Palomares accident

The first of these accidents occurred on January 17, 1966, when a B-52 collided with a KC-135 tanker during a routine refueling operation over Palomares, Spain on the Mediterranean sea coast. The B-52 was carrying four nuclear bombs, which fell over 28,000 feet. One bomb fell into the sea and the other three nuclear bombs on the ground. The bomb that fell into the sea was recovered at a depth of 2,500 feet after an expansive underwater search. The bomb was dented but intact, and there was no radiation leakage. With two of the three other bombs, the explosives detonated on impact and released some radioactive materials. Approximately 1,400 tons of contaminated soil and vegetation were removed to the U.S. for storage at the Savannah River Site. A small parachute deployed on the other bomb and it remained relatively intact. The casings from the two bombs that did not detonate from the Palomares incident are on display in this museum.

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