crash, initial climb, Sandia Mts. 4-11-1950

–13  Baugher. 1944 USAAF Serial Numbers (44-83886 to 44-92098). 10-15-2011 revision.

–13  Center for Defense Info. “US Nuclear Weapons Accidents,” Defense Monitor, 1981, X/5.)

–13  Gibson, James N. Nuclear Weapons of the United States–An Illustrated History. 1996, 61.

 

Narrative Information

 

Aviation Safety Network, Flight Safety Foundation, Database, 1950:
“Date:                          11-Apr-1950

“Time:                         09:38 LT [local time]

“Type:                         Boeing B-29 Superfortress

“Owner/operator:        830th BSqn /509th BGp USAF (830th BSqn, United States Air Force)       

“Registration:              45-21854

“MSN:                         13748

“Fatalities:                   Fatalities: 13 / Occupants: 13

“Other fatalities:         0

….

“Location:                   Sandia Mountains, 5.7 miles East of Kirtland AFB, New Mexico – USA

“Phase:                        Initial climb

….

“Departure airport:      Kirtland AFB, NM

“Destination airport:   [Not noted]

“Narrative:

 

“Boeing B-29-100-BW Superfortress 45-21854: Assigned to 830th Bomb Squadron, 509th Bomb Wing. Re-assigned to 46th Reconnaissance Squadron, then attached to 830th Bomb Squadron, 509th Bomb Group, at Walker AFB, New Mexico.

 

“Written off (destroyed) April 11, 1950 in a “BROKEN ARROW” incident (“Broken Arrow” being USAF code for a lost, damaged, or otherwise unaccounted for nuclear weapon, or components thereof). Three minutes after takeoff from runway 08 at Kirtland AFB, New Mexico, while in initial climb, the heavy bomber went out of control and crashed in a huge explosion on a mountain slope located near the Sandia Mountains, about 5.7 miles east of the airbase (at approximate Coordinates: 35°12′32″N 106°26′49″W). The aircraft was totally destroyed, and all 13 crew members were killed.

 

“Detonators were installed in the bomb on board the aircraft. The bomb case was demolished and some high explosive (HE) material burned in the gasoline fire. Other pieces of un-burned HE were scattered throughout the wreckage. Four spare detonators in their carrying case were recovered undamaged. There were no contamination or recovery problems.

 

“The recovered components of the weapon were returned to the Atomic Energy Commission. Both the weapon and the capsule of nuclear material were on board the aircraft but the capsule was not inserted for safety reasons.

 

“It is worth noting that the USAF instigated a program of “disinformation” about this accident: The military imposed strict security over the crash site. The official version of the crash stated that the B-29 was on a routine “navigation training flight.” The Air Force said the B-29 had taken off from Walker AFB and had landed at Kirtland AFB to “refuel.””

 

Baugher: “Martin-Omaha B-29-50-MO Superfortress….86329 (830th BS, 509th BW) crashed into mountain on Manzano Base Nuclear Weapons Storage Area 3 min after takeoff from Kirtland AFB, NM Apr 11, 1950. All 13 crew onboard killed. There was a nuclear bomb aboard, which shattered when triggers exploded. The fuel capsule, carried separately, was recovered.”  (Baugher. 1944 USAAF Serial Numbers (44-83886 to 44-92098). 10-15-2011 revision.)

 

Center for Defense Information: “April 11, 1950/B-29/Manzano Base, New Mexico.  Aircraft departed Kirtland Air Force Base {Albuquerque, N.M.} at 9:38 p.m. and crashed into a mountain on Manzano Base approximately three minutes later killing the crew {of thirteen}. Detonators were installed in the bomb on board the aircraft. The bomb case was demolished and some high explosive (HE) material burned in the gasoline fire. Other pieces of unburned HE were scattered throughout the wreckage. Four spare detonators in their carrying case were recovered undamaged. There were no contamination or recovery problems. The recovered components of the weapon were returned to the Atomic Energy Commission. Both the weapon and the capsule of nuclear material were on board the aircraft but the capsule was not inserted for safety reasons. A nuclear detonation was not possible.

 

“…The New York Times reported the B-29 crashed in a “remote secret area of Sandia Special Weapons Base…and burned, shooting up flames visible for fifteen miles.” Manzano Mountain was used as a “dead storage” site where outmoded weapons were stored. The B-29 was the United States’ first nuclear delivery aircraft and comprised the majority of our strategic bomber force through 1952…”  (Center for Defense Information. “U.S. Nuclear Weapons Accidents:  Danger In Our Midst,” The Defense Monitor, 1981, Vol. X, Number 5.)

 

Gibson: 1950.  “11 April – A USAF B-29 on a routine flight crashes into mountain three minutes after take-off from Kirtland Air Force Base, NM, killing 13 crew. One fully-assembled bomb casing (probably a Mark 4 nuclear bomb) on board is completely shattered when triggers explode. A fuel capsule, carried separately, is recovered.”  (Gibson 1996, p. 61.)

 

Sources

 

Aviation Safety Network, Flight Safety Foundation, Database, 1950. USAF B-29 Superfortress initial climb crash, Sandia Mts., 5.7M E of Kirtland AFB, NM, 4-11-1950. Accessed 8-27-2023 at: https://aviation-safety.net/wikibase/98583

 

Baugher, Joseph F. 1944 USAAF Serial Numbers (44-83886 to 44-92098). Oct 15, 2011 revision. Accessed 12-31-2011 at: http://www.joebaugher.com/usaf_serials/1944_6.html

 

Center for Defense Information. “U.S. Nuclear Weapons Accidents:  Danger In Our Midst,” The Defense Monitor, 1981, Vol. X, Number 5. Accessed at:  http://www.milnet.com/cdiart.htm

 

Gibson, James N.  Nuclear Weapons of the United States – An Illustrated History.  Atglen, PA:  Schiffer Publishing Ltd. 1996.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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