Nuclear Testing Review
Nuclear Testing Review
Declassified US Dept of Energy film reviewing the history of United States atomic & nuclear testing.
Nuclear Testing Review
Opening credit, "Nuclear Testing Review." FO/FI TLS/MSs men-- including Los Alamos Director Dr. J. ROBERT OPPENHEIMER -- working with "The Gadget" (large round atomic bomb), hoisting it up 100 ft scaffolding tower, preparing for detonation, July, 1945. FO/FI color (!) WLS first atomic bomb explosion (Trinity) in desert, camera tilting with mushroom cloud-- this was filmed by Berlyn Brixner from the North Shelter at a distance of 10,000 yards. Manhattan Project.
Nuclear Testing Review
First Pacific Tests, Operation Crossroads, Able Event, July 1, 1946, Bikini Atoll. TLSs US naval vessels, mostly destroyers, sailing in warm waters. MS bombing crew chatting; CU pilot Maj. WP SWANCUTT; CU bombardier Major HAROLD WOOD. Panning TLS B-29 bomber "Dave's Dream" taxiing on runway. Air to air shots of Dave's Dream in flight. Aerial of target. Over the shoulder MS bombardier Maj. Harold Wood. Air to air shot of B-29 bay doors closing. Aerials of Able atom bomb event, atomic explosion, mushroom cloud. Level LS Able event, taken from Bikini Island, 3 miles from ground zero; great, frightening view of shockwave streaking across ocean, hurtling towards camera, rattling palm trees in FG before shaking cam-- wow. Traveling shots wreckage of USS Pensacola cruiser (used in Able event). Traveling shots wreckage of submarine USS Skate (SS-305).
Nuclear Testing Review
Operation Crossroads, Baker event, July 25, 1946. CUs officer counting down from 10. MSs men looking through binoculars (perhaps from USS McKinley). Aerial of Baker event, second atomic bomb blast in Bikini Atoll, massive explosion & mushroom cloud, ships visible near ground zero. Great level LS Baker event, water column rising. LS water spray engulfing naval ships; highly radioactive "wall of foaming water." LS atomic blast taken from Bikini Island, water column rising & shockwave racing across water, shaking palm trees in FG before shaking cam.
Nuclear Testing Review
Operation Sandstone, 1948, Pacific Proving Ground. Card: "Produced for the Atomic Energy Commission." Map of Eniwetok Atoll. MS Colonel PAUL PREUSS operating communications radio. Blinding flash of atomic bomb explosion. MS three men wearing safety glasses, watching explosion. Strange shot of mushroom cloud, detonation (can't teel if it's an aerial or a ground shot, the explosion behind clouds).
Nuclear Testing Review
Operation Greenhouse, Booster Event, 1951. First test of the principle of "fusion boosting", the use of a thermonuclear fusion reaction to inject neutrons into a fission core to boost efficiency. MSs booster being transported. TLSs booster detonation tower. MS military oficer donning black safety goggles. WLSs thermonuclear explosion, throbbing mass of reddish-orange in an otherwise black sky.
Nuclear Testing Review
Operation Buster/Jangle, Nevada Proving Ground, 1951. VO: "Today, whatever you are, whatever you do, wherever you may go, you are a part of atomic warfare. It involves you, personally." VO is saturated in Cold War paranoia & fear-mongering. Panning TLS B-29 bomber taking off. LS B-47 Stratojet bomber taking off, much exhaust trailing behind. TLSs several dummy houses being demolished in atomic bomb tests, wind & aftershocks blowing them in & down. Low angle air to air shots of B-29 Superfortress in flight, bomb bay doors opening (no bombs). TLSs flatbed truck w/ two large crates on desert road; TLS two MPs in white helmets opening main gates of military base for truck. Ground level LS atomic bomb explosion in desert, Joshua trees in FG. Aerial atomic blast, mushroom cloud. TLS white top of mushroom cloud. Illustration of radioactive hot pockets or cells inside cloud. MS/CUs Caucasian US Army soldiers (combat helmets) talking, smiling in trenches during atomic test in desert. TLS mushroom cloud, blue sky (Easy or Dog event). CU African-American soldier wearing soft cap & glasses smiling, looking at cloud. MSs US Army soldiers in helmets, slinging rifles, walking into desert, inspecting Jeep, howitzer, mortar destroyed in explosion test.
