From: "frank gagnon" fng@cyberg8t.com
To: pdxavets@aracnet.com
Subject: Operation Crossroads
Date: Wed, 29 Mar 2000
Hi
For both Bikini tests I was a shipfitter and placed instruments on many of the ships in the lagoon. On loan to the USS Kenneth Whiting, I was 12 miles from the air blast and 5 miles from the underwater blast. I retreived many instruments after both tests. My ship was APA27 George Clymer.
I would like to hear from you and share your experience.
Frank Gagnon
E-Mail fng@cyberg8t.com
From: Frank Gagnon
Subject: Historical information about my Navy assignment for the 1946 atomic bomb(s) tests.
After 54 years I can still see and feel the huge fireball and the awesome devastation that it caused. I awaken worrying about the enormous amount of devastation that the current nuclear devices can cause.
Why: Even with the results from Hiroshima and Nagasaki, the US Navy and Air Force didn't know what the effects of the bomb would do to fully operational Navy vessels. Close to 100 WW2 surplus vessels of all varieties were anchored in a lagoon with the central target the USS Nevada battleship, painted a bright orange to serve as the center target for the world's 4th atomic detonation on July 1, 1946. Three weeks later on July 25 the fifth nuclear bomb was exploded beneath an auxiliary barge.
Where: The tests were conducted in the Pacific Marshall Islands on a one square mile island called Bikini. The 100 or so natives were evacuated and relocated to a new atoll 120 miles to the east. As predicted, the natives cannot return home due to radioactive contamination from the above ground test (Able) and underwater test (Baker).
Results: Unfortunately the air drop missed the Nevada by about six football fields and only sank a half dozen ships.The second bomb which was detonated below the lagoon surface had a terrific toll on the fleet and is well documented by scores of cameras in towers and flying aircraft. This was not a very fitting end for such gallant fighting ships and the destruction brought tears to my eyes.
Who: The project was basically conducted by the US Navy and civilian Air Blast scientists. It is estimated that 40000 people participated in the then secret OperationsCrossroads to test the equivalent of two 20 thousand tons of devastating TNT similar to the ones that forced the Japs into surrender thereby saving possibly thousands of American lives planned for the near term invasion of the Japan mainland.
Experiences: While on temporary duty from my home the USS George Clymer APA 27, I was assigned to work with the Bureau of Ordnance Instrumentation group aboard the USS Kenneth Whiting AV 14 . I received a commendation for instrumentation work on "Operation Crossroads". Under the direction of a British Air Research scientist we outfitted an LCM landing craft with a welding machine and other shipfitter tools of the trade required to mount and retreive instrumentation on most of the target fleet.
Other than the awesome witnessing of the two bomb blasts my most memorable and scary experience was while I was souvenir hunting below decks on the Jap battleship Nagato...my only battle lantern ran out of light and I was lost in the pitch black darkness with the rats and ghosts...I thought, my gosh what if I can't find my way out before they explode Able?
History has pretty well described the effects of the two bombs but with our archaic radiation monitors and lack of knowledge it's no wonder that many atomic vets died early with related complications. My hot, radiated, young body pegged the Geiger counter on many occasions, but thank the Lord I am now 76 and am enjoying every day of my retirement.
Conclusion: I pray that the world never has to experience this type of chilling nuclear devastation.
Frank Gagnon
E-Mail fng@cyberg8t.com
[ Operation Crossroads ]