AROUND THE NATION

AROUND THE NATION; Secret Data Recovered In Burned-Out Bomber

Jan. 29, 1983

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The authorities recovered topsecret information and the bodies of five Air Force men today from the wreckage of a B-52G bomber that exploded and burned Thursday while it was undergoing a routine check.

The secret data was housed in the ejection seat of the aircraft, said Lieut.

James Stratford, information officer at the Grand Forks Air Force Base. The bodies of five Air Force maintenance men were in the plane's upper fuselage section.

The explosion occurred as maintenance workers checked valves and other parts of the fuel system. It was under control in 15 minutes, but only the tail of the bomber was left intact, civilian fire officials said.

Col. John S. Fairfield, commander of the 319th Bombardment Wing to which the plane was assigned, said an interim board at the base would immediately investigate the incident.

A version of this article appears in print on , Section 1, Page 7 of the National edition with the headline: AROUND THE NATION; Secret Data Recovered In Burned-Out Bomber. Order Reprints | Today’s Paper | Subscribe

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