‘It Was Just Beautiful’
July 19th, 2012Via: YouTube / Atom Central:
On July 19, 1957, five men stood at Ground Zero of an atomic test that was being conducted at the Nevada Test Site. This was the test of a 2KT (kiloton) MB-1 nuclear air-to-air rocket launched from an F-89 Scorpion interceptor. The nuclear missile detonated 10,000 ft above their heads.
A reel-to-reel tape recorder was present to record their experience. You can see and hear the men react to the shock wave moments after the detonation.
Flash – BOOM – “It worked! It WORKED!!” Wow…
I’d love to see a “Whatever Happened To…?” on these guys – how long it was before their skin erupted in lesions and their livers failed.
>_<
According to Youtube comments:
Col. Sidney C. Bruce died in 2005 (age 86) – Lt. Col. Frank P. Ball died in 2003 (age 83) – Maj. John Hughes very common name, but I’m guessing he is Maj. John W. Hughes II (born 1919, same as the above)? died in 1990 (age 71) – Maj. Norman Bodinger unclear (not listed in the database), he may still be alive? – Don Lutrel I think this is a misspelling of “Luttrell.” There is a Donald D. Luttrell in the DVA database, US Army CPL, born 1924, died 1987 (age 63). Seems like a possibility.
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S. Bruce. Died 2005 age 86
F. Ball. Died? 2003 age 83
N. Bodinger, not sure, may be still alive
J. Hughes, Died 1990 age 71
D. Lutrel. Died 1987 age 63
G. Yoshitake. Still alive as of 2010