Evening star., 1951-06-14

pertinent and even then a 3-hour
delay was agreed upon.
Shot" day arrived.
Long before light appeared on
the horizon we were reused from
our hunks. In the darkness we
gathered on the shore Of Einewe-
tok to witness the last prepara-
tions for the great experiment.
I had a sensation and feeling
which was perhaps experienced by
every CT who has huddled In a
landing craft before a beach
landing. This was my first ex-
perience with an atomic bomb
experiment and I. too. didn't know
what to expect.
In the cold chill of the morn
ing we stood alongside the run
way on Einewetok and watched
the aircraft which were to par
lticipate in the experiment take
loft without mishap.
The day before we had ex-
amined the crewless aircraft and
the entire operation had been ex-
planned as to how the airplanes
would be controlled without a
human hand touching the instru-|
Iments or riding the airplane.
There was something weird and
eerie as the huge Bits resting
on the runways and each motor
was separately tested just as
though a pilot sat in the cockpit.
Controlled by Mother"
These pilotless aircraft are con-
trolled on the take-off by a port
able ground board. Shortly after
they become airborne they are
taken over by mother" aircraft,
which. in turn has contact with a
second control aircraft known as
a master mother"
These pilotless airplanes are
sent directly into the area Of the
bang" and into the cloud or
mushroom" caused by the blast.
The purpose is to obtain specimen
of the cloud and to take motion
pictures by automatically con-
trolled cameras.
Everything went according to
schedule.
The hour OF the "bang" was
fast approaching.
All official observers were then
taken to the Officers Beach Club
and given coffee and sandwiches.
Chairs were arranged in front Of
the club along the beach, facing
the direction Of the "shot" island.
A voice from loud speaker
kept us informed Of the progress
being made. Each new action was
explained, each progressive step
of the operation was detailed.
We were again warned to pro-
tect our eyes against the fire
ball."
Dark glasses which completely
blacked out all light were dis
tributed. Those who preferred
not to look at the fire ball" were
warned to turn their heads and
count zone thousand one, one
thousand two. one thousand three"
before turning in the direction of
the "shot" island.
Those who elected to look into
the Sire ball" were warned not to
remove their glasses following the
bang" until they had counted
of three slow seconds.
Apprehension Ever Present.
That apprehension of what
might happen If all did not go asI
planned was ever present. It just
couldn't be helped. I couldn't
shake it off.
Half hour before the "bang" II
was seated in the first row of
chairs on the beach.
Except for the knowledge of
what was to take place in few
minutes the scene could we'll have
been any exclusive beach club on
any exclusive beach from Frances
Riviera to Hawaii's WAIKIKI.
We were told that 10-second
warning would be given before the
explosion.
| T examined my glasses. I kept
on my own dark sun glasses under
the thick black lens which had
been given me. I was taking mo-
chances.
| I looked at the sun. It was a
tiny red spec hardly discernable.
That's how thick the glasses were.
With eyes covered, I was in pitt
Of darkness and the sound Of con-
versation among the other OBJ
servers took on an eerie tone
which added to the uneasiness
and apprehension Of the moment.
You could. not see anything or
anybody and yet you heard voices.
] All around was the repeated
warning.
BE sure your glasses are ad-
/ justed properly
Last 10 Seconds.
/ Then came those last 10 sec
! onds which shall never forget.