Charles Frank sent email about his duty during Operation Dominic.
From: "Charles Frank" dasfrank@panax.com
To: pdxavets@aracnet.com
Subject: Participation in Russian atmospheric nuclear tests during fall of 1962
Date: Wed, 4 Apr 2001
I am interested in obtaining information (mainly about crew) who served
aboard the USS TANNER (AGS-15) during the period July through November when
the ship "observed" more than 35 and less than 45 atmospheric detonation of
atomic devices over the island of Novya Zemlya (Russia) in the Barents Sea,
Artic Ocean.
1. Capt. Stanley N. Ohlin, USNR was the commanding officer.
2. Capt. Stanley N. Ohlin received the Legion of Merit from the president
of the United States for his ship's performance during the Artic Ocean
cruise. The operations were determined to be an "outstanding performance of
his ship in the execution of a mission of utmost importance to the United
States."
3. The ship received a commendation from Admiral ROBERT L. DENNISON, USN.
Commander in Chief U.S. Atlantic Fleet "For meritorious achievement in the
performance of duty during the period 28 July 1962 to 22 November 1962 while
TANNER was assigned and conducted a mission of utmost importance to the
United States. The outstanding performance of TANNER resulted in the
successful collection of extremely valuable oceanographic and hydrographic
research information and other scientific data which have constituted
material contributions to essential areas of national research and
development...... The initiative, zeal and esprit de corps exhibited by
TANNER was in keeping with the highest traditions of the United States Naval
Service."
4. This mission was conducted in the Artic Ocean/Barents Sea during the
period in 1962 when the Soviet Union was testing atmospheric nuclear devices
over the test area which contained the two Soviet Novya Zemlya Nuclear Test
Areas. The ship did not stray too far from the test areas to assure it was
well within range of all equipment being utilized for "particular" (I have
no good work for that) purposes.
I am interested in obtaining information on the human effects of the
operation on the crew of the USS TANNER. The operation took place over 38
years ago and I can remember learning that if the men suffered any
after-effects from nuclear ionization, it would probably appear about 40
years "after the fact".
If you could help me establish contact with the approximately 250 on board
the vessel so their health, etc. could be checked out, I would be most
appreciative.
I am 70 years old, USN retired, VA 100% service disabled, combat veteran and
have been since 1974. None of my problems can be associated with the
ionized radiation but, I had two men working for me who have died from
'small cell carcinoma" during the past few years. I have not been in
contact with any others who served on the ship at that time.
Please note: (1) the cruise was not classified. The ship made the
newspapers while briefly replenishing in Northern Norway. Also, ships
company were permitted to receive and send mail during the few brief port
calls that were made.
The ships company, including special observers, exceeded 250 men during the
three months plus period of operations. The observers included Navy,
Marine, Air force and civilian personnel and were able to observe the atmospheric detonations. An area "near by" was closed to navigation by the Russian government.
The ship operated in very strong wind storms and the "cloud(s)" spread radio
active "materials" over our area as well of Norway, Sweden, etc. Quite a bit of
info is available on the internet about the tests (magnitude, date, time, etc.)
I have not looked at this data in several years, but I imagine it is still
there.
You can probably find out all about it by searching something like:
Russian Atmospheric Nuclear Testing Novaya Zemlya 1962 or
Russian Atmospheric Nuclear Testing Barents Sea/Artic Ocean 1962 (etc).
Good hunting.
Charlie
PS: Thank you for your attached information giving me names of organizations and contacts. It is mid-night at night here in downtown Ellsworth, Maine and I am in my 70's, so I will take a nice long nap and look everything over carefully tomorrow.
I am not a "trouble maker" but I do have an interest in the men who served with me, worked for me, experienced three months of operating in "foreign" waters and being both "present and observers" in most unusual events.
If you do an internet search, you will find out that the Norwegians had performed many studies concerning the results of the atomic tests performed in the atmosphere over the island(s) (actually 2 of them) of Novaya Zemlya.
