mhansen2
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11 May
1966 – F-104 / Tonopah, Nevada
An inert bomb test unit intended for drop at the AEC's Tonopah Test Range was dropped off-range by an F-104 between Lathrop Wells and Beatty, Nevada, approximately 80 miles southwest of the target area. The aircraft was flying at an altitude of 35,000 feet at a speed of Mach 1.2 when the incident occurred.
The test unit did not contain any internal classified components, but the construction of its nose was classified as confidential formerly-restricted data. Unclassified depleted uranium weighing about 202 lbs. was used for weight simulation in the unit. An unsuccessful search for the lost device was conducted; the Air Force eventually declared the item irretrievably lost.
Chuck Hansen, “The Swords of Armageddon,” Vol. VII, pp.284-285.
1966 – F-104 / Tonopah, Nevada
An inert bomb test unit intended for drop at the AEC's Tonopah Test Range was dropped off-range by an F-104 between Lathrop Wells and Beatty, Nevada, approximately 80 miles southwest of the target area. The aircraft was flying at an altitude of 35,000 feet at a speed of Mach 1.2 when the incident occurred.
The test unit did not contain any internal classified components, but the construction of its nose was classified as confidential formerly-restricted data. Unclassified depleted uranium weighing about 202 lbs. was used for weight simulation in the unit. An unsuccessful search for the lost device was conducted; the Air Force eventually declared the item irretrievably lost.
Chuck Hansen, “The Swords of Armageddon,” Vol. VII, pp.284-285.