The Day We Lost the H-Bomb: Cold War, Hot Nukes, and the Worst Nuclear Weapons Disaster in History

101 “So stringent is the official secrecy”: “An H-Bomb Is Missing and the Hunt Goes On,” Newsweek, March 7, 1966, p. 55.

101 Press briefings were maddening: Szulc, The Bombs of Palomares, p. 202.

102 Even the Spanish reporters: Lewis, One of Our H-Bombs, p. 165. 102 London papers reported: SAC Historical Study #109, p. 365.

102 The Sydney Sun: Ibid., p. 366.

102 Radio España Independiente: Ibid., p. 301; Szulc, The Bombs of Palomares, pp. 157–158. The transcripts of REI broadcasts are located at the PCE Archive in Madrid. The author read a selection of them at the archive in February 2007.

103 “It was a long”:SAC Historical Study #109, p. 80.

103 estimated that searchers covered: Walter Vornbrock interview, April 23, 2007.

103 “found they liked the outdoor life”:SAC Historical Study #109, p. 92.

103 Colonel Alton “Bud” White: White's description of the cleanup operation comes from Flora Lewis, interview with Alton “Bud” White, undated (AFHRA).

103 they cleared about 150 tons: Ibid. says 150 tons; SAC Historical Study #109, p. 133, says 100 tons.

104 Wilson and Montel spoke to a crowd:SAC Historical Study #109, pp. 292–293; Szulc, The Bombs of Palomares, p. 161.

104 Speaking through a translator: The text of Wilson's speech can be found in Memo, 16AF Torrejón AB Spain to US Embassy Spain and JUSMG Madrid Spain, February 2, 1966 (USAF, FOIA).

104 he was surprised — and a bit shocked: Flora Lewis, interview with Alton White, undated (AFHRA).

104 A team of scientists: Emilio Iranzo interview, February 16, 2007.

105 Starting at each bomb's impact point: White's description of the radiation mapping comes from Flora Lewis, interview with Alton White, undated (AFHRA), and SAC Historical Study #109, pp. 141–146.

105 But the PAC-1S: The problems with the PAC-1S are detailed in SAC Historical Study #109, pp. 271–277.

106 “The only way you could treat that land”: Flora Lewis, interview with Alton White, undated (AFHRA).

106 The job of chief tomato plant chopper: Robert Finkel interview, April 4, 2007, and Szulc, The Bombs of Palomares, p. 125.

106 “the Boston Tomato Party”: Robert C. Toth, “Soviet Spy Ship Watches U.S. Hunt Bomb,” Los Angeles Times, March 8, 1966, p. 1.

106 As a gesture of goodwill:SAC Historical Study #109, p. 156; Flora Lewis, interview with Alton White, undated (AFHRA).

106 “Anywhere you turned around”: Walter Vornbrock interview, April 23, 2007.

106 A bit farther down the beach: The description of the Navy EOD camp comes from author's interviews with Red Moody, November 7, 2006; Denford Stevens, November 30, 2006; Gaylord White, March 3, 2007; Robert Singleton, November 27, 2006; Oliver Andersen, January 22, 2007, and March 31, 2007; Charles Detmer, December 13, 2006; Tom Ligon, November 30, 2006; and Ed Jeffords, November 27, 2006. Stevens and Singleton also supplied personal photographs. Footage of Camp Wilson can be found at NARA, 342-USAF-40730A, reel 7.

106 “The Air Force is okay”: Gaylord White interview, March 3, 2007.

107 “Leave it to divers”: Ibid.

107 On the afternoon of February 2:SAC Historical Study #109, p. 196; and Angier Biddle Duke,

“Notes Taken after First Visit to the Palomares Site,” April 5, 1968 (Duke). Duke's notes on the trip come from this document. The April 5, 1968, date is written on a cover sheet that appears to have been attached to the notes when Duke gave them to Duke University. The notes themselves appear to have been written by Duke during the February 1966 visit or very soon afterward. The visit is also mentioned in Szulc, The Bombs of Palomares, pp. 165–166.