American Experience (1988–…): Season 1, Episode 2 - Radio Bikini - full transcript
It starts with a live radio broadcast from the Bikini Atoll a few days before it is annihilated by a nuclear test. Shows great footage from these times and tells the story of the US Navy Sailors who were exposed to radioactive fallout. One interviewed sailor suffered grotesquely swollen limbs and he is shown being interviewed with enormous left arm and hand.
7 PM, Eastern
war time, Bob Chauff reporting.
The Japanese have
accepted our terms fully,
that's the word we've just received
from the White House in Washington.
This, ladies and gentlemen, is the end
of the Second World War.
Ladies and gentlemen,
The President of the United States.
A short time
ago, an American airplane
dropped one bomb on Hiroshima.
That bomb has more power
than 20,000 tons of TNT.
It is an atomic bomb.
It is a harnessing of the
basic power of the universe.
Having found the atomic
bomb, we have used it.
It is an awful responsibility,
which has come to us.
We thank God that it has come to us
instead of to our enemy.
And we pray that he may guide us to use it
in his ways, and for his purposes.
Action.
- The atom bomb is here. It exists.
We must look to the future.
Up until now, only
three have been exploded
and none over the water.
It is a duty of the
military services to explore
the military might of this new weapon.
We want to be prepared for
any use of atomic energy
that may become necessary
whether offensive or defensive.
Out of
Washington comes the story
of Operation Crossroads.
The Special Committee on Atomic
Energy checks final plans
for the forthcoming atom bomb tests at sea
in which 100 warships will be used.
Vice-Admiral Blandy tells the committee,
- The site of the test
will be Bikini Atoll
in the Marshalls Group.
Bikini is situated in the Marshall Islands
between 160 and 170
degrees east longitude.
The lagoon is 27 miles long,
that is from east to west
and a little more than half
of that north to south.
- Now then, James, tell them please
that the United States
government now wants to turn
this great destructive
power into something
for the benefit of all mankind.
And that these experiments,
here at Bikini,
are the first step in that direction.
Crossroads, scene 25, take 1.
- Well now then, James, will you tell them
that the United States
government now wants
to turn this great, destructive
force into something good
for mankind.
Something good for mankind.
Something good for mankind.
All right, is that all?
Okay, cut it.
By means of
electrical transcription,
we bring you the first
in the series of programs
previewing the atom bomb experiments
in the Marshall Islands.
One of the most important,
and one of the most
dramatic elements concerned
with the dropping of the bomb
is the photographic aspect.
How many cameras are going to
used on this operation here?
There will be 104 still cameras,
and 208 motion picture cameras.
Some of our
statisticians have computed
that we're going to make as many pictures
in the first several seconds as are made
in 11 Hollywood productions.
That's a lot of footage.
What would it run to in weight?
We brought over
18 tons, so we'd have enough.
- We really and truly didn't
know what was coming out
because were told we were going on a test.
And the test there would be
nothing to be concerned with.
Don't bother about anything,
there's no restrictions on us,
so do as you're told and
there won't be any harm
coming to anybody.
Go ahead,
Operation Crossroads at Bikini.
We are speaking to you
from the island of Bikini.
We think this is a rather
auspicious occasion,
because of the fact that this
is probably the first time
and no doubt the last that a radio station
will be broadcasting from Bikini.
This island has been read
about and told about,
and you've seen pictures of it
in the papers, in magazines,
and over the radio for
the past several months.
Now, this is an actual
broadcast from this location.
- When we arrived there, we
found out that the weather
was a little on the warm side,
running about 100 degrees with
about 100 percent humidity.
So it was pretty warm and humid.
So the less clothing we could
wear, the better off we were.
At least we thought we were at the time.
We started to try to get into the water
to swim a little bit, and we
did that with no problems.
So it was swimming and
eating a lot of ice cream.
Just anything to keep our
minds occupied at the time.
- Well I know it's
certainly grand to see some
femininity out here.
Because, as you said,
42,000 men and 22 women,
the competition's quite great,
and one dog I see standing right here.
♫ Inside a blue lagoon I kissed you
♫ It was in September ♫
They cut up,
actful, as boys would.
Everybody was on a sort
of a good attitude.
I thought we were. I was.
We thought it was
wonderful the way they were
treating us there.
And had all the ice cream we could eat.
We had some of this,
what-you-call-it, Sweetu Beer.
Trying to cool off with that.
- Well, tell me,
Fitzgerald, how do you feel
about being here?
Do you like the assignment?
- Yes, sir. Not bad at all.
- Are you married?
- No, sir.
- Are you going to have any grandchildren
to tell about this?
- I don't know, sir.
- Well, let's hope you do.
How old are you?
- 18, sir.
- 18.
How long have you been in the service now?
- About four months.
- About four months.
Well boy, you're starting
out on a real one.
Thank you very much.
For months from Washington
to the Central Pacific,
plans have moved ahead on
one of the most gigantic
experiments the world has ever known.
A joint operation this July to determine
whether present sea power is obsolete.
In secret files, an exhaustive
schedule of planning
and consultation is
perfected as public interest
in the vast operation mounts.
An answer to repeated
criticisms of what may be
the greatest mass
destruction in naval history,
Vice-Admiral W.H. Blandy says,
- It has been said that any
reasonably industrialized nation
can produce the atom bomb in a few years.
