Atomic Veterans History Project
Featured Photo
 | In this photo, the detonation of Bighorn is many seconds old.
The blinding atomic light and heat pulse have almost faded away. This enormous thermonuclear fireball dissipated and its radioactive debris fell out over many thousands of square miles. In the lower right are the outlines of the men who served aboard the USS Princeton. Click on photo for higher resolution picture. |
Operation Dominic 1
From the early days of the atomic weapons tests, the military brass pushed for a more realistic training experience for the soldiers and sailors involved in the operations. The USS Princeton was moved in close to this detonation. The scientific calculations for the thermal pulse and shock wave and fallout, plus a margin of safety for the uncertainty of the weapons performance, would determine how close military personel could be positioned.
In some cases the drop aircraft were positioned so that some damage from blast and heat was expected and did occur. The temperature of the aluminum skin of these aircraft was predicted to rise 500 degrees.
Two veterans that were aboard the USS Princeton during the Bighorn shot (pictured above) sent email about their duty.
Joe Tucci writes about his duty aboard the USS Princeton during Operation Dominic.
George Sheasby was a telegrapher stationed aboard the USS Princeton during Operation Dominic.
--Keith Whittle
October 5, 1998
Update, December 9, 98
[ Atomic Tests || Notes and Hints || Family Mail Call || Home Page || Email ]