Operation Redwing
1956
Oregon Atomic Veterans
Bob Swart
Bob Swart sent us email with his impressions of Operation Redwing.
To: pdxavets@aracnet.com
From: "Bob Swart" KSwart9146@aol.com
Subject: Redwing
My name is Bob Swart, I was on the USS Curtiss AV4 in the Redwing test shots.
There were 17 detonations, starting on May 5, 1956 to July 22, 1956.
Lacrosse, to Huron. I'm looking for anybody else that might have been on the
Curtiss.
Thank you.
Bob Swart
Hello Editor
Thank you for answering back on my note. I got all my information
by writing to, and here is the address, on all the operation on the tests in
the Marshall Islands
Defense Nuclear Agency
Attn: RARP/NTPR
REDWING
6801 Telegrah Road
Alexandria.VA. 22310-3398
I gave them my name, sn number and ship I was on. I got a fact sheet
back with all the shots we went though with the dates and names of shots.
The one that impressed me most was the CHEROKEE shot. It was airdrop
and was of several MT. One MT (megaton) is equal to one million tons of TNT.
Our ship was 46 miles from drop. I was behind the superstructure with
my head buried in my arms. When the shot went off I could see the light
right through my arms . We were not to look at the shot for two minutes.
I will never forget what I saw. It was said that the people in Hawaii saw
the flash from the shot.
There is an historical volume on the nuclear tests and are in the Portland
Library, Social Sci & Sci dept. 801 SW 10th Ave.
I have more stories but I'm running out of time right now.
There was some guys on the ship from Oregon. I'm still looking for them.
Thank you again.
Bob Swart
Email: KSwart9146@aol.com
--Keith Whittle
November 29, 1997
Operation Redwing