Operation Ivy
US Atomic Veterans
Robert L Blackburn
Tracy and Stacy Blackburn sent email about their father's duty at Operation Ivy.
From: tracy.blackburn@sbcglobal.net
To: Keith pdxavets@aracnet.com
Subject: Ivy
Date: Sun, 8 Apr 2001
My father, then 1st Lt. Robert L Blackburn, was at Enewetok in 1952. He was
a liaison aircraft pilot in the 4931st Test Support Squadron. He passed away
on Jan 1st from prostate cancer. I wish I'd spent more time talking to him
about his experiences there. |
Photo from Tracy Blackburn. |
There were a few things he did say about the Ivy experience. According to
him the heat was "like a dozen heat lamps stuck in your face". I'm not sure
if this was in reference to the MIKE or KING blast.
He kept the goggles that were used for viewing the test. We used them
several times for watching solar eclipses. Once when I was still in High
School and again a few years back as a lense filter to photograph the event.
Being in a liason squadron, he did a lot of island hopping for senior
officers. He once told me that at one time he had 13 'stars' on board his
plane.
Relating a humorous incident he had with a particular Colonel, as I recall,
he had some fun at the officer's expense. Evidently the passenger wasn't too
thrilled to ride in the small L-13. Dad said the officer began "bad mouthing
the aircraft as soon as he got on board". He went on to say that there was a
lot of runway to use since they had connected 2 islands for just that
purpose. Well, he could have lifted off quite early but decided to hop the
plane a few times and run it out to the end of the runway. He said he could
see the officer trying to "make himself lighter in his seat". My Dad's
words: "I never heard a peep out of him after that".
On another note, when he returned to Tulsa, OK after the test, he said
people looked at him strangely. He had "the best Winter tan you ever saw".
Tracy L. Blackburn
Spring, TX 77373
Date: Wed, 18 Apr 2001
From: "S. Blackburn" srb@mesh.net
To: pdxavets@aracnet.com
Subject: Ivy Memorabilia
Mr. Whittle,
Hello. I contacted Harold Wainscott a couple of weeks ago concerning
his Wetokian web site. I have some interesting items I thought he’d be
interested in seeing. Unfortunately he’s experiencing some computer
problems and told me I should contact you.
My father was at Enewetok in 1952 during the Ivy test series. He was
a liaison pilot in the 4931st Test Support Squadron. He passed away this
past Jan. Sadly enough I didn’t discover the Wetokian or your website
until just a few weeks ago. I’m sure my father would have enjoyed
reading some of the stories and quite possibly have opened up a little
more about his stay there. He was rather tight-lipped about the whole
affair.
Date: Wed, 18 Apr 2001
From: "S. Blackburn" srb@mesh.net
To: pdxavets@aracnet.com
Subject: Ivy Memorabilia 6
My mother ran across this patch not long ago. I never knew he had more than one. I can't really account for the difference between it and the other one. It was not stitched and has a shorter and fatter mushroom cloud. It's also thinner and softer leather than the first one. Know anybody who could explain this?
Date: Wed, 18 Apr 2001
From: "S. Blackburn" srb@mesh.net
To: pdxavets@aracnet.com
Subject: Ivy Memorabilia 7
Here's the group photo. My father, then 1st Lt. Robert L Blackburn, is in the front row crouching, second from the right. Please excuse the quality of the scan but on the original you can make out F4U Corsairs and I believe Hellcats in the far background on the left.
| 
Photo from Stacy Blackburn. Click on the picture for a larger view. |
Stacy Blackburn
Email: srb@mesh.net
Tracy Blackburn
Email: tracy.blackburn@sbcglobal.net
--Keith Whittle
May 1, 2001
[ Operation Ivy ]
