Mars Bluff, South Carolina facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Mars Bluff, South Carolina
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 Mars Bluff, South Carolina
Location in South Carolina
Mars Bluff, South Carolina
Location in the United States
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| Country | United States |
| State | South Carolina |
| County | Florence County |
| Elevation | 98 ft (30 m) |
| Time zone | UTC-5 (Eastern (EST)) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC-4 (EDT) |
| ZIP code |
29506
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| Area code(s) | 843, 854 |
| GNIS feature ID | 1246538 |
Mars Bluff is a small, unincorporated community in Florence County, South Carolina, United States. An "unincorporated community" means it's a place with a shared identity but without its own local government. Mars Bluff is known for a surprising event that happened there: a United States Air Force plane accidentally dropped a bomb in 1958.
History of Mars Bluff
The area now known as Mars Bluff has a long history. During the American Revolution, it was called Marr's Bluff. This name changed to Mars Bluff sometime before the American Civil War.
Near the end of the Civil War, a place called the Mars Bluff Naval Yard was built here. It was one of several naval yards built inland by the Confederate forces.
The 1958 Bomb Accident
On March 11, 1958, a U.S. Air Force B-47 Stratojet airplane was on a training flight. It was carrying a bomb that was designed to be a nuclear weapon, but it did not have its nuclear core installed. This meant it could not cause a nuclear explosion. The plane was flying to the United Kingdom and South Africa for training exercises.
During the flight, a warning light came on in the plane's cabin. The navigator tried to secure the bomb, but he accidentally caused it to be released. The bomb crashed through the bomb bay doors and fell to the ground below.
Even though the bomb wasn't nuclear, it contained several tons of powerful explosives. When it hit the ground, these explosives blew up. The explosion created a huge crater about 75 feet (23 meters) wide and 25 to 35 feet (7.6 to 10.7 meters) deep.
The bomb landed very close to the home and garage of a man named Walter Gregg. The blast injured Mr. Gregg, his wife, their three children, and his niece. It completely destroyed their house and damaged several other homes nearby, as well as a church. Sadly, it also killed Mr. Gregg's chickens.
Today, the site of the accident is on private property, so it's not easy to visit. However, you can see pieces of the bomb on display at the Florence County Museum.
See also
In Spanish: Mars Bluff (Carolina del Sur) para niños
