Based on analysis of declassified documents and nuclear security experts, the U.S. has lost eleven nuclear bombs. While not all cases are officially confirmed, these are the likely incidents:

A Mark 15 bomb was dropped into the sea after a mid-air collision. It was never recovered. Whether it was armed remains a matter of debate.

Tybee Island (1958)

Two bombs fell after an accident. One nearly detonated. The other remains buried in a muddy field, considered irretrievable.

Goldsboro (1961)

A B-52 crashed in Greenland. Three bombs were recovered; one remains lost, trapped in the ice or at the bottom of the sea.

Thule (1968)

An A-4 Skyhawk fell into the sea with a B43 bomb. The plane, the pilot, and the weapon disappeared at a depth of 16,000 feet.

Philippine Sea (1965)

A Boeing B-47 Stratojet flying from Florida to Morocco with two nuclear bombs disappeared. The exact crash site is unknown.

Atlantic Ocean (1956)

This was the first case. A B-36 dropped a dummy bomb into the sea after experiencing in-flight failures. It did not contain a live core.

Bermuda (1950)

A bomb was buried after a ground accident. It was not recovered due to the risk. The details, date, and location remain classified.

Classified Area (1960s)

A plane crashed into the sea with a nuclear bomb during a test flight. Neither the plane nor the weapon was recovered. The case remains classified.

Pacific Ocean (1950s)

A bomb was lost during a NATO exercise. Declassified documents mention the incident, but there is no official confirmation.

Mediterranean Sea (1960s)

According to some reports, a bomb was released during an emergency on a patrol mission. It was never recovered. There is no official confirmation.

Arctic (1960s)

Pentagon documents mention a lost bomb with no details about the location or circumstances. The case remains highly classified.

Undisclosed Location (?)