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Albuquerque's 1950 Bomber Crash
Piece together the story of Albuquerque's 1950 Broken Arrow disaster from the wreckage of a Superfortress Bomber crash.
On April 11, 1950, at 9:38 p.m., a B-29 aircraft departed Kirtland Air Force Base. Approximately three minutes later, it crashed into the Manzano Foothills, killing everyone aboard.
The Roswell-based aircraft and its thirteen-member crew were ferrying a Mark IV atomic weapon from Kirtland AFB to a Strategic Air Command base in Texas. The incident marked the second nuclear weapons–related accident in the U.S. military, the first accident in the continental United States, and the first of two such accidents near Albuquerque, New Mexico.
Author and military historian Joseph T. Page II recalls the lives lost in this tragic crash.
On April 11, 1950, at 9:38 p.m., a B-29 aircraft departed Kirtland Air Force Base. Approximately three minutes later, it crashed into the Manzano Foothills, killing everyone aboard.
The Roswell-based aircraft and its thirteen-member crew were ferrying a Mark IV atomic weapon from Kirtland AFB to a Strategic Air Command base in Texas. The incident marked the second nuclear weapons–related accident in the U.S. military, the first accident in the continental United States, and the first of two such accidents near Albuquerque, New Mexico.
Author and military historian Joseph T. Page II recalls the lives lost in this tragic crash.
160 pages, Paperback
Published March 24, 2026
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Displaying 1 - 1 of 1 review
July 21, 2026
This book shines a light on a little-known chapter in Albuquerque's history and its deep connection to our nation's nuclear enterprise. Joseph T. Page II has done an outstanding job researching the 1950 B-29 crash, weaving together the story of the accident, the history of the aircraft, and the broader context of the early Cold War in a way that is both informative and engaging.
What makes this book especially meaningful is that it serves as a lasting memorial to the thirteen crew members who made the ultimate sacrifice while carrying out what should have been a routine mission in an inherently dangerous profession. By telling their story with care, accuracy, and respect, the author ensures that these airmen are not forgotten.
Whether you're interested in aviation, military history, the nuclear age, or Albuquerque's unique place in American history, this book is well worth the read.
What makes this book especially meaningful is that it serves as a lasting memorial to the thirteen crew members who made the ultimate sacrifice while carrying out what should have been a routine mission in an inherently dangerous profession. By telling their story with care, accuracy, and respect, the author ensures that these airmen are not forgotten.
Whether you're interested in aviation, military history, the nuclear age, or Albuquerque's unique place in American history, this book is well worth the read.
Displaying 1 - 1 of 1 review