Operation Crossroads
US Atomic Veterans
Thomas J. St. John Jr.
From: Shangcv38@aol.com
Date: Wed, 12 Jul 2000
Subject: Crossroads
To: pdxavets@aracnet.com
Keith
I was a MM 2C, throtleman on # 3 & # 4 main engines in # 2 engine-room on the USS Shangri-La CV38. We were in the support group off shore. The Shangri-la and ships of the support group were under way and radio-controlled F6F's left the decks of the Shangri-La to tranverse pre-established routes under the guidence of mother planes, while Army B-29's
and drone B-17's were flown from airfields at Roi.
The personel who were not on duty mustered on the flight deck. Over the PA system we were told to cover our eyes with our hands when given a pre-arranged signal. Then on another pre-arranged signal we were to remove our hands. The the brilliant flash was something to see.
PBM patrol planes approched the lagoon from windward twenty minutes after the blast , sampling the air for radioactivity, while the Shangri-la drones followed leeward in the atomic
cloud collecting samples of radioactive particles for labortory study. The Shangri-La was involved in both ABLE and BAKER tests. We were in the area for 62 Days.
Thanks again,
Thomas J. St. John Jr.
Shangcv38@aol.com
--Keith Whittle
July 13, 2000
Operation Crossroads