Jim Barrow sent this email and 12 pictures he took during his duty at Johnston Island, Operation Dominic. We put them in his Johnston Island Photo Album.
Date: Sat, 14 Aug 1999
To: pdxavets@aracnet.com
From: Jim Barrow jim@makinwaves.com
Subject: Operation Dominic
Keith
I made two trips to Johnston Island. Once in 1962 and again in 1963
in support of Operation Dominic.
I was with the Air Force Communications Service stationed at Tachikawa AFB
Japan and was sent on temporary assignment to Johnston Island to set up
the main telecommunications center. In addition, we installed the autodin
communications facility in the main control room building to support
missile launch operations.
I just discovered your website. What a great collection of stuff.
I would like to order the following tapes. Please let me know how
much to send you and where to send it.
The engineers and contractors that were there building the launch facility
worked for a company called Homes and Narver. They are the prime contractors
for the AEC.
I still remember their guards walking around in their blue shorts and blue
soled Keds.
I arrived soon after the first rocket blew up right after launch. I remember
that they were pushing all the wreckage from the blast into the ocean with
cats. I have several pictures of the clean up. The next rocket did not
blow up after launch, it blew up while still on the pad.
I remember buying something cold to drink from a little place called
"The Dominic Dip" and watching them clean up the mess. I even have
pictures of them unloading the Thor missile from the C-130 cargo aircraft
that was used for the launch.
I am looking at one of the pictures now showing the unloading and there
is a sign on the runway that says "Watch for aircraft before crossing."
That was at a time when the island was only one mile long and half a mile
wide. They had brought the biggest dredger in the world in from Turkey
and were extending the island to three miles long. Lots of pictures of
that too.
Anyway, I will get the pictures together and get them scanned in and
try to put some sort of narrative together to go with them.
Thanks again
Jim
Makin' Waves!
http://www.makinwaves.com
818-992-0794
To: Keith pdxavets@aracnet.com
From: Jim Barrow jim@makinwaves.com
Date: Aug 1999
Subject: Re: Operation Dominic
Keith
I spent most of the afternoon scanning in slides that I took on
Johnston. I have about 100.
I am sending you some samples so you can get an idea of what I have.
They are small jpegs and I broke them up into 3 messages so I hope they
come through ok. Let me know what you think.
The Thor rocket that is shown in the pictures is THE one that exploded
on the pad and cost millions to clean up.
enjoy
Jim Barrow
Makin' Waves!
http://www.makinwaves.com
818-992-0794
Email: Jim Barrow jim@makinwaves.com
Jim Barrow's Johnston Island Photo Album
Keith Whittle
August 18, 1999
[ Operation Dominic 1 ]