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

131 he made a plan for the submersibles: Author's interviews with Brad Mooney, March 30, 2007, and Art Markel, September 25, 2006.

131 theAluminautsonars picked up: Art Markel interview, September 25, 2006. Markel also discusses the “ship of antiquity” in Memo, Art Markel to office, “Tape 17,” recorded April 11, 1966 (SMV); Letter, Art Markel to Carrie, February 18, 1966 (SMV); and Letter, Art Markel to Louis Reynolds, February 23, 1966 (SMV).

131 He also suggested to Guest Art Markel interview, September 25, 2006.

132 On February 16, the Soviet foreign minister: “Russians Accuse U.S. in B-52 Crash,” The New York. Times, February 18, 1966, p. 4; Howard Simons, “Some Experts Fear Strategic Loss if Curbs Are Put on Nuclear Routes,” The Washington Post, February 27, 1966, p. A1; SAC Historical Study #109, pp. 297–298.

132 A week later, President Charles de Gaulle: Henry Tanner, “De Gaulle Insists on Rule of Bases of NATO in France,” The New York Times, February 22, 1966, p. 1; “Johnson Rebuffs de Gaulle Quickly in Bases Dispute,” The New York Times, March 9, 1966, p. 1.

132 Ambassador Duke received assurances: Cable, Embassy in Madrid to SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY, March 25, 1966, #23577 (LBJ); Cable, Embassy in Madrid to SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY, March 25, 1966, #24270 (LBJ).

132 a Soviet spy ship, theLotsman: Aircraft Salvops Med, Final Report, vol. 1, part I, chap. 2, pp. 46–49; Toth, “Soviet Spy Ship Watches U.S. Hunt Bomb,” Los Angeles Times, March 8, 1966, p. 1; author's interviews with Gary Montalbine, August 16, 2007, and Anthony Colucci, July 31, 2007.

133 the Soviets had two advanced submersibles: In an e-mail to the author on May 25, 2007, Anatoly Sagalevitch, who ran the Soviet submersible program, wrote that Russia had two “Sever-2” submersibles that could dive to two thousand meters, but that they were used for scientific purposes only. He doesn't recall the Soviets sending any submersibles to Palomares during the hunt for the bomb.

133 Heads would roll: In more bureaucratic language: “Overshadowing all efforts was the apprehension that the weapon might not be located at all and the Navy would be called upon to justify both the cost and its methods in the unsuccessful search.” Aircraft Salvops Med, Final Report, vol. 1, part I, chap. 2, p. 3.

133 they would need proof: Author's interview with Henry (hereafter “Tony”) Richardson, October 31, 2006.

134 In Washington, Craven briefed the two: Author's interviews with Tony Richardson, October 31, 2006, and Frank Andrews, November 10, 2006. Also see Craven, The Silent War, p. 169.

134 On the plane: The story of Richardson's trip to Spain and his first meeting with Guest comes from author's interviews with Tony Richardson, October 31, 2006, and Frank Andrews, November 10, 2006.

135 Richardson, working with the grid overlay: Author's interviews with Tony Richardson, and e-mail, Richardson to author, September 9, 2008. Also see Red Moody interview, November 11, 2006. A detailed explanation of the mathematics behind SEP can be found in Aircraft Salvops Med, Final Report, vol. 2, annex I, part II, chap. 5.

135 Some on the task force had doubts: George Martin interview May 9, 2007; and Letter, John Bruce to Paul Fye, March 9, 1966 (WHOI).

136 “It's important psychologically”: Tony Richardson interview, October 31, 2006.

136 By February 17, they had thoroughly scanned:Aircraft Salvops Med, Final Report, vol. 1, part I, chap. 2, p. 20.

136 At times, Guest moved the submersibles: Author's interviews with Rhodes Boykin, March 16, 2007, and Tony Richardson, October 31, 2007; Memo, W. O. Rainnie to Office of Naval Research, “Quarterly Informal Letter,” June 10, 1966, p. 8.

136 specific grievances began to emerge: Guest's rebuke of Markel comes from Art Markel interview, September 25, 2006.

137 The Alvin crew had its own problems: Brad Mooney interview, March 30, 2007; Kaharl, Water Baby, pp. 67–69.

138 One Navy captain estimated: Letter, Lewis Melson to Adm. Leyton, February 25, 1966 (author's collection).