Operation Redwing
US Atomic Veterans
Thomas Welhouse
Thomas Welhouse sent email about his duty at Operation Redwing.
From: "Tom Welhouse" twelhous@execpc.com
To: pdxavets@aracnet.com
Subject: Operation Redwing
Date: Fri, 21 Jul 2000
Hello,
My name is Thomas Welhouse and I was a Radioman 2nd Class aboard the USS Lipan (ATF-85) which participated in "Operation Redwing" from May through July 1956 at the Pacific Proving Grounds in the Marshall Islands. There were 17 bomb tests during that time, one air drop and the rest surface explosions either from towers or barge.
The USS Lipan spent a long time getting to the atoll's for the tests as we were towing a barge behind us from Pearl Harbor to be used in the testing. It was a slow process which tooks weeks in all kinds of seas, and weather. I was most impressed that we were even able to hit those small islands after spending so much time by ourselves at sea for such a lenght of time.
The Bomb explosions were really awesome to see and the power and destruction capabilities of these type weapons I hope the world never has to use against mankind. The air drop which exploded at an altitude above 5000 feet I believe was probably the most powerful explosion I will ever see in my lifetime. The initial blast created an intense white light which totally lit up the sky and then after 10 seconds were able to look at the high white burning mushroom cloud it created. We had to cover our eyes with our hands and I could see the bones in my hands like an x-ray during the white light phase. The cloud looked like it was burning inside with burning gases and around the outside you could see burning gases of different colors. The cloud kept expanding and rising into the atmosphere all the while we watched it. It must have risen to 100,000 ft. While it was cooling down it turned white in color and hung there for a long time like a big cotton ball.
Shortly after the explosion we could feel the shock wave hit us along with the heat wave. The heat was hot enough that it made us turn away from it.
There were many other blasts that we witnessed and all were of varying power.
I would like to say hello to all the guys who were there and hope everyone is in good health.
To all my shipmates on the USS Lipan ATF-85 , a big hello, it would be nice to hear from anyone aboard.
Tom Welhouse,
Tom Welhouse
Green Bay, Wisconsin
Email: twelhous@execpc.com
Keith Whittle
July 24, 2000
[ Operation Redwing ]