Neuclear option.. billbob, DonG

billbob and DonG, you all remember me telling you about going to Nuclear weapons school and about the loading the dial-a-bomb. Well here it is. It is a Mark 107 hanging beneath the belly of Douglas A4 aircraft #305. That was Commander Boldstad's plane. The planes were circling like buzzards during the crisis. Most were set for underwater explosions, but a couple were dialed in for low altitude bangs.

The planes did not land aboard ship with the nukes armed. They landed at Gitmo and I/we disarmed the nukes before returning to ship. Hey, what could go wrong? Rest of the time I was marching up and down the tarmac with a M1 and no ammo. Ha.

File:A-4B with Mk 7 bomb on cat USS Saratoga.jpg - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

What year were you on the saratoga? My brother was on it sometime around 61-62

Tom, I do remember the conversation. I also saw them in person. We also had some nukes loaded on the new Sikorsky birds. I'll bet you had to have Top Secret clearance to load and unload.

Great picture.:ThumbsUp

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Originally Posted by REDEYE50

What year were you on the saratoga? My brother was on it sometime around 61-62

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62-63.

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Originally Posted by Don G

Tom, I do remember the conversation. I also saw them in person. We also had some nukes loaded on the new Sikorsky birds. I'll bet you had to have Top Secret clearance to load and unload.

Great picture.:ThumbsUp

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I got an email about the govt gonna sink the Saratoga and use it for a reef. I was just looking up pictures of the Sara and found this one. Crazy govt. That ship could make a lot of Chevys or HumVees. ha. Yep, had top secret.

neat

We did a lot of load and unloads practice. I didn't mind the work, but I sure woulda like to seen one dropped and watch it explode. I guess pictures will have to do. Shoot.

I seen a couple of them (or like em) =
I did TDY in Tainan Tiawan babysitting six F-4's, two on active alert,
four on standby. I was radio repairman. The two on alert sat across the runway under bunkers on ready status.
Each had a big bomb strapped underneath (painted white). Every now and then they'd have a scramble and the
pilots jumped in and hauled azz down the runway, but, never took off, word was, that if they ever did leave the ground
they were headed to China, pilots were supposed to open sealed orders once airborne, probably wouldn't be comin back.
just sayin ..............................
Lookin back on it (my service time) I really did have a good time, even though I didn't think so at the time ...........
Wish I coulda give em 30 yrs now ........................

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Originally Posted by Cane Pole

Rest of the time I was marching up and down the tarmac with a M1 and no ammo. Ha

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Who says the Gov doesn't have a sence of humor? Maybe they knew you wanted to see one of those babies go off! :yikes EB