Florence in Florence County, South Carolina — The American South (South Atlantic)
Atomic Bomb Accident at Mars Bluff, March 11, 1958
Photographed By Stanley and Terrie Howard, October 16, 2009
1. Atomic Bomb Accident at Mars Bluff, March 11, 1958 Marker
In 1958, in the midst of the Cold War, the U.S. Air Force accidentally dropped an atomic bomb near here. The unarmed 7,600-lb., 10'8"-long bomb was aboard a B-47E bomber on a training mission headed for England. Its high-explosive trigger detonated on impact, making a crater as large as 35 feet deep and 70 feet wide.
The bomb landed in the woods behind the asbestos-shingle sided home of railroad conductor Walter “Bill” Gregg (b.1921). Gregg, his wife, their three children, and a niece were injured by the concussion, which destroyed the house and out-buildings and did slight damage to buildings within a 5-mile radius.
Erected 2008 by The Florence City and County Historical Commission. (Marker Number 21-26.)
Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Notable Events • War, Cold. A significant historical year for this entry is 1958.
Location. 34° 11.801′ N, 79° 39.796′ W. Marker is in Florence, South Carolina, in Florence County. Marker is at the intersection of East Palmetto Street (U.S. 76) and University Road, on the right when traveling west on East Palmetto Street. Touch for map. Marker is in this post office area: Florence SC 29506, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within 2 miles of this marker, measured as the crow flies. Francis Marion Memorial Highway (approx. 0.7 miles away); Mars Bluff
this page online
Also see . . .
1. Man Recalls Day Nuclear Bomb Fell in his Yard. Alt News website entry:
Article based on an interview with Walter Gregg. (Submitted on October 25, 2009, by Craig Swain of Leesburg, Virginia.)
2. Mars Bluff Impact Crater. Wikimapia website entry:
According to this article, the crater is slightly northeast of the marker location, off Lucius Circle. (Submitted on October 25, 2009, by Craig Swain of Leesburg, Virginia.)
3. Mars Bluff Bomb. Florence County Museum website entry (Submitted on September 19, 2023, by Larry Gertner of New York, New York.)
Additional commentary.
1. Controlling Access
Photographed By Stanley and Terrie Howard, October 16, 2009
2. Atomic Bomb Accident at Mars Bluff, March 11, 1958 Marker
I am originally from Dillon, SC. On 11 Mar 1958, I was assigned to the security police organization at Hunter AFB in Savannah, Georgia. Once notified of the accidental dropping of a nuclear weapon, my organization immediately identified several security personnel to be sent to the scene of the accident. I was one of those. We boarded a military bus with cases of C rations and headed toward Florence. Upon arrival, we worked closely with the state patrol troopers who had secured the area and we took over responsibility for controlling access to the area of the blast.
One of our biggest concerns was having unauthorized individuals attempting to gain access to the site. We were forewarned by guys in black suits about those who would attempt to gain entry. There were two of us guards posted at the road going to the house and area where the explosion took place. We worked 12 hours shifts and ate C rations. Only certain individuals were allowed to enter the area, however, we did have attempts by those not authorized. We detained them and turned them over to the guys in the black suits. Don’t know what became of them.
A special crew came in to remove any remains of the bomb, its components and any other material which was considered to be Air Force property. I was there for about a week or so until the situation was under control, all property
Photographed By Stanley and Terrie Howard, October 16, 2009
3. Wide view of the Marker
— Submitted December 3, 2011, by Chuck Norton of Hawkinsville, Georgia.
2.
I was the Commanding Officer of the 48th Ordnance Detachment (EOD) at Fort Jackson, SC when the bomb fell. It was our duty to go to Florence and be the first to approach the pit to be sure there was no radiation and/or explosive hazard. I was the first man to crawl across that crater, twice, with appropriate meters in my hand and certified that there was no radiation hazard. The incident was "classified" at the time and I was unable to talk about it for about 30 years. It is good now to read the Air Force version for once we were finished in Florence we returned to Columbia and never said any more about the incident. Note To Editor only visible by Contributor and editor
— Submitted April 30, 2015, by William S. Fiske of New Bern, North Carolina.
Photographed By Paul Crumlish, May 7, 2011
4. The present-day view of the Atomic Bomb Accident at Mars Bluff crater
Photographed By Paul Crumlish, May 7, 2011
5. Interpretative display at the Atomic Bomb Accident crater site
Photographed By Paul Crumlish, May 7, 2011
6. Interpretative display at the Atomic Bomb Accident crater site
A wooden mock up to illustrate the size of the unarmed 7,600-lb., 10'8"-long bomb which was accidentally dropped on March 11, 1958.
Photographed By David Taylor, June 4, 2009
7. Atomic Bomb Accident at Mars Bluff, March 11, 1958 Marker
Photographed By David Taylor, June 4, 2009
8. Atomic Bomb Accident at Mars Bluff, March 11, 1958 Marker
Photographed By Brian J. Scott, July 26, 2014
9. Atomic Bomb Accident at Mars Bluff, March 11, 1958 Marker
Credits. This page was last revised on September 19, 2023. It was originally submitted on October 25, 2009, by Stanley and Terrie Howard of Greer, South Carolina. This page has been viewed 34,670 times since then and 128 times this year. Last updated on April 12, 2019, by David Taylor of Darlington, South Carolina. Photos: 1, 2, 3. submitted on October 25, 2009, by Stanley and Terrie Howard of Greer, South Carolina. 4, 5, 6. submitted on May 10, 2011, by PaulwC3 of Northern, Virginia. 7, 8. submitted on May 12, 2014, by David Taylor of Darlington, South Carolina. 9. submitted on July 27, 2014, by Brian J. Scott of Spartanburg, South Carolina. • Bill Pfingsten was the editor who published this page.
