Warthog driver: "Whoops!"

https://www.cnn.com/2019/09/06/us/arizona-unintentional-rocket-launch/?iid=ob_article_organicsidebar_expansion

[widebody911]

Who here hasn't unintentionally or prematurely fired their ordnance?

[legion]

Originally Posted by widebody911

Who here hasn't unintentionally or prematurely fired their ordnance?

Ahhh......to be young again.....

I'm guessing that gets an F at flight school. And maybe a change of instructors.

[Arizona_928]

Originally Posted by madcorgi

I'm guessing that gets an F at flight school. And maybe a change of instructors.

Maybe you could just talk to your doctor about it?

[abisel]

So, why would the A-10s be carrying live ordinance on a "training mission". It sounds like the rockets/missiles had engines, but no warheads. Still, somebody hit the wrong button. Maybe they were out to strafe targets with the GAU-8, and instead of pulling the trigger, he hit the pickle button and wooooooosh, thar she goes.

[Arizona_928]

Originally Posted by abisel

So, why would the A-10s be carrying live ordinance on a "training mission". It sounds like the rockets/missiles had engines, but no warheads. Still, somebody hit the wrong button. Maybe they were out to strafe targets with the GAU-8, and instead of pulling the trigger, he hit the pickle button and wooooooosh, thar she goes.

Are we looking at ar 15, gomar?
Doesn't sound like a big deal...

[svandamme]

Could be s short or defect with the rocket or how it was loaded.

In principle the Master Arm Switch is not something you "accidentally" flip
followed by accidentally setting the right weapons, and pulling the trigger

the HUD is pretty clear when the thing is armed

[svandamme]

btw M156 = White Phosphorous... but perhaps the CNN article isn't accurate on the rocket type


an inert training rocket would be an WTU-1/B

[GH85Carrera]

During WW2 Boise city, OK was bombed by the US Army. This accidental bombing made Boise City famous; it is the only continental American town to be bombed during World War II.

https://owlcation.com/humanities/BoiseCityBombing

So this is nothing new.

[abisel]

Originally Posted by svandamme

Could be s short or defect with the rocket or how it was loaded.

In principle the Master Arm Switch is not something you "accidentally" flip
followed by accidentally setting the right weapons, and pulling the trigger

the HUD is pretty clear when the thing is armed

Yep.

Master Arm switch is a "lock-out" type switch. From the SAFE position, you have to pull on the switch lever and then move it to ARM. Notice in the picture the switch has a TRAIN position.



And to launch a missile, it has to be selected on one of the displays, I suspect the Master Mode needs to be in A/G, Master Mode to ARM, follow symbols on the HUD for guidance to the target and finally you press the Weapon Release switch (red pushbutton on top left of stick) when within range.

Don't see anything "unintentional" about launching a missile. Lots of procedures to get the missile ready to launch and an "intentional" press of the weapon release. And the weapon release switch takes 8 pounds pressure to do so.

So, me thinks the pilot may have gotten a bit, shall we say, trigger happy.

But still, why were the missiles NOT inert, without a motor, if he was out on a training mission.

[speeder]

You can say that again.

[svandamme]

Originally Posted by abisel

Yep.

Master Arm switch is a "lock-out" type switch. From the SAFE position, you have to pull on the switch lever and then move it to ARM. Notice in the picture the switch has a TRAIN position.



And to launch a missile, it has to be selected on one of the displays, I suspect the Master Mode needs to be in A/G, Master Mode to ARM, follow symbols on the HUD for guidance to the target and finally you press the Weapon Release switch (red pushbutton on top left of stick) when within range.

Don't see anything "unintentional" about launching a missile. Lots of procedures to get the missile ready to launch and an "intentional" press of the weapon release. And the weapon release switch takes 8 pounds pressure to do so.

So, me thinks the pilot may have gotten a bit, shall we say, trigger happy.

But still, why were the missiles NOT inert, without a motor, if he was out on a training mission.

I fly A10C and F14B's in DCS world so i know most of the swithology

Wouldn't they shoot old rockets about to be past do at the missile range as training?
Shoot em before they expire?

[RWebb]

I wonder if he stained the titanium tub after launch?

[flipper35]

CNN - Fighter Jet. Stopped reading there and read the official statement instead. Sometimes they train in one area for one thing and traverse to a live fire training area later. Hard to believe a Willy Pete wouldn't start a fire unless it landed in sand. Don't know much about the area.

A-10 munitions release in Jackal Military Operations Area
Release Number: 010919

Published September 05, 2019
PRINT | E-MAIL

During a routine training mission, an A-10C Thunderbolt II assigned to the 354th Fighter Squadron from the 355th Wing unintentionally released a single M-156 rocket today at approximately 10:40 a.m.

The rocket impacted in a desert wash in an uninhabited area under the Jackal Military Operations Area, which is located approximately 60 miles northeast of Tucson. This training area is not designated for munitions release.

No injuries, damages or fires have been reported at this time. The incident is currently under investigation.

Call 355th Wing Public Affairs at (520) 228-3406 for more information.

https://www.dm.af.mil/Media/Press-Releases/Article/1953392/a-10-munitions-release-in-jackal-military-operations-area/

[john70t]

Could have been worse....like a beautiful ocean island packed with fish and natural resources such as Bikini Atoll.

https://listverse.com/2014/11/03/10-times-the-military-accidentally-dropped-nuclear-bombs/

(plus almost NC in 1961)
https://www.theguardian.com/world/2013/sep/20/usaf-atomic-bomb-north-carolina-1961

[tcar]

Originally Posted by john70t

https://listverse.com/2014/11/03/10-times-the-military-accidentally-dropped-nuclear-bombs/

Number 1 on that list (Albuquerque)...Hydrogen bomb from a B-36... fell about 5 miles from my school, where I was that day.

Originally Posted by tcar

Number 1 on that list (Albuquerque)...Hydrogen bomb from a B-36... fell about 5 miles from my school, where I was that day.

Did you duck and cover?

I read this book awhile back: "Command and Control: Nuclear Weapons, the Damascus Accident, and the Illusion of Safety." Great read. Amazing we have survived this far as a species . . .

[tcar]

Originally Posted by madcorgi

Did you duck and cover?

Nope... didn't know about it for about 30 years when they declassified the files....

[GH85Carrera]

Originally Posted by madcorgi

Did you duck and cover?

I read this book awhile back: "Command and Control: Nuclear Weapons, the Damascus Accident, and the Illusion of Safety." Great read. Amazing we have survived this far as a species . . .

The good news is that nuclear bombs don't go off on impact unless they are armed. And they are not armed for a good reason.