I know that you would not
want your homes protected
by a military machine
obsolete and inadequate
to meet the dangers of any form of attack.
- Crossroads, U.S.S.
Panamint, Mexican UN Observer
singing a church service.
- Congressman Engel,
what interests you most
about this test?
- I am interested in
the effect of the blast
upon the animals.
Because by studying such effects,
we will learn, approximately,
what may happen to humans
in the event they're
exposed to atomic attack.
- We were told to do as you're ordered
and nothing will become of it,
and nothing will happen to you.
And that's exactly what we did.
Being a country boy, like
the majority of us were,
we didn't know of any type of a bomb.
We really didn't know
it was a type of a bomb
that they exploded over there.
- "We scientists, who
released this immense power
"have overwhelming responsibility
to bring realization
"to America that mankind's
destiny is being decided today,
"now, this moment.
"We ask your help in this
fateful moment, as signed,
"that we scientists do not stand alone."
- I agree.
For a late
report on the atom bomb test
at Bikini, stay tuned
to your mutual station.
We take you now to New York.
This Security
Council chamber is packed
as it’s never been before to listen
to this historic declaration
as the government
of the United States is
about to present its plan
for the world control of atomic energy.
And now, we give you Mr. Bernard Baruch,
the American delegate
to the United Nations'
Commission on Atomic Energy.
- My fellow members of the United Nations,
Atomic Energy Commission,
and my fellow citizens of the world.
We are here to make a choice
between the quick and the dead.
That is our business.
Behind the black portend
of the new atomic age
lies a hope which, seized upon with faith,
can work our salvation.
If we fail, then we have damned every man
to be the slave of fear.
Now, if ever, is the time
to act for the common good.
We of this nation, realizing
the heavy obligations upon us
are rising from our
possession of the means
of producing the bomb,
and from the fact that it
is a part of our armament,
are prepared to make a full contribution
toward effective control of atomic energy.
- Mr. Molotov's speech indicated distrust
and misunderstanding of the
motives of the United States
and of other members
of the United Nations.
Our motives, in war and peace,
we leave to the judgment
of history.
Now, from the ship carrying
scientific observers
and UN representatives,
here is ABC correspondent, Clete Roberts.
Go ahead, Bikini.
This is Clete Roberts,
reporting from Bikini Lagoon.
A little over an hour
ago, Vice-Admiral Blandy
announced that the
A-bomb will subsequently
be dropped tomorrow.
Crews will begin leaving the target ship.
- We were in the lagoon
on the morning of July 1st.
We were told then that we were moving out,
and we would go out to the mothership,
which we called Mount McKinley
which was about nine miles out.
And that was early in the
morning, we started out
in the lagoon.
We were the last ship out of the lagoon,
the last personnel out of the lagoon.
So we wasn't afraid of anything,
because we knew at time...
Or felt at the time why
we were well-protected,
we had nothing to be afraid of.
Major Brilly of the Netherlands.
- Good morning.
- Colonel Raghav of Egypt.
Military attaché in Washington.
Colonel Osman of Egypt.
How do you do?
Dr. Correa of Mexico.
Colonel Gonzalez of Mexico.
Vice Air Marshal Steadman, how do you do?
Major General Lipton, Canada.
Dr. Aleksondrov of Russia.
Dr. Migilikov of Russia.
General Hu of China, military
attaché in Washington also.
Commander Sturgeon of Australia.
Dr. Vincrosky of Poland.
Dr. Sevra of Poland, how do you do?
Nice to see you, doctor.
Dr. Goldsmith of France, how do you do?
Mr. Presley, England. How do you do?
A member of Parliament.
I know that you'd be
interested, as I will be
to see these tests tomorrow.
And I know that you are
aware that they are conducted
in not any frivolous or casual fashion.
That they do not constitute
any gesture of war,
or aggression, or threat.
Thank you very much.
Hello ABC, this
is Lee Vanatter reporting
from Air Force Atomic
Headquarters in Kwajalein.
There's only a few hundred
yards from where I am speaking
to a certain atomic bomb, the Bikini bomb.
It is a novel and yet
somehow satisfying sensation
to know that bomb is both nearing here.
That sensation of something
more powerful than anything man
has known before being present
on this incongruously tiny
coral atoll in the middle of the Pacific.
- Experiment provides experience.
Experience fortifies
theory. Knowledge is power.
The way is clear, the challenge strong.
The duty inescapable.
We must have the facts.
Common sense calls for the facts, now.
Anxiously waiting for this
is Mrs. Carolyn Swancutt, mother
of Major Woodrow Swancutt,
pilot of Dave's Dream,
the B-29 which will drop
the Bikini bomb.
Mrs. Swancutt, do you feel a
little anxious along with him?
I certainly
do, but I have much faith
and confidence in Woody.
I know that he will do
the very best that he can.
Of course he will.
And may
the grace of God be with him
and his crew.
Mrs. Swancutt
is browsing through...
"Don't worry about me, mother.
"Believe me when I say
we're in no danger at all
"in the test no matter
what you have heard,
"and have confidence in me, I'll be okay."
Ladies and
gentlemen, today is Able Day,
the day that the fourth atomic
bomb ever dropped in history
is scheduled to explode over a ghost fleet
in Bikini Lagoon.
