Command and Control: Nuclear Weapons, the Damascus Accident, and the Illusion of Safety

They were being sued by Airman Carl Malinger: The lawsuits filed by Malinger and the widows of Erby Hepstall and Robert J. Thomas were later settled out of court. According to one news account, the defense contractors agreed to pay Malinger and the other plaintiffs about $500,000 each. See “Lawsuits from ’78 Titan Accident Settled Out of Court by Air Force,” Lawrence (Kansas) Journal-World, January 8, 1981.

Skip Rutherford and his wife were at home: Rutherford interview.

“This is serious”: Ibid.

“Well, how serious?”: Quoted in ibid.

“They tell me it’s going to explode”: Ibid.

“You’re kidding me”: Quoted in ibid.

“Bob, listen to me”: Ibid.

“What?”: Quoted in ibid.

“Tell Frank to get the hell out”: Ibid.

“How do you know?”: Quoted in ibid.

“You have your sources”: Ibid.

Like Hell

Greg Devlin and Rex Hukle took turns: Greg Devlin interview.

Jeff Kennedy thought the whole plan was idiotic: Kennedy interview.

For the next eight minutes, the command post did not hear a word: “Report, Major Missile Accident, Titan II Complex 374-7,” Statement of Jimmy D. Wiley, Staff Sergeant, Tab U-100, p. 3.

Moser thought the warhead had detonated: Moser interview.

“Get out of here, get out of here”: King interview.

“We just left a bunch of dead people back there”: Ibid.

“Hop in here”: Hutto interview.

“Evacuate, evacuate”: “Report, Major Missile Accident, Titan II Complex 374-7,” Statement of Thomas A. Brocksmith, Technical Sergeant, Tab U-9, p. 4.

“I need to get the hell out of here”: Holder interview.

“Screw you”: Sandaker interview.

I just want everything to stop falling: “Report, Major Missile Accident, Titan II Complex 374-7,” Statement of Archie G. James, Staff Sergeant, Tab U-42, p. 2.

“Oh shit, you ain’t gonna live through this”: Devlin interview.

“Run, run!”: Ibid.

“Oh, my God”: Ibid.

“Please help, I can’t move”: “Report, Major Missile Accident, Titan II Complex 374-7,” Statement of John G. Devlin, Senior Airman, Tab U-18, p. 4.

“I have to put you down”: Quoted in Devlin interview.

“Get away from there”: Childers interview.

“Let’s go, let’s get out of here”: Ibid., and “Report, Major Missile Accident, Titan II Complex 374-7,” Statement of Gene M. Schneider, Airman First Class, Tab U-87, p. 3.

“Well, at least I’ve still got the hair on my arms”: Quoted in ibid., Statement of Allan D. Childers, First Lieutenant, Tab U-13, p. 6.

“Man, ain’t that pretty”: Ibid., Testimony of Jimmy E. Roberts, Technical Sergeant, p. 2.

“I’m not going to leave”: Quoted in Green interview.

“Help! Help me. Help me! Can anybody read me?”: Don Green obtained a recording of the radio communications at Launch Complex 374-7 after the accident. The recording was made by a civilian and then given anonymously to KATV-TV in Little Rock. Partial transcripts were also published in the newspaper: “Radio Conversations Detail Rescue Effort by Air Force,” Arkansas Gazette, September 20, 1980. I’m grateful to Green for making a copy of the tape for me. Kennedy’s plea for help can be heard on it.

“Yes, we can hear you”: Transcript, Air Force Radio Traffic, September 19, 1980.

“Help me!”: Ibid.

“Where are you?”: Ibid.

“Where are you, Jeff?”: Ibid.

“Colonel Morris, I’m down here”: Ibid.

“Where are you?”: Ibid.

“I’m down here in your truck!”: Ibid.

“I am not going to die on this complex”: Kennedy interview.

“Oh, my God, help me”: Quoted in Kennedy interview.

“Livy, I’m going for help”: Ibid., and “Report, Major Missile Accident, Titan II Complex 374-7,” Statement of Jeffrey K. Kennedy, Sergeant, Tab U-46, p. 14.

“Oh, my God, help me”: Kennedy interview.

“Please, somebody help me”: Ibid.

“Help”: Quoted in “Report, Major Missile Accident, Titan II Complex 374-7,” Testimony of George H. Short, Captain, Tab U-90, p. 3.

“Captain”: Quoted in ibid.

“Okay, keep on yelling”: Ibid., Roberts statement, Tab U-77, p. 4.

“Look, we’re going to make it out of here”: Ibid., Roberts statement, Tab U-77, p. 5.

“Please don’t leave me”: Quoted in ibid., Roberts statement, Tab U-77, p. 5.

“Great”: Ibid., Roberts statement, Tab U-77, p. 5.

“Please don’t tell my mother”: Sandaker interview.

Confirm or Deny

Matthew Arnold was taught how to deactivate: Interview with Matthew Arnold.

“Chlorine is your friend”: Quoted in ibid.

About one third of the students typically flunked out: My description of the course work at Redstone and Indian Head is based not only on my interview with Arnold but also on interviews with other EOD technicians who studied at both places during roughly the same period. I also learned a few things about bomb disposal from Peurifoy and Stevens.

SAC headquarters wouldn’t even tell Frank Wilson: See “Local Officials Couldn’t Get Information from Military,” Arkansas Gazette, September 20, 1980.

the whereabouts of “the warhead”: Transcript, Air Force Radio Traffic.

“Hey, I need one of them masks”: Anglin interview.

“Oh, you don’t need a mask”: Quoted in ibid.

“dry land drowning”: See “Fact Sheet, Phosgene Carbonyl Chloride, Military Designations: CG,” U.S. Army Chemical Materials Agency (n.d.).