The possible presence of humans in the city is regrettable, but everything possible has been done to get them out. The presence of cultural artifacts in the city is also regrettable, but those can be dug out after a dozen half-lives. Had I been in on the planning stage of this operation, I might have suggested alternatives, but it’s too late for those now. I radio base for confirmation that a nuke is known to be effective against the zombies, and then drop the bomb.
In military parlance, what is the opposite of “Master arm to arm”?
I lived in New York for 25 years, and I still consider myself a New Yorker. I’d sacrifice the entire planet to keep New York intact, whether or not it’s populated, and by whom. It’s way beyond mere “cultural artifacts.” NYC is the microcosm of everything that’s good about humanity . . . and bad as well.
Fuck New Jersey. It’s already New Jersey; nobody would notice the difference.
Besides, if no-one drops the bomb, how do we get Nuke York in a later reel?
“Master Arm to safe”.
It’s a toggle switch that enables or disables weapons release functions.
Ignorance fought. Thanks for the info. 
I hate Noo Yawk, of course I’d jump at the opportunity to nuke 'em
…oh, there are zombies too? Bonus 
Do you need me to nuke Boston while I’m at it? It’s in the general area…
How about Chicago? Maybe Los Angeles, Beverly Hills?
Sure, as long as I could drop a string of “extras” northeast along Long Island while on the long dog-leg back, just to be sure.
That way, if any zombies have snaked their way up the L.I.E., they’ll be popped like a zit out of Montauk (and all over Stonington, CT).
I can’t tell when people are being serious or not anymore…
I live in NYC now and would drop a nuke, regardless of the zombies!
Drop the nuke without hesitation.
return flight? back to base or fly to Tahiti? Tahiti sounds good. I could do that for a while.
The Hell with it… Why not?
It’s not gonna stop the epidemic… but we might live a couple of months, more…
It’s a magical place.
Dropping a nuke on NY would be easy; I’ve always hated everything to do with the place. But I would like to think I’m “human” enough to take the “General Black option”.
(drop and suicide)
Nuking a (mostly empty) major city to reduce the zombie population? I’d say it’s a case of curing the disease by killing the patient, except that you’re not even curing the disease.
Presumably the zombies need to follow their food source/virus hosts (i.e. uninfected people), or risk local extinction. The problem of zombies in a mostly empty city is one that will solve itself without nukes.
I’ve read a bit about World War Z. IIRC, their kind of zombies last a long time. Years & years. So no, it’s not a problem that will go away by itself, at least not quickly enough to do anyone any good.
As for NYC: Get ready to burn. It’s unfortunate if any living people are still there, but they wouldn’t survive much longer anyway, and they’d end up joining the zombies.
According to the zombie universe you chose, the zombies can live 3 to 5 years.
I can’t believe that people would rather level NYC instead of evacuating for 5 years.
The people childishly suggesting nuking NYC anyways make me think of someone burning the library of Alexandria because a kebob vendor outside it gave them the stink eye once.
Like NYC or not, it’s still the pinnacle of American civilization. Period. Nuke your own culture at your peril.
God help us all. 
Incidentally, in the book series the plan comes from it doesn’t work. Undead casualties are high, but those on the edge of the nuke’s radius get a high dose of radiation which doesn’t kill them but does make them more resistant to decomposition.
Does a Strike Eagle have the combat radius for that mission? You’re not getting a tanker drag, unless OP is willing to stipulate it.
OTOH, I suppose since the base is unamed, you might be able to bend the scenario to say you have a base with a B61, an F-15E, a capable ground crew, and enough fuel for a combat launch, within reasonable tactical operating range of NYC. And not overrun yet by zombies.
Don’t really need to consider combat radius, unless the zombies have air defense, which seems unlikely. The Mud Hen has a decent cruising range, and could land for refueling at any base along the way.