In just a few moments, the
superfortress carrying that bomb
will take off from Kwajalein
to begin a four-hour flight
to H-hour.
For an eyewitness report
of this historic event,
we take you now to Kwajalein.
- This is W.W.
Chapman on a hangar roof
overlooking the atom bomb plane
runway on Kwajalein Island.
The time has come to send the
atom bomb by air to Bikini.
To burst in cosmic fury over
an anchored skinny fleet
of American, Japanese,
and German Naval vessels.
The most explosive experiment
in history is about to begin.
Now the plane is swinging around.
Now, I think he's ready to go.
He's giving her the gun.
The atom bomb plane,
Dave's Dream, is starting
down the runway.
50 miles an hour, now 60, he's on his way.
Over 80 miles now. Now we're up to 100.
120, and he's just about there.
He starts up in the air, he's up!
The plane is airborne, the
atom bomb is in the air
on its way to Bikini
for the greatest experiment,
the most explosive experiment
in history.
At this time NBC interrupts
its regular program schedule to bring you
a history making broadcast.
The actual dropping of the bomb at Bikini.
In a matter of minutes
now, an army superfortress
will drop that bomb on target
ships in Bikini lagoon.
There are those who predict
it may be the last such test
if nations now can agree
to outlaw the bomb.
The United Nations Atomic
Energy Commission now
is analyzing that problem,
and the world waits
to see whether there can be a compromise
between our own plan for
controlling atomic energy
and that of Soviet Russia.
Aboard 22 target ships in
the lagoon are the animals
which are soon to draw their
last breaths for humanity.
The result of what happens
to war making equipment
will undoubtedly determine
the course of military might
for generations to come.
It is now
30 seconds to zero time.
Put on goggles or turn away.
Do not remove goggles or
face first until 10 seconds
after the first light.
We're holding
our goggles adjusted now,
because we expect to hear the
signal from the bombardier
at any moment.
- Crossroads, scene 1,
take 1, A-day first.
USS Panamint.
It's no longer moments,
it's a matter of seconds now.
Seconds ticking against
the backdrop of the sun.
The bomb is away and falling!
At that time,
they started the countdown.
And we wasn't really
sure, because they said
it would be a big bomb.
And it would show off a lot of heat,
and we would feel a shockwave.
Be prepared for that.
And they told us that be
sure to cover our eyes
when they count down to zero.
- 12, 11, 10, 9,
- All green.
8, 7, 6, 5,
four, three, two, one, zero.
I thought it was
great, I thought it was one
of the greatest things I've ever seen.
And it was, really.
Being from the country, of
course, I would've never
had a chance to see anything
like that in my lifetime.
Sitting back there, seeing
this huge fire rolling
up into the skies.
It was something that was unbelievable.
And anything that
everybody was saying was,
"Ah, look a there."
Congressman
Ezak, what was your first
general impression of the
explosion of the atomic bomb
a few moments ago?
- It was one of keen
disappointment, I'll say.
It looked to me as if the
Navy Department was afraid
members of congress would get too close,
and that they do not
consider us expendable.
- It struck me as the most
awe-inspiring, and magnificent
man-made spectacle I have
ever seen in my life.
- It put me pretty much in
mind of the setting sun.
- It seemed like a
huge, giant firecracker.
To go from
Bikini Atoll back to Brooklyn,
what do you think they
were doing in Brooklyn
at the time the atom bomb exploded?
- Well, if the Dodgers were playing today,
I'm pretty sure they
were out to see the bums.
The National
Broadcasting Company interrupts
all its programs to bring
you a special broadcast.
A few hours ago
the atomic bomb was dropped
on the target in Bikini.
Aboard this vessel which
carries the scientific observers
and United Nations representatives
there is, without a doubt, a
keen sense of disappointment.
Disappointment with what
we witnessed this morning.
It was a successful experiment
for the army and navy,
but from 20 miles away, it
was a pretty poor spectacle.
- Until I have seen the
destruction measured
by the various instruments and
seen the destruction itself,
I would reserve judgment
as to whether or not
I'm ready to abolish the army and navy,
and go to throwing atomic baseballs.
And we got our
orders to go to ground zero.
And when we went to
ground zero, steaming in
past the target ships, we saw
various sights that went on,
because some of the target
were burned real bad.
Some of them had holes in them.
The ships were turned in every direction,
the ones that were left.
All the paint was removed from them,
the gun barrels were twisted,
the structures were twisted.
And by standing on the top
side, we went within yards or so
of all the target ships
that was in the lagoon.
Many of the
officers aboard the flagship here
are very optimistic now that
the first Able operation
has gone off successfully
and almost exactly on time.
They're very optimistic
about the Baker test.
As a matter of fact, I've
heard a number of the men say
that they believe Baker will
go off on or about July 22nd,
which gives just exactly three weeks.
That was Admiral Blandy's
original statement
that if everything went
off satisfactorily,
then within three weeks,
Baker should come about.
During this
whole time from July 1st
through the 24th,
there really wasn't too
much restrictions again.
By it being so hot, we
slept on the top deck.
Slept any place we could find.
Maybe it would cool off early
in the morning sometimes
we would catch a few winks at that time
if we weren't on duty.
