A Risky Cold War Operation Nearly Ended In Nuclear Disaster (Multiple Times)

A bad idea that went on for EIGHT years

Operations map (Public domain)

The Cold War was one of the luckiest periods in human history. Not only did the world avoid blundering into World War III, but the world also navigated a series of nuclear disasters and near misses that could have easily ignited an atomic holocaust — by accident. Most people do not realize how fortunate the world was during this period until they start looking into the dark corners of the room. The corners that many people in power would best leave in the shadows.

One of these dark corners of history contains Operation Chrome Dome, a US Cold War operation that was equal parts inflammatory and stupid. Unfortunately, US military planners did not realize how unsafe this operation was until eight years — and five disasters — after the fact.

Operation Chrome Dome

B-52 with anti-nuclear paint scheme (Public domain)

In 1960, the United States launched Operation Chrome Dome. The goal was to always have a compliment of nuclear armed bombers airborne and close to Soviet territory. The strategic bombers were to be on constant airborne alert and ready to…