Not too many families had a nuclear bomb dropped in their backyard, and survived.
The Gregg family of Mars Bluff, South Carolina, was one of them.
The men then hurriedly completed their pre-flight checklist.
They had to be finished by 10:30 AM or points would be docked for the mission.
During their haste, they failed to run through the pin engage/disengage cycle.
The re-insertion failed and a warning light lit up to notify them of the problem.
Woodruff continued to work on the locking lever unsuccessfully for five minutes as the B-47 climbed to 15,000 feet.
Photo credit:Air Mobility Command
The 7,600 pound bomb dropped from its shackles onto the bomb bay doors.
Although not nuclear, the bomb still had substantial payload of traditional explosives that functioned as its triggering mechanism.
Luckily, the three girls were not in the playhouse at that time but 200 feet away.
They escaped with minor injuries from the explosion, as did Walter, his wife and son.
The only casualties were a few chickens.
The crater is still present today, although overgrown by vegetation.
On the accidents 50th anniversary, a state historical marker was erected by the highway.
The back of Walter Greggs home which faced the point of impact.
Photo credit: Florence County Museum
The kitchen of Walter Greggs home after the blast.
Photo credit: Florence County Museum
One of Walter Greggs destroyed cars.
Photo credit: Florence County Museum
The crater today.
Photo credit:SCSwampFox/Panoramio
The storyboard near the crater.
Photo credit:tboverse.us
The life-sized plywood cutout of the bomb.
Photo credit:Kelly Michals/Flickr
Sources:American Heritage Magazine/Roadside America/Wikipedia/Geocaching