This is how we spent our
whole time aboard ship
those 24 days there until
the second test that we had.
I don't recall, during that
whole time that I was there,
that any words along radioactivity
had been spoken of to us,
the crew members I'm talking about.
They have used the word
radioactive up in the higher class,
up in the officers.
So I wasn't an officer,
I was an enlisted man,
so we were never told about
any radioactive exposure
or anything that way.
In fact, we didn't really
know what the word was.
How do you
do, ladies and gentlemen,
this is Arthur Frenger reporting.
Reporting to you from the
tiny isle of Rongerik,
deep in the Central Pacific Ocean,
some halfway between the
Orient and the mainland
of the United States.
Here we are, on the tiny isle
where the natives of Bikini
have been evacuated.
They're homesick.
They've only been here for a short while.
But they're glad to stay,
although they don't understand
the world of nuclear
energy any more than we do.
And though they have
no way of understanding
what the test is all about.
Rongerik
itself lies some 200 miles
almost due north of the
main island of Kwajalein.
Out here, in the peaceful
Pacific where the natives sit
in their courtesy and
in their friendliness
with their smiles and
with their happiness,
they aren't sure exactly
what the atom bomb means,
but at least they admit it.
So you have "You Are My
Sunshine" sung to you
in Marshallese.
Perhaps the top tune of
the week, you might say
out here on the tiny isle of Rongerik.
In a moment,
mutual and affiliated stations
will take you to Bikini
where Joint Task Force One
has regrouped for the
second time within a month.
This time to set off the
first underwater atom blast
in the history of the world.
- The bomb will not start a
chain reaction in the water,
converting it all to gas
and letting all the ships
on all the oceans drop down to the bottom.
It will not blow out
the bottom of the sea,
and let all the water run down the hole.
It will not destroy gravity.
I am not an atomic playboy, as
one of my critics labeled me,
exploding these bombs to
satisfy my personal whim.
The evacuated
ruler of Bikini, King Juda,
gets a front row seat at the bomb blast
as he arrives aboard the
Mt. McKinley, and is greeted
by Admiral Blandy, Joint
Task Force One Commander.
And the final
switches have been thrown,
no one can stop it, the atomic
bomb is about to explode.
We do not know how it's going to sound,
but 42,000 men here are
watching simply awaiting.
All of the observer ships are
in position in the open sea,
they're about ten miles away.
- Four, three, two, one.
The entire
targeted row, with the exception
of one, two, three, four, five vessels
were completely obliterated
by the spray and the mist.
Now everything has turned
white, I can see nothing at all
of the target vessels, they
are all completely obliterated
by the radioactive spray
that is in the air.
And all the time, mushrooming
the very surface of the water
that has taken an entirely different shape
from the classic design of
the mushroom which we knew.
Sitting out there,
apparently we were caught
in what they call the downwind of this,
and a lot of debris from fallout
fell on top the Summoner.
I was standing there
and got a lot of mist,
little grits of sand, pieces
of rock falling around.
And they ordered, what they called GQ,
which is everybody go
to the battle stations.
We went down and I had
picked up a little rock
on the way that had fell down.
And I picked up a little rock
and I put it in my pocket.
Didn't keep it very long, I
guess I just threw it away.
But again, within 10 hours
after this test, Baker,
we were at ground zero.
Scene 36, Take 5.
- Doctor, what are we doing
to protect our men in Bikini
from possible harm?
- In contrast to the
Japanese, none of our men
will enter the area until it is considered
radiologically safe.
Colonel Stafford Warren will
head a staff of imminent
radiologists who, with the aid
of delicate scientific instruments
will measure the amount
of radiant energy that may be present.
We are taking every
precaution to be certain
that no man is injured
in any way as a result
of this experiment.
We didn't know of
anything what was going on.
No one told us about any radiation
or been exposed to anything.
We were really unconcerned about that,
because we had gone
aboard the target ships,
and we thought that was
one of the greatest things
that there was on board there.
We saw these men coming aboard ship,
and they had these Geiger
counters with them.
They were walking all over the ship.
They had regular shoes
on but they had cloth
pulled up over the shoes there
they were walking around with.
I still had on a pair of
shorts, and my tennis shoes,
and I had a little t-shirt
on with a sailor hat.
And that's all the
clothing that I had on me.
- Scientists have a compelling interest
in these new experiments.
Each time an atomic bomb explodes,
theory is translated
into startling reality.
Today's records and figures
make tomorrow's textbooks.
We went swimming in the water,
a lot of dead fish around.
But we went swimming in the water.
This water was also used
for pulling through water
from the bay and lagoon area there
into the condensers of the ship to make
our own drinking water.
We used the water to
wash our clothes with.
We wasn't so worried about it,
because they continued to
tell us to not worry about
any of this.
It wouldn't harm us and we
wasn't in any danger whatsoever.
Back to Washington comes
Vice-Admiral William H.B. Blandy,
the man who directed
the two atom bombs tests
in Bikini Atoll is here to report.
In his first statement to
the press, the admiral sounds
a somewhat ominous note.
- The Bikini tests,
especially the second test,
which involved the explosion
of an atomic bomb underwater
have proven that this bomb,
as used in naval warfare,
would be not only the most powerful,
but the most insidious
weapon ever used in history.
