Reply #13: A minor correction based on a discussion with an AF crew chief

[Rick Myers]

In the first post of this tread, I said:

"Because there is NO SUCH THING as a non-nuclear AGM-129. It's got a warhead or it doesn't."

This is true. But, there is a non-nuclear 'practice' warhead that ground crews use in training. It is CLEARLY marked as "INERT, NON-NUCLEAR" and bears the standard blue and yellow markings to indicate a 'dummy.'

This does NOT effect the story in any way, since the 'live' warheads bear at least 3 separate markings that they are, indeed, nuclear weapons.

The six AGM-129's carried on this aircaft bore the RED 'nuclear' markings, comfirmed in the Military Times coverage.

Additionally, a defense anylyst told defensetalk.com that NO LIVE NUCLEAR WEAPON has been flown on a US combat aircraft since the late 60's, following a series of accidents involving alert aircraft. Here's a link to the article (site does not allow clipping)

http://www.defencetalk.com/news/publish/wmd/B-52_carried_nuclear_missiles_over_US_by_mistake_military170013227.php