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.