I sincerely trust that a plan,
which is at the same time
practical and acceptable
to all nations can be
devised to outlaw it.
But if this is not done, at
least Crossroads will have given
the United States information
to make it better prepared
than any other nation on Earth
for this type of warfare.
The natives
of the Marshall Islands
have promised that they shall
never use an atomic bomb
against any enemy.
They have further expressed
their willingness and desire
to join any world
organization to outlaw the use
of the atomic bomb in
possible future warfare.
These are a simple,
honest, religious people.
Peace-loving and not too wise on the ways
of our civilized world.
While we were on
our way back to Pearl Harbor,
why I was taking mostly
bed rest at the time.
And when I got to Pearl Harbor
they then transferred me
to the hospital there where
many tests were performed on me.
The Summoner left and
went on another tour,
of course I remained in the hospital.
In 1947, they gave me a medical discharge
and sent me home.
My feet and legs were swollen
only just a little bit.
Sometimes it prevent me
from wearing my shoes.
And I would do as I was told to do.
They told me that if my
feet started swelling on me,
I get bed and elevate my feet and legs,
the swelling would go down, which it did.
Years went on and this
continued to go on and on.
And years went on into the 50's.
But each time the swelling would get
just a little bit worse.
My right leg went down, but my
left leg continued to get big
and it was swollen up huge,
the size of the waist of a man.
And it had started cracking open on me.
And they had to take it off,
because of the severity of the pain.
And the many open wounds that was on it.
And that was in '77, March of '77.
One year later, the
surgery right after that,
the swelling began to
go into my right leg.
And it, again, the swelling
wouldn't stop that time.
It continued to swell so
severely that it literally
burst open from the back of my knee
all the way down to the ankle.
And at that time, I was
taken to the hospital,
and it was August 1978,
my right leg was amputated
below the knee.
Immediately after the
amputation of my right leg,
while in the hospital, my left
hand began to swell on me.
And they didn't have the
answers for that either.
There's no question in my
mind that of all the things
that went on in Operation
Crossroads was me...
It was a slow death from
that time to this date.
Not only me but there's other
thousands of men out there
that may be even worse off than I am.
There's so many thousands of
those men that are dead now,
and they don't really know
what caused their death.
When I say
action, don't start right away.
Action!
- The search of science
for the absolute weapon
has reached fruition in this country.
But we stand ready to
destroy this instrument.
Let us not deceive ourselves,
we must select world peace
or world destruction.
Cut.
war time, Bob Chauff reporting.
The Japanese have
accepted our terms fully,
that's the word we've just received
from the White House in Washington.
This, ladies and gentlemen, is the end
of the Second World War.
Ladies and gentlemen,
The President of the United States.
A short time
ago, an American airplane
dropped one bomb on Hiroshima.
That bomb has more power
than 20,000 tons of TNT.
It is an atomic bomb.
It is a harnessing of the
basic power of the universe.
Having found the atomic
bomb, we have used it.
It is an awful responsibility,
which has come to us.
We thank God that it has come to us
instead of to our enemy.
And we pray that he may guide us to use it
in his ways, and for his purposes.
Action.
- The atom bomb is here. It exists.
We must look to the future.
Up until now, only
three have been exploded
and none over the water.
It is a duty of the
military services to explore
the military might of this new weapon.
We want to be prepared for
any use of atomic energy
that may become necessary
whether offensive or defensive.
Out of
Washington comes the story
of Operation Crossroads.
The Special Committee on Atomic
Energy checks final plans
for the forthcoming atom bomb tests at sea
in which 100 warships will be used.
Vice-Admiral Blandy tells the committee,
- The site of the test
will be Bikini Atoll
in the Marshalls Group.
Bikini is situated in the Marshall Islands
between 160 and 170
degrees east longitude.
The lagoon is 27 miles long,
that is from east to west
and a little more than half
of that north to south.
- Now then, James, tell them please
that the United States
government now wants to turn
this great destructive
power into something
for the benefit of all mankind.
And that these experiments,
here at Bikini,
are the first step in that direction.
Crossroads, scene 25, take 1.
- Well now then, James, will you tell them
that the United States
government now wants
to turn this great, destructive
force into something good
for mankind.
Something good for mankind.
Something good for mankind.
All right, is that all?
Okay, cut it.
By means of
electrical transcription,
we bring you the first
in the series of programs
previewing the atom bomb experiments
in the Marshall Islands.
One of the most important,
and one of the most
dramatic elements concerned
with the dropping of the bomb
is the photographic aspect.
How many cameras are going to
used on this operation here?
There will be 104 still cameras,
and 208 motion picture cameras.
Some of our
statisticians have computed
that we're going to make as many pictures
in the first several seconds as are made
in 11 Hollywood productions.
That's a lot of footage.
What would it run to in weight?
We brought over
18 tons, so we'd have enough.
- We really and truly didn't
know what was coming out
because were told we were going on a test.
And the test there would be
nothing to be concerned with.
Don't bother about anything,
there's no restrictions on us,
so do as you're told and
there won't be any harm
coming to anybody.
Go ahead,
Operation Crossroads at Bikini.
We are speaking to you
from the island of Bikini.
We think this is a rather
auspicious occasion,
because of the fact that this
is probably the first time
and no doubt the last that a radio station
will be broadcasting from Bikini.
