Joe E. Linn
Joe E. Linn sent email about his duty at Operation Dominic.
From: JoeELinn@cs.com
Date: Tue, 1 May 2001
Subject: West coast test
To: pdxavets@aracnet.com
I was on an aircraft that participated in a test of an antisubmarine atomic
weapon device. This test was conducted a few miles off the California coast
during the DOMINIC operation. I was the navigator on the lead a/c, an A3D-2P,
attached to VAP-62 out of Jacksonville.
Our job was to be directly above the target at 20,000 ft when it exploded. We had several dry runs but the ships involved couldn't get us on target using their radar. We persuaded them to let us do the countdown and fire on our command. It worked out perfectly. We had eleven cameras on board and we were directly above when the device detonated. The pictures I saw showed the burst developing below water and increasing in size until it reached the surface. It was perfectly round and we were told it was the best pictures ever of an under water detonation. Do you know if any of these pics are available?
Joe Linn
Lt USN Ret
JoeELinn@cs.com
Keith Whittle
May 2, 2001
[ Operation Dominic ]