US Research›Conflicts›Indian Wars and Frontier Conflicts›Titan II Explosion — Damascus Arkansas (1980)
Indian Wars and Frontier Conflicts

Titan II Explosion — Damascus Arkansas (1980)

1980
Arkansas
Era
Indian Wars and Frontier Conflicts
Year
1980
Location
Arkansas
Status
Historical record
The Combatants

Who Fought

Forces
Not recorded in historical accounts
Forces
Accidental: fuel leak in Titan II silo
VS
Victor
Not recorded in historical accounts
Forces
US Air Force 308th SMW crew: ~30 maintenance personnel and security
Outcome
A dropped 8-lb socket punctured the first-stage fuel tank; hypergolic fuel ignited; 9-megaton warhead ejected and landed ~100 feet from the silo complex. No nuclear detonation.
The Battle

History & Significance

The most serious nuclear weapons accident on US soil; the 9-megaton warhead — 600 times more powerful than Hiroshima — was found intact 300 feet from the silo. Dramatized in Eric Schlosser's 'Command and Control.'

Casualties & Losses

1 killed, 21 injured; warhead ejected 300 feet but did not detonate

Questions & Answers

Frequently Asked Questions

When did Titan II Explosion — Damascus Arkansas (1980) take place?
Titan II Explosion — Damascus Arkansas (1980) took place in 1980.
Where was Titan II Explosion — Damascus Arkansas (1980) fought?
Titan II Explosion — Damascus Arkansas (1980) was fought in Arkansas, United States.
What was the outcome of Titan II Explosion — Damascus Arkansas (1980)?
A dropped 8-lb socket punctured the first-stage fuel tank; hypergolic fuel ignited; 9-megaton warhead ejected and landed ~100 feet from the silo complex. No nuclear detonation.
What was the significance of Titan II Explosion — Damascus Arkansas (1980)?
The most serious nuclear weapons accident on US soil; the 9-megaton warhead — 600 times more powerful than Hiroshima — was found intact 300 feet from the silo. Dramatized in Eric Schlosser's 'Command and Control.'
Protected heritage nearby

Historic Sites near Titan II Explosion — Damascus Arkansas (1980)

Van Buren County Courthouse
Industrial · 2.7 mi
Joclin-Bradley-Bowling House
Industrial · 3.1 mi
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Jerome War Relocation Center
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Rohwer War Relocation Center
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All battles in Arkansas›
Source

Content adapted from Wikipedia under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International License.

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