This island has been read
about and told about,
and you've seen pictures of it
in the papers, in magazines,
and over the radio for
the past several months.
Now, this is an actual
broadcast from this location.
- When we arrived there, we
found out that the weather
was a little on the warm side,
running about 100 degrees with
about 100 percent humidity.
So it was pretty warm and humid.
So the less clothing we could
wear, the better off we were.
At least we thought we were at the time.
We started to try to get into the water
to swim a little bit, and we
did that with no problems.
So it was swimming and
eating a lot of ice cream.
Just anything to keep our
minds occupied at the time.
- Well I know it's
certainly grand to see some
femininity out here.
Because, as you said,
42,000 men and 22 women,
the competition's quite great,
and one dog I see standing right here.
♫ Inside a blue lagoon I kissed you
♫ It was in September ♫
They cut up,
actful, as boys would.
Everybody was on a sort
of a good attitude.
I thought we were. I was.
We thought it was
wonderful the way they were
treating us there.
And had all the ice cream we could eat.
We had some of this,
what-you-call-it, Sweetu Beer.
Trying to cool off with that.
- Well, tell me,
Fitzgerald, how do you feel
about being here?
Do you like the assignment?
- Yes, sir. Not bad at all.
- Are you married?
- No, sir.
- Are you going to have any grandchildren
to tell about this?
- I don't know, sir.
- Well, let's hope you do.
How old are you?
- 18, sir.
- 18.
How long have you been in the service now?
- About four months.
- About four months.
Well boy, you're starting
out on a real one.
Thank you very much.
For months from Washington
to the Central Pacific,
plans have moved ahead on
one of the most gigantic
experiments the world has ever known.
A joint operation this July to determine
whether present sea power is obsolete.
In secret files, an exhaustive
schedule of planning
and consultation is
perfected as public interest
in the vast operation mounts.
An answer to repeated
criticisms of what may be
the greatest mass
destruction in naval history,
Vice-Admiral W.H. Blandy says,
- It has been said that any
reasonably industrialized nation
can produce the atom bomb in a few years.
I know that you would not
want your homes protected
by a military machine
obsolete and inadequate
to meet the dangers of any form of attack.
- Crossroads, U.S.S.
Panamint, Mexican UN Observer
singing a church service.
- Congressman Engel,
what interests you most
about this test?
- I am interested in
the effect of the blast
upon the animals.
Because by studying such effects,
we will learn, approximately,
what may happen to humans
in the event they're
exposed to atomic attack.
- We were told to do as you're ordered
and nothing will become of it,
and nothing will happen to you.
And that's exactly what we did.
Being a country boy, like
the majority of us were,
we didn't know of any type of a bomb.
We really didn't know
it was a type of a bomb
that they exploded over there.
- "We scientists, who
released this immense power
"have overwhelming responsibility
to bring realization
"to America that mankind's
destiny is being decided today,
"now, this moment.
"We ask your help in this
fateful moment, as signed,
"that we scientists do not stand alone."
- I agree.
For a late
report on the atom bomb test
at Bikini, stay tuned
to your mutual station.
We take you now to New York.
This Security
Council chamber is packed
as it’s never been before to listen
to this historic declaration
as the government
of the United States is
about to present its plan
for the world control of atomic energy.
And now, we give you Mr. Bernard Baruch,
the American delegate
to the United Nations'
Commission on Atomic Energy.
- My fellow members of the United Nations,
Atomic Energy Commission,
and my fellow citizens of the world.
We are here to make a choice
between the quick and the dead.
That is our business.
Behind the black portend
of the new atomic age
lies a hope which, seized upon with faith,
can work our salvation.
If we fail, then we have damned every man
to be the slave of fear.
Now, if ever, is the time
to act for the common good.
We of this nation, realizing
the heavy obligations upon us
are rising from our
possession of the means
of producing the bomb,
and from the fact that it
is a part of our armament,
are prepared to make a full contribution
toward effective control of atomic energy.
- Mr. Molotov's speech indicated distrust
and misunderstanding of the
motives of the United States
and of other members
of the United Nations.
Our motives, in war and peace,
we leave to the judgment
of history.
Now, from the ship carrying
scientific observers
and UN representatives,
here is ABC correspondent, Clete Roberts.
Go ahead, Bikini.
This is Clete Roberts,
reporting from Bikini Lagoon.
A little over an hour
ago, Vice-Admiral Blandy
announced that the
A-bomb will subsequently
be dropped tomorrow.
Crews will begin leaving the target ship.
- We were in the lagoon
on the morning of July 1st.
We were told then that we were moving out,
and we would go out to the mothership,
which we called Mount McKinley
which was about nine miles out.
And that was early in the
morning, we started out
in the lagoon.
We were the last ship out of the lagoon,
the last personnel out of the lagoon.
So we wasn't afraid of anything,
because we knew at time...
Or felt at the time why
we were well-protected,
we had nothing to be afraid of.
Major Brilly of the Netherlands.
- Good morning.
- Colonel Raghav of Egypt.
Military attaché in Washington.
Colonel Osman of Egypt.
How do you do?
Dr. Correa of Mexico.
Colonel Gonzalez of Mexico.
Vice Air Marshal Steadman, how do you do?
Major General Lipton, Canada.