Have fun "hunting" and let me know if you find anything interesting.
Since I initially established contact with you, I have found out that the U.S. State Department filed complaints from the president (Kennedy) about the Russians buzzing our ship with large sea planes (I think, from memory, the aircraft were large sea planes and were called "BE-6 aircraft" if my old worn-out memory is correct. I am pretty sure of the BE-6 being the model, but never trust a man over 70. We are only dangerous because of the mistakes we make.
During a search on the subject matter I landed on state department, now unclassified documents, concerning the exchange of complains between Kennedy-State Dept. - and Krushev during the period of our operation. (The president later awarded our skipper the Legion of Merit (for not bailing out or running away, etc., I guess.
Thank you for anything you can do for me and the people involved in the
voyage.
Have fun with this.
Charlie the tuna (again)
Nite!
Charles B. FRANK, Jr.
CTRCS, USN Retired
Ellsworth, ME
dasfrank@grip.panax.com
See also, Subject: RE: Russian Arctic Tests from Alaska State Commander: Terry Brady
Keith Whittle
May 22, 2001
From: "Charles Frank" dasfrank@panax.com
To: "Keith" pdxavets@aracnet.com
Subject: RE: New addition to list of Atomic Events
Date: Thu, 24 May 2001
For your information, those who have been "exposed" to nuclear activities never quite get over it.
I visited Hiroshima when I was stationed at the Navy Communications Unit #35,
Yokosuka, Japan when I road the rails to Hiroshima for a look-see at the
results of the nuclear bomb. My rate, was CT3 (communications tech 3rd class).
I "visited" Hiroshima in the spring of 1950 and it was something that I
will never forget. I shot two 36 picture rolls of color film and
came up with fantastic slides. They were borrowed from me and the guy
who got them was transferred on a quick set of orders. Goodbye neat set
of films.
I was stationed in Yokosuka, Japan and had a 72 hour liberty. Took train
to Tokyo and then train to Hiroshima. Could not speak much Japanese at the
time, so my buddy and I went to the police station and they provided an
English speaking officer to take us all over the city (rather, remains of
the city) and he explained everything to us in depth and detail. All that
was remaining of the city in spring of 1950 (4 and a half years after the
city was zapped) was tall smoke stacks (no flat surface), leaning over
telephone poles, wall of brick buildings that had many, many window opening
which permitted the force (air) to not effect the wall as it did on walls
with no windows or openings, Also, concrete fences which stood about 6 foot
high were "pushed" quite heard and buckled, cracked, etc. The city was still
not rebuilt because of the radiation which was still present. So, I go to
see a picture of what nuclear bombs can do.
Please note: on the train ride (part one) I went from Yokosuka to Tokyo to get on the railway line to Hiroshima. That leg of the trip was not very long, but I went through the former prime industrial area of Japan (Yokosuka - Yokohama - Tokyo. This area had been leveled by the U.S. B-29's, etc. dropping bombs galore on the area. There was nothing left of all the heavy industry that had been the backbone of Japanese industry. Yokosuka had been a major (size) ship construction area, but the bombing there had been the navy/ship building facilities. They did not destroy much of Yokosuka due to the accuracy of the airmen knocking out the ships and port facilities.
My 2nd exposure to the atomic world is my serving on two nuclear submarine
during my 20 years of active duty. USS Sea Wolf and USS Shark. The Sea Wolf
was the 2nd (or maybe first) true atomic man-of-war to be commissioned
(after the Nautilus.) The Nautilus was initially designed as a submarine-laboratory.
However, to get congress to appropriate the funds to build it, the Navy modified the
design a dab and added torpedo tubes. Then congress passed the construction
funds in the Navy's construction funding (things just don't change).
Charles B. FRANK, Jr.
CTRCS, USN Retired
Ellsworth, ME
dasfrank@grip.panax.com
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