US Nuclear MIssile Mistake

In early september I wrote about 5 nuclear missiles that were flown from a US base in North Dakota to one in Louisiana with no explanation. I noted some speculation that they were taken to a base being used as a jumping off point for Middle East operations.

Today the Military Explains Nuclear Weapon Mistake. "A six-week Air Force investigation found fault with several officers, who have been relieved of duty, [Maj. Gen. Richard Newton, the Air Force deputy chief of staff for operations] said. He said the 5th Bomb Group commander at Minot was relieved of command, among others. Newton did not name them. Newton said the 5th Bomb Wing, which operates the B-52 has been "decertified from its wartime mission.""

"The weapons involved were the Advanced Cruise Missile, a "stealth" weapon developed in the 1980s with the ability to evade detection by Soviet radars. The Air Force said in March that it had decided to retire the Advanced Cruise Missile fleet soon, and officials said after the breach that the missiles were being flown to Barksdale for decommissioning but were supposed to be disarmed."

So it probably wasn't planned but I'm not sure that makes it much better.