Report: Air Force lost track of nuclear missiles

DHS Announces West Coast Maritime Radiation Detection Project

Release Date: September 5, 2007

For Immediate Release
Office of the Press Secretary
Contact: 202-282-8010

The U.S. Department of Homeland Security’s Domestic Nuclear Detection Office (DNDO) announced today the West Coast Maritime pilot program that will provide maritime radiation detection capabilities for State and local authorities in Washington’s Puget Sound and California’s San Diego areas. The three-year pilot program involves the development of a radiation detection architecture that reduces the risk of radiological and nuclear threats that could be illegally transported on recreational or small commercial vessels. The pilot will be conducted in close coordination with the U.S. Coast Guard and Customs and Border Protection.




www.dhs.gov...

Homeland Security: Small Vessels To Be Tested For Radiological Threats


POSTED: 1:00 pm PDT September 5, 2007
UPDATED: 1:12 pm PDT September 5, 2007


SAN DIEGO -- Small vessels using San Diego's waterways will soon be tested for radiological threats under a three-year pilot program announced Wednesday by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security.

The West Coast Maritime pilot program, which is already under way in the Puget Sound region of Washington state, was initiated by the DHS' Domestic Nuclear Detection Office.

According to the DHS, about $10 million will be spent on the pilot program to purchase radiation detection equipment, including portable sensors and fixed-position detectors.


It is intended to counter the risk of radiological and nuclear threats that could be illegally transported into the country on recreation or small commercial vessels, according to the DHS.

"The West Coast Maritime pilot program addresses a potential threat pathway in the maritime domain," said Vayl S. Oxford, director of the Domestic Nuclear Detection Office. "This project reflects the priority that the department has placed on balancing risk against all potential threats."

www.10news.com...

msnbc article
www.msnbc.msn.com...

air force captain was in oregon not washington
www.localnewsdaily.com...

There is no connection I have seen other then the date. Probally just another coincidence.

[edit on 11-9-2007 by Redge777]

TITLE: DoD Instruction 5210.42, "Nuclear Weapon Personnel Reliability Program (PRP)", October 16, 2006
SUMMARY: This Instruction:

Reissues DoD Directive 5210.42 as a DoD Instruction under the authority of DoD Directive 5134.1 and the guidance in Acting Deputy Secretary of Defense Memorandum dated July 13, 2005 and updates policy and responsibilities for the management of the DoD Nuclear Weapons PRP.
Identifies the standards of individual reliability for personnel performing duties associated with nuclear weapons or nuclear command and control systems and equipment.
Requires the selection and retention of only those personnel who are emotionally stable and physically capable and who have demonstrated reliability and professional competence. Individuals who do not meet or maintain program standards shall not be selected for or retained in the PRP or assigned duties associated with nuclear weapons.
Continues to authorize DoD 5210.42-R and implementing PRP guidance.


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I havent read all the responses yet [sorry, there are 10 pages LOL], but wanted to say on the 14th our Jets were flying all day long.

I think this was just an excuse to stop the dis-arming of these missiles. I object to getting rid of these missiles especially when Russia is building new ones as we speak.

In just under 80 days, the base will host an Air Combat Command inspection team as the 5th Bomb Wing attempts to be re-certified to handle nuclear weapons
new article

This has been a particularlly amusing thread. we have the right side, the left side and those in the middle ground. To the OP, it isn't possible to mistakenly load a missile with a 'physics' package. To my recolletion the ALCM (approx 10ft long) was decommisioned as a nuclear delivery system. Hence the CALCM conventional explosives replaced the physics package to utilize the stockpile for a non-nuke purpose. The procedures and checks in place for the 'minor' task of accessing a 'special weapon' assure everyone knows exactly what they're dealing with. I was on the PRP (personnel reliability program) for a couple years. It's a nuke related personnel oversight program. very strict program, i couldn't get a bottle of Motrin w/o a small headache of paper.

I think it was a deliberate leak to send a message. To whom, we can only speculate. Fact is that the ALCM is a non-utilized (decommisionned) meathod of delivery. I think this is a pure hoax leak. The actions that have come from this 'incident' are part of either a cover to remove certain personnel or just the 'peacock' mention by someone earlier in this thread. granted, the missiles and the physics packages are still there. 150kt nuke out of an alcm? -snort- nope, i'm sorry...it's just not THAT big.

the public notice of a sept 14 stand down. note, it didn't specify ALL military aircraft. Just the generalization to say certified nuke delivery systems stand down. which reduces the overall 'air force' stand down to select groups of airplanes and units. Heck i've personally watched the certification process of a specific plane and pilot. (ie the man on the ground watching a 'dummy' pickle in) and not just for U.S of A pilots/planes. the delivery platform is certified (plane, boat, sub, carrier, bomber, fighter, paper airplane) the storage is certifed, the bolts are certified, the grease is certified, the safety wiring inside and out is certified, the tools are certified, the paperwork is certified, need i go on? a nuke never goes anywhere out of coincidence or accident. This left over SAC argument. yes the new 'ACC' is the replacement, and it's not the put the nuke there anytime anywhere within hours mentality, it's the forward global force mentality. SAC died when the cold war did, mission shift hello? Hence the new name.

I have no references, i am a source just using my past training and experience of 6 years USAF EOD. (look up that acronym if you're unfamiliar with it) 2 of which i directly supported and trained for one delivery system overseas. i will to my last breath remember exactly everything about that weapon. (talk about rote memory to the extreme!) we knew when there was a 'movement' and would man for it appropriately. (ie manning the shop for a night shift while the movement was in our area)

so propose that indeed 6 ALCM (which would mean yes a physics package installed. CALCM would be the conventional explosive type) traveled their way from minot to barksdale on the inner pylons of a B-52. first, they were meant to be there. oops...sorry we had the wrong keys and opened the nuke bunker full of alcms vs the one next to it with the calcms. (for those missing the acronym. Air Launched Cruise Missile) It just doesn't happen by mistake. why would they move them here? OMG to launch an attack from the base the USA is staging attacks on the middle east from. DUH! b-52...LONG range HEAVY bomber. the only ONE we have. b-2? long range medium bomber. B1-b lancer? non-active duty Medium range Medium super-sonic bomber, f-117a? short range 'bomber' capable of carrying 2 yes 2 bombs. (non nuke carrier) so we now have 3eax2pylons loaded with 10ft long cruise missiles. hard to miss them even when the plane is 1000ft in the air. Note inserted picture somewhere around page 3 or 4 of this thread. where do they go now? BAFB? barksdale air force base? probably not. b-52 isn't delivery certified. (b-2 spirit remains as our nuke plane) out of text space.

article

I'm not sure how different this is.

Nukes get approved at every step from arsenal to aircraft, no way was this or any nuke moved without orders and approval, all levels had to have knowledge and approved before it moves a inch.. unless, we have a birds on rail situation - which is not the case.
we were flanked by a russian frigate with nuke on rail and we did so in kind during 007... wheter is was nuke or not -- no one will ever know..
birds on rail... is 3 to 4 seconds at most to get bird air borne... scary stuff...