Fifty years ago these children lost their play house

[geetrue]

http://www.sonicbomb.com/modules.php?name=News&file=article&sid=95&mode=&order=0&thold=0 (http://www.sonicbomb.com/modules.php?name=News&file=article&sid=95&mode=&order=0&thold=0)


On the afternoon of March 11, 1958, the children of the Gregg family were in their playhouse in the woods behind their house in Mars Bluff, South Carolina. About four o’clock they tired of the playhouse and moved 200 feet to the side yard. This kept them from becoming the first Americans killed by a nuclear weapon released on U.S. territory.

U.S. Air Force B-47E medium bomber serial number 53-1876A dropped its nuclear weapon in the woods behind the Greggs’ house at 4:19 P.M. The high-explosive trigger in the bomb blew up on contact with the ground, leaving a crater 50 feet across and 35 feet deep and injuring the three girls. All that remained of the playhouse were a few twisted shards of the corrugated metal that had been its roof.



B-47 Stratojet (http://www.sonicbomb.com/albums/album22/B_47_Stratojet_001.jpg)

[baggygreen]

Isn't it always amazing how a simple decision like this can lead to a life saved or not..

[bookworm_020]

I'm sure the bombardier had a few drinks when he could after getting back on the ground!:o

One heck of a story to tell your class mates

"My tree house was taken out by a nuclear bomb!"

I wonder if the kids built a bomb shelter to replace their tree house?:hmm:

[Platapus]

Wow that is some story. Thanks for posting it. History like that always makes for good readin.

I wonder if this incident gave the writers the idea for Major T.J. Kong's demise in Dr. Strangelove?

[Etienne]

Woah woah woah...

They accidentally dropped a NUKE because someone used the emergency release as an handhold? Holy Safety Features, Batman!

Good thing the core wasn't in there, or it would have been one hell of a story.

[geetrue]

Good thing the core wasn't in there, or it would have been one hell of a story.

I didn't know they even kept the bad stuff somewhere else, that must have been the poor guys job that accidently dropped the bomb.

and yes I think the writer of Dr. Strangelove definitely picked up on this amazing true story.