The Incident
On 5 February 1958, a US Air Force B-47 bomber carrying a Mark 15 thermonuclear weapon collided mid-air with an F-86 fighter during a training exercise off the coast of Savannah, Georgia. The B-47 was damaged. The pilot, unable to land safely with a nuclear weapon on board, jettisoned the bomb into the waters of Wassaw Sound off Tybee Island.
The Search
The military mounted an extensive search operation involving ships, divers, and sonar sweeps. The initial search lasted weeks. Further searches followed over the years. The bomb was never recovered. It could not be located with sufficient certainty to attempt retrieval.
The Decision
Eventually officials concluded that leaving the weapon buried under sediment in Wassaw Sound posed less risk than attempting to recover it. The bomb remained where it had sunk. It is believed to lie under several feet of sediment approximately five miles from a beach that receives tourist visitors every summer.
The Status
The Mark 15 was one of the most powerful nuclear weapons ever built — its maximum yield was approximately 100 times greater than the bomb dropped on Hiroshima. The official position is that the weapon is not armed with its nuclear capsule, reducing the risk of nuclear detonation. However its exact location remains uncertain and it has never been recovered.
The United States spent years searching for the bomb. Then stopped. It is likely still somewhere off the coast of Georgia.
Frequently Asked Questions
What happened to the Tybee Island bomb?
A Mark 15 nuclear bomb was jettisoned into Wassaw Sound off Tybee Island, Georgia in February 1958 after a mid-air collision. Extensive searches failed to locate it. It is believed to remain buried under sediment.
Is the Tybee Island bomb dangerous?
The official position is that the weapon was not fitted with its nuclear capsule at the time, reducing the risk of nuclear detonation. However its exact condition and location are uncertain.
Has the bomb ever been found?
No. The US military conducted multiple searches and was unable to recover the weapon. Officials concluded that leaving it posed less risk than attempting retrieval.
Where exactly is the Tybee Island bomb?
The bomb is believed to lie somewhere in Wassaw Sound off Tybee Island, Georgia, buried under several feet of sediment. Its precise location has not been confirmed.