§ 15. Mr. Harold Daviesasked the Secretary of State for Air if he will give information to the House about the incident of the berserk American airman at the atom 925 base; and whether he has been given a full report by the United States authorities.
Mr. WardI am informed that at about midday last Thursday a U.S.A.F. sergeant, armed with a pistol, locked himself in a building on the base at Sculthorpe and threatened to commit suicide. Precautions were taken by the U.S.A.F. to protect personnel and property. Every effort was made to persuade the sergeant to surrender. He did so after some eight hours and was immediately admitted to hospital. No one was injured and there was no damage to property.
§ Mr. Harold DaviesWould not the right hon. Gentleman agree that this sad and tragic incident demonstrates the accuracy of the point made by the Opposition about grounding planes carrying hydrogen bombs over this country? Could not this incident have occurred in an aircraft during a flight, which would make it a matter of concern to the British people? Is not he aware that the other day the Mayor of Los Angeles made a greater fuss with his Government over an incident less likely to cause damage to the public than this incident in East Anglia?
Mr. WardOn more than one occasion in the past I have made it clear to the House that it is impossible for one individual to set off a nuclear explosion either in the air or on the ground. Regarding the storage of these weapons on the ground, it would be impossible for a single individual to set off an explosion, even assuming that he could get into the building, which I think would be impossible.