Missile crew falls asleep with nuclear code device: air force

AFP
Friday, July 25, 2008

Members of a US Air Force nuclear missile crew face disciplinary action for going to sleep while in possession of an invalidated nuclear launch code component, the air force disclosed Thursday.

The breach occured July 12 at Minot Air Force Base in North Dakota, the scene of two other recent high profile lapses involving nuclear weapons or nuclear-related components, according to the spokesman.

An investigation into the violation of procedures “concluded that no compromise of the classified material occurred,” the air force said in a statement.

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The nuclear launch code component is a device that enables the missile crew to issue an electronic command to launch a nuclear missile. The codes are changed on a scheduled, recurring basis.

The four member missile crew changed the codes in the underground launch control center during their watch and had gone “top side” to an above ground missile alert facility with the component containing the old codes to await transportation back to the main base, the air force said.

While awaiting transportation, they went into a crew rest area with bunks where they fell asleep, a violation of the rules, according to the air force.

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7 Responses to “Missile crew falls asleep with nuclear code device: air force”

1. Kevin Kessell Says:
   July 25th, 2008 at 8:59 am

   Amazing they can catch some poor enlisted men taking a nap but can’t catch Nuclear missles attached under a B52 wing flying cross country…LOL

2. FK Says:
   July 25th, 2008 at 9:41 am

   Are nuclear missiles attached to the wings….or inside the bomb bay out of sight?

3. reptile Says:
   July 25th, 2008 at 11:37 am

   The codes were invalid so who cares?

   Its not like they accidently mailed a nose cone to tiwan or shipped a live warhean on an airplane.

   Wait what? Oh well I’m sure those other guys had rank.

4. Howard Says:
   July 25th, 2008 at 11:51 am

   If the mushrooms started blooming, these guys would probably get a raise AND a promotion, just like the brass who sat on their behinds while 9/11 went down.

5. Kingsley Says:
   July 25th, 2008 at 2:20 pm

   Too true Kevin Kessel. Where’s Mr. Bolton to warn us we are gonna lose a city?

6. Gregory Fegel Says:
   July 25th, 2008 at 5:14 pm

   C’mon you guys, wake up — nap time is over. This ain’t 9/11 y’know!

7. Wearestupiddontmindus Says:
   July 26th, 2008 at 6:59 am

   Thats so typical, we let you know that we are so incompetent, that when times come to nuke our own cities, you know we made honest mistakes…

   In good faith of course…

   Do you really think they let info out without planification?