It’s frustrating to lose your keys, but to lose a nuclear bomb is on another scale altogether. But back in the Cold War, the U.S. lost a number of these ultra-hazardous weapons—some of which are still missing. These “Broken Arrow” events are not only bizarre historical anomalies; they’re stern reminders of the dangers of having the world’s most deadly weapons. Here are five of the most enigmatic missing U.S. nuclear bombs, up to the most notorious case.
5. Thule, Greenland B-52 Crash (1968)
Deep in the chill of an Arctic winter, a U.S. Air Force B-52 bomber loaded with four hydrogen bombs went down off the coast of Thule Air Base in Greenland. The aircraft was engaged in routine duties under Operation Chrome Dome when a cockpit fire compelled the crew to evacuate. While all but a few of the crew survived, the crash left radioactive material scattered across miles of sea ice.
While most of the bomb components were recovered, one nuclear weapon was never discovered. This mishap created significant tension between Denmark, whose government had not been informed that nuclear bombs were being flown over its country. To this date, the fate of the missing bomb is unknown — perhaps it was stored away under ice or lost in one of North Star Bay’s frigid waters.
4. Palomares, Spain Incident (1966)
On the 17th day of January, 1966, a B-52 bomber and refueling tanker collided mid-air over the tiny Spanish village of Palomares. The bomber disintegrated, releasing four hydrogen bombs. Two detonated as expected on impact, dispersing radioactive material throughout the countryside. One fell intact into a riverbed, and the fourth fell into the Mediterranean Sea, leading to an 80-day search using ships and submersibles.
Finally, the lost bomb was found at almost 3,000 feet below the water level. This accident made headlines all over the world as it was the first nuclear weapons accident on foreign land and involved civilians. Despite a huge cleanup, radioactive contamination remains in some areas of the site, a reminder of how perilous these weapons are.
3. USS Ticonderoga Skyhawk Loss (1965)
Sometimes the most incredible accidents occur while doing routine work. On 5 December 1965, an A-4E Skyhawk aircraft loaded with a one-megaton nuclear bomb was being transported on board the warship USS Ticonderoga in the Philippine Sea. Due to a misunderstanding, the aircraft rolled off the deck and fell into the sea, carrying with it both the pilot and the bomb. The accident occurred almost exactly 60 miles from Okinawa, Japan, leading to diplomatic protests. Even though there was a search effort, the aircraft and the bomb were never found, and the incident remained classified for decades.
2. Goldsboro, North Carolina Accident (1961)
On January 24, 1961, the U.S. narrowly escaped disaster when a B-52 disintegrated in mid-air over Goldsboro, North Carolina, releasing two Mark 39 hydrogen bombs. One parachute opened on one bomb, and it swayed in a tree; the other landed in a muddy field at high velocity, digging itself deep into the ground.
Recovery teams recovered and secured all but most of the bombs, but some components are still missing today. The most frightening fact: one of the bombs nearly detonated. Three of its four safety devices failed, and only a single low-voltage switch prevented a nuclear explosion. This close call compelled significant reforms in the production and management of nuclear weapons.
1. Tybee Island, Georgia Bomb (1958)
Number one is the notorious missing bomb off Tybee Island. On 5 February 1958, a B-47 bomber crashed into a fighter jet while flying an exercise near Savannah, Georgia. To avoid a greater catastrophe, the crew jettisoned a 7,500-pound thermonuclear bomb off the shallow Wassaw Sound. Regardless of two months of efforts by Air Force and Navy search teams, the bomb was never discovered.
Some registered radiation alarms in subsequent private searches, but officials attributed it to natural background radiation. The location of the bomb remains uncertain, buried beneath sediment somewhere. Experts have pointed out that the government has never fully disclosed the number of nuclear weapons that are lost or what happened to them.
These accidents aren’t only about missing bombs—they’re harsh lessons in the risks of dealing with nuclear stockpiles. Each one provoked tighter safety controls, improved weapons designs, and more prudent policies. Disasters like environmental sensors, the two-person rule, and enhanced detonation security all have roots in these near-misses. Though the current nuclear arsenal is far safer, the specter of these missing bombs still haunts oceans, swamps, and the collective psyche.