Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1945-08-07
Text of Description on Atomic Bomb Blast
Tension Reached Tremendous Pitch as Time Neored
For Test of One Of Mans Greatest Achievements

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For Test of One {
The War Deartment made
public the tollowing tert OF
description OF the first test OF
the atomic bomb, made July IS
in the desert OF NelD Merico, 120
miles southeast OF Albuquerque:
.Mankind's successful transition to
a new age, the Atomic Age was
usllered in July Is, l945, before the
eyes of a tense group Of removed
sci sntists and military men gathered
in the desertlands of New Mexico to
wit ness the first end results Of their
s., coo 900, 900 effort. Here in re-
mote section of the Alamogordo Air
Base, 100 miles southeast Of Albu-
querque, the first man-made atomic
explosion, the outstanding achieve
ment of nuclear science, was
achieved at $50 am. Of that day.
Darkening heavens pouring forth
rain and lightning Immediately up
to the zero hour heightened the
drama.
Mounted on a steel tower, revo-
lutionary weapon destined to change
war as we know 1t, or which may
even be the fundamentally to end
all major wars, was set of with an
impact which signalized mans en-
trance into a new physical world.
Success was greater than the most
ambitious estimates.
A small amount Of matter, the
product of a chain of huge specially
constructed industrial plants, was
made to release the energy OF the
universe locked up within the atom
from the beginning Of time. A fabu-
lous achievement had been reached.
Speculative theory, barely estab-
lished In prewar laboratories. had
been projected into praticahty.
Credit Goes to Physicist.
This phase of the Atomic Bomb
Project, which is headed by Maj.
Gen. Leslie r. Groves, was under
the direction of DR.. j. r. Open
heimer, theoretical physicist Of the
University of California. He is to
be credited with achieving the i'm
fermentation Of atomic energy for
military purposes.
Tension before the actual detona-
ton was at a tremendous pitch.
Failure was an ever-present posi-
bility. Too great a success. en-
visioned by some Of those present,
might have meant an uncontrol-
able, unusuable weapon.
Final assembly of the atomic bomb
began on the night of July IL in an
old ranch house. AS various COM
ponent assemblies arrived from dis
tant points, tension among the
scientists mounted apace. Coolest
Of all was the man charged with the
actual assembly of the vital core,
DR.. r. F. Bacher, in normal times
professor at Cornell University.
The entire cost of the project,
representing the erection of whole
cities and radically new plants
spread over many miles of country
side, plus unprecedented expert
mentation. was represented in the
pilot bomb and its parts. Here was
the focal point Of the venture. No
other country in the world had been
capable of such an outlay in brains
and technical effort.
Aware Of Danger.
The full significance of these clos
ing moments before the final factual
test was not lost on these men of
science. They fully knew their posi-
ton as pioneers into another age.
They also knew that one false move
would blast them and their entire
effort into eternity.
Before the assembly started re-
ceipt for the vital matter was signed
by Brig. Gen. Thomas F. Farrell,
Gen. Groves deputy. This signal
lied the formal transfer of the ir-
replaceable material from the scien-
fists back to the Army, which had
originally produced it at one of its
great separation plants.
During final preliminary assem-
bly,, a bad few minutes developed
when the assembly of an important
section of the bomb was delayed
The entire unit was machine
fooled to the finest measurement.
The insertion was partially COM
pleted when it apparently wedged
tightly and would 60 no farther.
DR.. Bacher, however, was undis-
mayed and treasured the group that
time would solve the problem. In
three minutes time Dr. Bacher's
statement was verified and basic as
sembly was completed without
further incident.
Specially teams, comprised of the
top men on specific phases OF
science, all Of which were bound up
in the whole, took over their spe-
cialized parts of the assembly.
On Saturday, July IA, the unit
which was to determine the sue
cess or failure OF the entire project
was elevated to the top of the steel
tower. All that day and the next
the job Of preparation went on. In
addition to the apparatus necessary
| to cause the defamation, complete
Instrumentation to determine all
the reactions Of the bomb was rugged
on the tower.
Weather Delayed Work.
The ominous weather which had
logged the assembly Of the bomb
had a very SOLDERING effect on the
assembled experts, whose work waa
accomplished amid lightning flashes
and peals Of thunder. The weather
unusual and upsetting, blocked
aerial observation OF the test. II
even held up the actual explosion
scheduled at 1 am. for an hour and
a half. For many months the APP
proximate date and time had been
set and had been one of the high
level secrets Of the best-kept secret
of the entire war.
Nearest observation point was set
up 10000 yards south OF the tower
where In . timber and earth shelter
the controls for the test were To-
Gated. At q point 1900 yards from
the tower, which would give the
| hast observation. thu kay Aa11rna n