Nuclear Weapons Loading Procedures (1976) 

It’s surreal watching these once classified nuclear weapons handling videos like a normal RU-vid 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.

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

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").

On the carrier where I was assigned they would cart the B-61’s thru the chow hall when they were taking them from the magazine. One time and place where the sailors let the grunts be. They had their game faces on…

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.

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

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.

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

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 only some aircraft manufacturers would have similar procedures and verification

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

He's back baby

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.

Unbelievable. It is unreal how you get these. Amazing job man. I'd rather watch this than Mr Beast for sure.

Nice to see a new vid from you!

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 RU-vid back then! 😂

I was a Marine I went to school to do these LOADEXs on scooters. As an I level avionics tech I started as the red line security force. I was accidentally sent to the Nuke weapons handling school by admin. I got to the school and pointed this out. But was told to go anyway! So I did. Finished first in the AO course. Then after the course I went back to the security force as the SOG. That’s how the Corps rolls!

I swear I heard Vera Lynn singing "We'll meet again" the entire time.

Remember this command? "Stop the load!" Lol...VA 145 Swordsmen ADAN then, 1984-86. (AD3 when i rotated to shore duty).

Wow you're back! Now what about RWP?

Awesome 🤙

Glad to see your back!! 🍻 🇺🇸 😎

We called LABS bombing the "idiot loop" back in the day.

How did they never do an episode of Gomer Pyle USMC to this? Could you imagine the fun Pyle and Sgt Carter would have getting this detail?

This is fascinating stuff.

Well been there.....done it....plus QUAST LOAD. Pretty B-61

This procedure was quite a bit different than the one we used on A7 loads on the Ranger in 68 in the Sea of Japan following our deployment in Yankee Station.

Had a co-worker back in the 90's he was retired AF pilot from the 70's through early 80's flew F-4s he said they would sit on alert with nuclear weapons attached to the F-4. I once asked him how the process was done he said they went though a checkout procedure for loading the weapon. In the cockpit there was yield selector could select how big wanted nuclear bomb to be. Sometimes they would sit on alert with the engines running ready to take off.

I love the old school docs very relaxing

I unloaded attack ships off the shores of Orion. Had no idea how a kid like me ended up there. Ended up moving to a new place after one of the ships caught fire. New place has beautiful sunbeams at night though.

I like how the guy screwing the connection by hand @0:20 gives the thumbs up, I envy his confidence

Former Army MP here. I did a short stint as security in '76@ a nuclear warhead storage facility s. of Mainz, FRG. Mostly 155 artillery & Lance missle heads. BORING. ED drills. Air demo. drills by F4's 100' up. Their practice mission was to recon the site to see if ED (Emergency Destruct) was complete, if not, then BTSOOI (Bomb The **** Out Of It) Much movement of items via Shithooks/Huey's, always a fun time, there was always a false flag movement that faked the move of phony heads to distract the wonderful guys in the Red Army Faction & Baeder Meinhof terrorist gangs. We had authority over all who entered, all inside the Limited & Exclusion Zones, including an inspecting General who put his security badge on the wrong side, which was a duress signal. They were ordered to prone out, while we sorted the problem. Said General apparently moved the badge after going through Entry Control, mussing his uniform. He took full responsibility. After 10 months of this, I was off to a White Hat (patrol) unit, to get jumped & whacked by drunk engineers( excuse the redundancy) & dealt with serious drug (them, not me) problems. Another story.

I'd love to see the nuclear loading procedures for the Mk-15, Mk-17/24, Mk-21 and Mk-36 thermonuclear bombs. Also for the Mk/B-28 bombs.

I absolutely love the choice of words in that first line of dialog: _"... utmost precautions have been taken to assure the _*_reliability_*_ of the weapon."_ That's *_reliability,_* not safety, not security, but reliability! Safety and security are a given, the military and the public want to be sure that the bomb will work if used! They know that millions of (American) lives are at risk if it doesn't. Same is still true today, regardless whether people like to admit it or not.. 👍🇺🇸☢️

I like the groovy instrumentals

Man I thought you’d disappeared for a second there don’t scare me like that

Nice info. if I had a Vietnam War era nuke handy. Otherwise just more history trivia, which is always fun

With the F35 and B21 carrying the B61, the grandchildren of the guys in this video are completing more or less these same procedures to this day

If I was one of those guys I'd bring that big thing home to keep it as a souvenir.

The real question is how did they load those bombs using only crayons and elmers glue?

I like how it looks to be a 12 gauge shell (or pair?) that kicks the nuclear bomb off the plane.

love the zippy muzak.

I maintained W70's. Scary beasts. Pu core with Tritium assist. So yeah, a "neutron bomb". (Not classified.)

Glad to see you're back! Nine months is a long time, were you pregnant? 😂 Hope to see more from you.

