The Waterbury Democrat., 1946-07-01

Continued from Page Il 100000 test of atomic bombs Vs. Navy Ships-an underwater burst to see if steel arnlor can withstand 1 the terrific water pressure. Mans mightiest weapon exploded with a volcanic blast of smoke and | flame.
 Cloud Goes lip 5O,000 Feet
 Bombardier Harold Wood, 30.0o0 feet over the lagoon in the Super fortress Dawes Dream" let the bomb go at 5:59-45 tEDT9 and short seconds later a double con- cussion jolted the area.
 A peach-colored fiery cloud mush- roomed 5O,000 feet into the air, and even the waters of the lagoon seemed slammed down by the burst,
 When the cloud cleared, the transports Gillian and Carlisle had vanished, the destroyer Lamson was lying on her side, and laundering explosions were jolting the aircraft carrier Independence.
 Flames burst rom oozen other craft. Masts and SuperstructureS were twisted and torn away. Nevada Rides at Anchor
 Ironically, the battleship Nevada, painted a garish red, and the heart of the target fleet bullseye. still rode at anchor after the smoke had cleared, while the Independence, which caught most of the blast, was in what appeared to be her death throes.
 AS this flagship and the observer ships Appalachian, Panamint and Blue Ridge entered the lagoon, fires were raging from the Independ- ence's hangar deck and fire boats were furiously pouring water into her
 AS we steamed into the lagoon it became apparent that the bomb had done fearful damage not ap- parent at distance.
 It was obvious that the bomb had burst several hundred feet in the air astern of the Nevada and slight ly to port. The heavy submarine Skate directly astern of the Nevada was a. shambles although still float | ing. Her coming tower was bat tered into an almost unrecognizable mass of metal and her decks were shattered.
 | Sakawa In Shambles
 The Jap cruiser Sakawa on the NeVada's port side was completely wrecked topside, and it's hard to see what keeps her af1oat.
 From the forward mast, which seems shrunken by the shrivelling atomic blast, all the way aft, the Sakawa's Superstructure and top side are flattened to the waters edge
 The Nevada's tripod mast is bat tered or melted off at the top and her after deck is a blackened wreck. Blue smoke pourS from fires aft.
 Between the Nevada and the SakaWa is a heat blackened hull with no superstructure-all that is left of Yard Oiler 16O.
 Saratoga Survives
 Farther out, the mighty and sen wrapped carrier Saratoga survived, as her admirers swore she would. Despite a small fire which apparently died of it's own accord, the Sara showed no visible scars.
 Nearby the battleship PennsyI- vania was burning as tugs poured steams of water into her.
 The carrier Independence ap- peared doomed, burning junk pile.
 The cruiser Salt Lake City near the Jap battleship Nagato presented a confusion of twisted and bent steel where the atomic blast hit her masts.
 The battleship New York was smoking and to the left of the Me- vada and forward of the SakaWa, the cruiser Pensacola showed night marish wounds in her superstruc- ture
 Prinz Eugen Passes Crisis
 Beyond the Pensacola, the old battleShip Arkansas was burning.
 The cleanest and most untouched looking ship in the pattern was the German cruiser Prinz Eugen. The Nagaue was wreck before Able Day so 1t was hard to say whether she had suffered any more from