Dr. Aleksondrov of Russia.
Dr. Migilikov of Russia.
General Hu of China, military
attaché in Washington also.
Commander Sturgeon of Australia.
Dr. Vincrosky of Poland.
Dr. Sevra of Poland, how do you do?
Nice to see you, doctor.
Dr. Goldsmith of France, how do you do?
Mr. Presley, England. How do you do?
A member of Parliament.
I know that you'd be
interested, as I will be
to see these tests tomorrow.
And I know that you are
aware that they are conducted
in not any frivolous or casual fashion.
That they do not constitute
any gesture of war,
or aggression, or threat.
Thank you very much.
Hello ABC, this
is Lee Vanatter reporting
from Air Force Atomic
Headquarters in Kwajalein.
There's only a few hundred
yards from where I am speaking
to a certain atomic bomb, the Bikini bomb.
It is a novel and yet
somehow satisfying sensation
to know that bomb is both nearing here.
That sensation of something
more powerful than anything man
has known before being present
on this incongruously tiny
coral atoll in the middle of the Pacific.
- Experiment provides experience.
Experience fortifies
theory. Knowledge is power.
The way is clear, the challenge strong.
The duty inescapable.
We must have the facts.
Common sense calls for the facts, now.
Anxiously waiting for this
is Mrs. Carolyn Swancutt, mother
of Major Woodrow Swancutt,
pilot of Dave's Dream,
the B-29 which will drop
the Bikini bomb.
Mrs. Swancutt, do you feel a
little anxious along with him?
I certainly
do, but I have much faith
and confidence in Woody.
I know that he will do
the very best that he can.
Of course he will.
And may
the grace of God be with him
and his crew.
Mrs. Swancutt
is browsing through...
"Don't worry about me, mother.
"Believe me when I say
we're in no danger at all
"in the test no matter
what you have heard,
"and have confidence in me, I'll be okay."
Ladies and
gentlemen, today is Able Day,
the day that the fourth atomic
bomb ever dropped in history
is scheduled to explode over a ghost fleet
in Bikini Lagoon.
In just a few moments, the
superfortress carrying that bomb
will take off from Kwajalein
to begin a four-hour flight
to H-hour.
For an eyewitness report
of this historic event,
we take you now to Kwajalein.
- This is W.W.
Chapman on a hangar roof
overlooking the atom bomb plane
runway on Kwajalein Island.
The time has come to send the
atom bomb by air to Bikini.
To burst in cosmic fury over
an anchored skinny fleet
of American, Japanese,
and German Naval vessels.
The most explosive experiment
in history is about to begin.
Now the plane is swinging around.
Now, I think he's ready to go.
He's giving her the gun.
The atom bomb plane,
Dave's Dream, is starting
down the runway.
50 miles an hour, now 60, he's on his way.
Over 80 miles now. Now we're up to 100.
120, and he's just about there.
He starts up in the air, he's up!
The plane is airborne, the
atom bomb is in the air
on its way to Bikini
for the greatest experiment,
the most explosive experiment
in history.
At this time NBC interrupts
its regular program schedule to bring you
a history making broadcast.
The actual dropping of the bomb at Bikini.
In a matter of minutes
now, an army superfortress
will drop that bomb on target
ships in Bikini lagoon.
There are those who predict
it may be the last such test
if nations now can agree
to outlaw the bomb.
The United Nations Atomic
Energy Commission now
is analyzing that problem,
and the world waits
to see whether there can be a compromise
between our own plan for
controlling atomic energy
and that of Soviet Russia.
Aboard 22 target ships in
the lagoon are the animals
which are soon to draw their
last breaths for humanity.
The result of what happens
to war making equipment
will undoubtedly determine
the course of military might
for generations to come.
It is now
30 seconds to zero time.
Put on goggles or turn away.
Do not remove goggles or
face first until 10 seconds
after the first light.
We're holding
our goggles adjusted now,
because we expect to hear the
signal from the bombardier
at any moment.
- Crossroads, scene 1,
take 1, A-day first.
USS Panamint.
It's no longer moments,
it's a matter of seconds now.
Seconds ticking against
the backdrop of the sun.
The bomb is away and falling!
At that time,
they started the countdown.
And we wasn't really
sure, because they said
it would be a big bomb.
And it would show off a lot of heat,
and we would feel a shockwave.
Be prepared for that.
And they told us that be
sure to cover our eyes
when they count down to zero.
- 12, 11, 10, 9,
- All green.
8, 7, 6, 5,
four, three, two, one, zero.
I thought it was
great, I thought it was one
of the greatest things I've ever seen.
And it was, really.
Being from the country, of
course, I would've never
had a chance to see anything
like that in my lifetime.
Sitting back there, seeing
this huge fire rolling
up into the skies.
It was something that was unbelievable.
And anything that
everybody was saying was,
"Ah, look a there."
Congressman
Ezak, what was your first
general impression of the
explosion of the atomic bomb
a few moments ago?
- It was one of keen
disappointment, I'll say.
It looked to me as if the
Navy Department was afraid
members of congress would get too close,
and that they do not
consider us expendable.
- It struck me as the most
awe-inspiring, and magnificent
man-made spectacle I have
ever seen in my life.
- It put me pretty much in
mind of the setting sun.