Back when I was in the Navy they were using computer punch cards to program the targeting information into the warhead package. This seems like this film is just before that time. Programming missiles to specific targets has been one of the major time consuming in readiness. The newest methods are so quick now that this film seems to be in slow motion.

We received a B-61 that was a little oily/greasy and warm to the touch. It turns out it was a Bolognese-61 and it was filled with Momma Luigi's secret recipe!

The B-61 can be released at speeds up to Mach 2 and altitudes as low as 50 feet.

We still use paper TMs...although there is a slow movement toward tablets

Was the soundtrack added afterwards?

I'm a civilian so take this for what it's worth, but I can't fathom it would be this orderly in a wartime scenario. The only time tactical nukes would be used is if NATO were up shit creek without a paddle, and Russia would almost certainly strike back, with nukes, at whatever airfield from which the strike aircraft took off so these guys would be doing this with the (virtual) certainty that they would be dead within hours.

Oh, now I know how to charge a nuclear bomb! All that remains is to get it, or... buy it. Thanks to RU-vid for the educational videos!

i think they should put a foam cutout cover thing thing on the fins incase someone bumps into it

1:06. Correct me if I'm wrong, but it seems to have taken the jet a while to climb, and it looked like it sunk a little before the camera cut away.

This could be a training film for Otis Elevator Company.

First of all: who gave the Marines a nuclear weapon?

Just like the Big Mac and its sauce, the ingredients are out in the open for public scrutiny but the ratios are the trade secret.

The missle knows where it is becuase it knows where it isn't...

Quick question 😅 When was this declassified? Normally like ya see on Periscope’s video or any other prior classified info, a declassified bumper before the video. Just don’t want anyone getting knocks at the door. 😂

Are those gas generator cartridges used for the weapon ejector cylinder?

The Grounding Cable? That's a 1/4 inch male guitar jack! I am assuming there's a Fender Twin Reverb Amp at the other end of that cable...

The fire fighting equipment looks ancient.

The rank of Sargent was not needed in the Air Force in the 1980s to sign for possession of nuclear weapons on an aircraft. Looking back that seems amazing but.....there it is.

Everything was groovy until PFC Homer Simpson arrived on squadron.

Dr Strangelove approved

"Hands and feet clear."

Solid state cables and analog detents. Retro.

Anyone know if this is MCAS Yuma or El Toro? The aircraft is a A4M “Super Mike”, VMA-214, “Black Sheep”. I’m guessing El Toro.

They ALL had crayon particles in their teeth, I seent it!

I assume this isn't the rapid reaction force.

Does “Always and Never !” Ring a Bell ?

Does anyone know what the 6 position selector , and 3 position selector do? They were set to A and H

Обязательно бахнем!

CHECK!

by the time they get airborne, we done lost...

Did anyone else notice this but me but he says 2, 50 lb bottles of CO2 then the video shows a 50 lb CO2 fire extinguisher, then the second shot is of a 100 lb dry chemical or foam fire extinguisher. It is propelled by either CO2 or nitrogen.

I wonder if the procedures have been updated to make it more idiotproof.

Don't forget the white nuke curtains.

Kinda curious? Outside with NO covers? A prohibition?

I didn't realize a Scooter had that much room underneath. Try an F-18.

think we'd all be dead by the time they've finished the checklist

Has anyone seen the 10 mm socket, also I can't find the three rolls of duct tape listed on the Manifest

Ah yes! "The Silver Bullet ".

El Toro?

Wait, the title says 1976, but the jammer says it’s 1982?

Ancient 6 pin 120VAC cables.

Is it a 214 Blacksheep Bird ?

Two Man Rule = “ Two Persons qualified in the TASK being PERFORMED.. able to detect an UNAUTHORIZED ACT ..on on part of the other ..SIR !” ., first thing I/ we had to learn to be “ PRP “( Personal Reliability Program ) when assigned to “980th Military Police Company - Sierra Army Depot - Herlong CA ( ten miles..past “ Middle if Nowhere ! Haha) .. circa 1981 ( Mission “ To Guard Items.. Documents and War Reserve Material..Vital to National Security..SIR ) ( “ The Area” is no longer there..ie SALT II Agreement required same to be “ Dismantled “ ) .. it’s just an unknown miracle that the “ Cold War” ..never got/ went “ Hot” ..I / we were 18yrs old US Army MP Private /E1 MOS 95 BR3 ( Military Police - Physical Security) and doing the MOST important task/ Job.. of our lives !

man you wouldn't be able to hear anything on a flightline, let alone while the generator is running at full chooch. Them joints is loud AF.

Prepare for the Future: Vault-Tec

B-61 free-fall tac-nuke?

Looks like a B61?

I remember when my 13 year old buddy failed to follow procedures. It resulted in the harmless detonation of a firecracker in his hand. Though he didn't think it harmless at the time.

Are those real officers, or just actors?

Pneumatic cartridges?