Incident Overview
During a training mission, a B-52 bomber was scheduled to receive fuel from a United States Air Force KC-135 tanker aircraft. The two aircraft were operating at an altitude of 32,000 feet when they collided under unclear circumstances. Following the collision, both aircraft entered a dive and crashed near Leitchfield, resulting in the destruction of both aircraft.
Aircraft and Crew
The KC-135 involved bore registration number 57-1513. It carried a crew of four, all of whom were killed in the accident. The B-52 had eight crew members on board. Of these, four were killed, while the other four successfully bailed out and were found alive.
Aftermath
Upon impact, both aircraft were completely destroyed. The B-52 was carrying two nuclear bombs at the time of the accident. Both bombs were recovered intact from the crash site.