Nuclear Weapons Loading Procedures (1976)

It’s surreal watching these once classified nuclear weapons handling videos like a normal YouTube video.

My crew load crew on the F-16 used to complete this load in 30 minutes to include power on ops check of the aircraft, safety wire and sealing of the nuclear consent, impulse carts installed and transferred to the aircrew custody. Then again, we were evaluated every month on our proficiency in load training. Real B-61's used for alert were delivered in impeccable condition, like jewelry. If they weren't, was a huge problem with funny names like bent this, broken that and dull. If you know you know. This video shows the Marines but pretty much the same for USAF fighters. Even 20 years after I retired, I can almost read from memory the steps from the checklist. Cool video.

CAUTION: If the weapon ready/safe switch is in the READY position, set the switch to SAFE and notify proper authorities. And report to the PX for new underpants.

In the USAF we used to call the B-61 the "Dr. Pepper Bomb," because of the selectable yield (referred to an old Dr. Pepper TV commercial saying you should "refresh at 10, 2, and 4").

I did the same thing in the USAF in 1974 while stationed at Bitburg Germany with F-4E's (the ones with the 20mm nose gun) we loaded with either the B-57's which were white with red trim or the B-61's that were unpainted metallic color. I was a "four man" who readied the weapons and drove the "jammer" for loading while the others readied the aircraft on a four man load crew. Both were 2000 pound classed weapons. In Germany we had about 90 aircraft so we figured maybe 50 weapons or fewer as not all aircraft would be battle ready so they wouldn't be loaded either. These aircraft once loaded were in what they called the Victor Area, while the aircraft on hot alert and loaded with AIM 7 Sparrows and AIM 9 Sidewinder missiles was called the Zulu Area. The nuclear loaded planes NEVER flew once loaded, they were the ones parked behind that 16 foot tall double cyclone fencing with locked gates and guards with dogs were a common sight. Although the hot alert aircraft were scrambled daily sometimes more then once!! That was a great job in the USAF although things were winding down in southeast Asia and there got to be fewer and fewer of us weapons troops around. My enlistment was up in 1976 and even though I enjoyed (most of) my time, I never once regretted my decision either...

I was a member of the A-4M Nuclear Weapons Loading Team in the mid 1980s. Why they picked me ? I don’t know . I was not an Ordinance guy, but the next thing you know I was in the Personnel Reliability Program . We loaded this weapon and a couple others too. The cannon plug attachment to the pylon could be a pain , putting the lead slug on the brass break away wire on the DCU was tricky , it had to be crimped on ,if you dropped anything in the cockpit and could not be certain you removed all FOD you could cause a lot of work for others. Thankfully it never happened to me . The steps in the video seem to be identical to my memory of it . We had a perimeter around the weapon and aircraft with armed sentries though. Based on the training we got and how we were told we could never ever discuss anything we learned or did I’m surprised this video is available . Thankfully we never had to use these weapons, and thank you for sharing it .

I used to do this in 1976. It’s amazing how much I remember! We had armed Marine guards around us when loading.

I love vintage instructionals

Sat on alert with B-52s many a time with mark 28s and B-61 and occasionally B-53s. A whole lot of instant sunshine in that one.

Handling nukes on the flightline became somewhat routine, if you could ever call handling nuclear weapons routine. Whether it was uploading a bomber or downloading one when it came off of alert....or loading them up for an Operational Readiness Inspection exercise. On one ORI my supervisor asked me if my aircraft was ready for weapons. I said all we need is the final security check and we were ready. Apparently all he heard me say was "we were ready." Because the final security check of the aircraft means from that point on the aircraft has a red rope put up around it and from then on it's two-man policy inside the red rope and therefore ready for weapons to enter next to the aircraft. Well I had my aircraft log book laying on the fire extinguisher in front of the aircraft doing sign-offs and I get a tap on the shoulder.......it's a nuke weapons package and its heavily armed convoy. I said to the security guard (wait for it) "Are you sure that is for this aircraft?" And all hell broke loose. The entire base went on alert. They considered it a bent spear. Something went wrong with a nuke convoy and Bird Colonels were suddenly on all sides of me. "Airman what do you mean holding up this convoy??? ....and so forth and so on. It was a cluster fluke. I couldn't get a word in edgewise.....and before I could even say anything...they rolled the convoy into my area without it's final security check. I looked at my supervisor and shrugged. He said, "Put up your red ropes airman." The security guards weren't even in position. They were standing behind me when there was supposed to be one in back of the aircraft. That's one story anyway. There are others.

0:44 Just noticed that skyhawk is equipped with the Flash Hood to stop the pilot being blinded by his own weapon

Earl Heineman's Hotrod, the A-4 Skyhawk was built with long landing gear legs in order to fit earlier tactical nukes, like the Mk. 7 Thor. The B-61 was a gamechanger because of its small size in comparison.

Hey! It's great to see you post again. My grandfather flew F-100 super sabres for Strategic Air Command. If shit had hit the fan, he would have hit the airfield at Prague. The control tower was apparently real easy to spot. He paused to note it from the bridge he was going to fly over when he visited after the Cold War had ended.

If the Soviets ever invented a bomb that destroyed clipboards, America would have been defenseless

There are details and images, especially of the control panet that i've never seen before. And I've seen pretty much every picture and video that's in the public on the B-61.

If only some aircraft manufacturers would have similar procedures and verification

Wow great video. Fascinating and still relevant since the B-61 is still deployed

Nice to see a new vid from you!

He's back baby

Now I know why my homemade nuke failed in the 60s... I didn't leave enough slack for the GWC-215 dongle through the service panel. Wish I had YouTube back then! 😂