Nuclear Testing Review
Operation Hardtack I, Pacific Proving Ground, nuclear related effects weapons development, 1958. LS massive thermonuclear explosion (Cactus event) over ocean, partially obscurred by clouds for dramatic effect. MS three newsreel cameramen filming blast from beach (shot from behind). Air to air shots of USAF B-52 Stratofortress jet bomber in flight. Yucca, Teak & Orange events: TLSs Yucca balloon being released from aircraft carrier USS Boxer; LS/TLSs high altitude detonation of Yucca bomb; air to air shot of B-36 Peacemaker prop bomber in flight; aerial of Johnston Island; TLS US Army Redstone missile on tower; MSs pod being attached to missile; LS Redstone missile launch, night, failed Teak event; LS Redstone launch, Orange event, night, high-altitude nuclear detonation; nice shots fireballs, detonations, explosions.
Nuclear Testing Review
Operation Dominic I, Pacific Proving Grounds, 1962; Sea Tests, Frigate Bird and Swordfish events. LS USS Ethan Allen (SSBN 608) firing Polaris missile outfitted with nuclear warhead, newsreel cameramen in FG. LSs Frigate Bird event, atmospheric nuclear explosion. WLS naval destroyer sailing in ocean. TLS ASROC (stock nuclear anti-submarine rocket) weapon being loaded onto destroyer USS Agerholm (DD-826), "Danger: Explosives" sign in FG. MS ASROC manual being consulted. MS ASROC missile being loaded. TLS USS Maddox (DD-731) sailing. CUs ASROC controls. MS/LSs ASROC missile being launched. CU digital countdown clock. LS Swordfish event, underwater nuclear explosion, massive plume of radioactive foam & water hurtling into sky, then outwards towards USS Agerholm. Aerial of Swordfish event, shockwave racing across ocean. MS two sailors inside USS Razorback (submarine) experienced shocks.
Nuclear Testing Review
A7 carrier aircraft tactical delivery methods. Air to air shots of United States Navy A-7 Corsair II flying low over desert. MS looking through gunsight of A-7 in flight. CU gloved hand on flight joystick. Panning TLS A-7 releasing missile, parachute unfurling behind missile, hitting into ground (no explosion). TLS/MSs B43 bomb being loaded onto USN A-7 Corsair II aboard aircraft carrier. MSs man on flight deck signaling jet fighter for take-off, man in flame-retardant suit sitting nearby. MS fighter pilot in cockpit (helmet, oxygen mask). Nice subjective POV shot fighter taking off from aircraft carrier. Air to air shot of A-7 in flight over desert. CU pilot adjusting AMAC knob on control board, then switching to LOFT on Attack Mode. MS view through gunsight. CU gloved finger on bomb release of joystick. MCUs PULL UP signal in fighter. MCU altimeter indicating pull up. LSs A-7 lifting skyward, releasing bomb, flying away. Excellent LS nuclear explosion.
Nuclear Testing Review
Operation Dominic I, Pacific Proving Grounds, 1962; high altitude shots, launch failures. TLS/MSs missiles at base. Panning TLS B-52 Stratofortress speeding on tarmac. Air to air shot of B-52 in flight. Bluegill test, night: MS rocket propulsion system ignition & liftoff; TLS/LSs liftoff & operation abortion after trajectory failure. Tilting LS Starfish test, night. Tilting LS Starfish Prime test, night (rocket launch & successful detonation). Bluegill Prime test, night: TLS rocket on launch pad, MS rocket ignition, flames engulfing rocket after sticking fuel valve malfunction; LS/TLSs flames & explosions-- so very Hollywood, this could be an excerpt from any number of schlocky big budget flicks! Wow!!! Aerial charred launch pad, following day; TLSs burned remains of Bluegill Prime test. Tilting LS successful rocket launch, night.
Nuclear Testing Review
CU DCU-9/A dial being switched to arm on jet fighter. High angle MS missile being dropped over ocean (cam in bomb bay). TLS missile with deployed parachute falling into ocean (no explosion). Stunning LS underwater nuclear explosion at Pacific Proving Ground, humongous plume of radioactive foam & water bursting through the surface & rising high & wide. Closing credits.