💣 A Routine Flight Gone Wrong
During the Cold War, the U.S. Air Force flew nuclear-armed bombers daily. These flights were part of preparations for possible Soviet threats. These missions were routine, but they carried enormous risks. On March 11, 1958, a flight from Hunter Air Force Base in Georgia to England veered off course. It shook a sleepy South Carolina community. 😨 🔗 Source: Wikipedia – 1958 Mars Bluff B-47 Nuclear Weapon Loss Incident
While passing over Mars Bluff, a small town near Florence, a crew member accidentally pulled the emergency release pin on the bomb’s harness. The Mark 6 nuclear bomb dropped through the bomb bay doors and plummeted 15,000 feet into the woods below. 😱 Fortunately, the nuclear core wasn’t installed. But the high explosives onboard still posed a major threat.
The bomb hit the ground and exploded like a massive conventional explosive. It leveled a house, left a 75-foot-wide crater, and injured a local family. 💣🏚️
🏚️ The Fallout in Florence
Walter Gregg and his family were at home when the bomb landed in their backyard. 👨👩👧👦 No one lost their life. However, the blast destroyed the family’s home, shattered windows, and carved a lasting scar into the earth. Visitors still see the mark today. It remains a visible scar in the landscape. 🕳️ The U.S. government stepped in to cover the damages through the Air Force. The incident also raised serious questions — and fears — about how many other “accidents” had happened before.
This wasn’t the only time the U.S. nearly nuked itself. In fact, the military has logged more than 30 Broken Arrow incidents — code for accidents involving nuclear weapons. ☢️ Some came frighteningly close to catastrophe. Others turned into historical oddities.
🧠 Fun Fact
The Greggs’ property became a bizarre Cold War-era tourist attraction. 🧳 For a while, visitors came to see the crater — and even bought dirt from the blast site. 🪨💵
📍 Plan Your Visit
Mars Bluff isn’t much of a tourist town, but the you can still find the crater tucked away in the woods on private land. 🧭 A small historical marker sits nearby. Today, the story lives on as a fascinating piece of South Carolina lore. 📚
🔗 Explore More Twisted History
🧻 Toilet Paper Panic of 1973 (Wisconsin)
