Operation Ivy
US Atomic Veterans
Paul Sulky
Paul Sulky sent email about his participation during Operation Ivy.
From: "P Sulky" plsulky@coastaccess.com
To: pdxavets@aracnet.com
Subject: Operation Ivy
Date: Wed, 21 Oct 1998
FROM: Paul Sulky
SUBJECT: Operation Ivy
In February 1952 I arrived at Eniwetok Island, Eniwetok atoll, Marshall Islands, where I was assigned to the rawinsonde (upper air sounding and measurements) unit of the weather detachment. As the year progressed the island gained in population and it became apparent that something important was to happen. In late October others and I realized the event was close at hand.
On October 29th the people, military and civilian, with a few exceptions, were evacuated aboard ships and planes. Those left behind were some civilian scientists on another island and the rawinsonde unit. Our operations were doubled from a balloon release every six hours to a release every three hours. Frequently a release was made while data was being resolved from the previous release.
Early on November 1st we were evacuated to the command ship and left the lagoon. After we were thirty to thirty five miles out the alert was sounded and those of us with out tinted safety glasses were directed to turn in board and close our eyes. When my friend next to me said "Wow, My God", I opened my eyes to see the ships super-structure momentary turn from gray in color to absolute white. Even the ships battle and campaign ribbons of green, red, yellow, blue, etc for an instant, were all blanched. I marveled silently, "My God, what has man done!?"
The second test in the series was scheduled for about two weeks later. As the test was to have a lesser yield than the previous there was not to be an evacuation. My rawinsonde unit and I (three people) were to make a regularly scheduled release about two hours prior to detonation.
At that time we had to generate our own balloon gas (hydrogen) and as sometime happens when the chemicals are old or weak, we did not get enough gas to fill the balloon. On a second try, about thirty minutes, still not enough. A third try was successful; we filled the balloon and called the tower for permission to release the balloon with attached instruments, only to be told to" delay "as there was an aircraft in the pattern about to land. As the release point was within forty feet of the runway all we could do was wait.
After the plane landed we again called the tower to be told detonation was imminent and to again delay release. The burst was made. We called tower once more and were told we could release within the next five minutes, standard procedure. As I was about to release I noticed the cloud from the burst was drifting towards the island. Eniwetok. On my own initiative I further delayed the release. When I had "Eye-Balled" the cloud was in the right place I let go of the balloon, shouted to the others that I had, and then stood there and watched as the balloon and instruments went, as close as I could judge, right into the middle of cloud base.
Back inside the electronics shed, we noticed most abnormal and unusual readings from the instruments. I notified out detachment commander of the events. Within ten minutes he was in our shed with brigadier general, a colonel, a major, and a bearded civilian all-anxious for the natural ending of the sounding. My team and I were told the data we resolved was immediately classified "Top Secret" and two military police were posted outside to insure we were not longer bothered. Even though it was normally scheduled, though delayed, we never did transmit the information as was SOP. I believe I was the first to achieve such an ascent, and possibly to only person to ever do so.
Paul Sulky
Email: plsulky@coastaccess.com
Keith Whittle
October 23, 1998
[ Operation Ivy ]