- It seemed like a
huge, giant firecracker.
To go from
Bikini Atoll back to Brooklyn,
what do you think they
were doing in Brooklyn
at the time the atom bomb exploded?
- Well, if the Dodgers were playing today,
I'm pretty sure they
were out to see the bums.
The National
Broadcasting Company interrupts
all its programs to bring
you a special broadcast.
A few hours ago
the atomic bomb was dropped
on the target in Bikini.
Aboard this vessel which
carries the scientific observers
and United Nations representatives
there is, without a doubt, a
keen sense of disappointment.
Disappointment with what
we witnessed this morning.
It was a successful experiment
for the army and navy,
but from 20 miles away, it
was a pretty poor spectacle.
- Until I have seen the
destruction measured
by the various instruments and
seen the destruction itself,
I would reserve judgment
as to whether or not
I'm ready to abolish the army and navy,
and go to throwing atomic baseballs.
And we got our
orders to go to ground zero.
And when we went to
ground zero, steaming in
past the target ships, we saw
various sights that went on,
because some of the target
were burned real bad.
Some of them had holes in them.
The ships were turned in every direction,
the ones that were left.
All the paint was removed from them,
the gun barrels were twisted,
the structures were twisted.
And by standing on the top
side, we went within yards or so
of all the target ships
that was in the lagoon.
Many of the
officers aboard the flagship here
are very optimistic now that
the first Able operation
has gone off successfully
and almost exactly on time.
They're very optimistic
about the Baker test.
As a matter of fact, I've
heard a number of the men say
that they believe Baker will
go off on or about July 22nd,
which gives just exactly three weeks.
That was Admiral Blandy's
original statement
that if everything went
off satisfactorily,
then within three weeks,
Baker should come about.
During this
whole time from July 1st
through the 24th,
there really wasn't too
much restrictions again.
By it being so hot, we
slept on the top deck.
Slept any place we could find.
Maybe it would cool off early
in the morning sometimes
we would catch a few winks at that time
if we weren't on duty.
This is how we spent our
whole time aboard ship
those 24 days there until
the second test that we had.
I don't recall, during that
whole time that I was there,
that any words along radioactivity
had been spoken of to us,
the crew members I'm talking about.
They have used the word
radioactive up in the higher class,
up in the officers.
So I wasn't an officer,
I was an enlisted man,
so we were never told about
any radioactive exposure
or anything that way.
In fact, we didn't really
know what the word was.
How do you
do, ladies and gentlemen,
this is Arthur Frenger reporting.
Reporting to you from the
tiny isle of Rongerik,
deep in the Central Pacific Ocean,
some halfway between the
Orient and the mainland
of the United States.
Here we are, on the tiny isle
where the natives of Bikini
have been evacuated.
They're homesick.
They've only been here for a short while.
But they're glad to stay,
although they don't understand
the world of nuclear
energy any more than we do.
And though they have
no way of understanding
what the test is all about.
Rongerik
itself lies some 200 miles
almost due north of the
main island of Kwajalein.
Out here, in the peaceful
Pacific where the natives sit
in their courtesy and
in their friendliness
with their smiles and
with their happiness,
they aren't sure exactly
what the atom bomb means,
but at least they admit it.
So you have "You Are My
Sunshine" sung to you
in Marshallese.
Perhaps the top tune of
the week, you might say
out here on the tiny isle of Rongerik.
In a moment,
mutual and affiliated stations
will take you to Bikini
where Joint Task Force One
has regrouped for the
second time within a month.
This time to set off the
first underwater atom blast
in the history of the world.
- The bomb will not start a
chain reaction in the water,
converting it all to gas
and letting all the ships
on all the oceans drop down to the bottom.
It will not blow out
the bottom of the sea,
and let all the water run down the hole.
It will not destroy gravity.
I am not an atomic playboy, as
one of my critics labeled me,
exploding these bombs to
satisfy my personal whim.
The evacuated
ruler of Bikini, King Juda,
gets a front row seat at the bomb blast
as he arrives aboard the
Mt. McKinley, and is greeted
by Admiral Blandy, Joint
Task Force One Commander.
And the final
switches have been thrown,
no one can stop it, the atomic
bomb is about to explode.
We do not know how it's going to sound,
but 42,000 men here are
watching simply awaiting.
All of the observer ships are
in position in the open sea,
they're about ten miles away.
- Four, three, two, one.
The entire
targeted row, with the exception
of one, two, three, four, five vessels
were completely obliterated
by the spray and the mist.
Now everything has turned
white, I can see nothing at all
of the target vessels, they
are all completely obliterated
by the radioactive spray
that is in the air.
And all the time, mushrooming
the very surface of the water
that has taken an entirely different shape
from the classic design of
the mushroom which we knew.
Sitting out there,
apparently we were caught
in what they call the downwind of this,
and a lot of debris from fallout
fell on top the Summoner.
I was standing there
and got a lot of mist,
little grits of sand, pieces
of rock falling around.
And they ordered, what they called GQ,
which is everybody go
to the battle stations.
We went down and I had
picked up a little rock
on the way that had fell down.
And I picked up a little rock
and I put it in my pocket.
Didn't keep it very long, I
guess I just threw it away.
But again, within 10 hours
after this test, Baker,
we were at ground zero.
Scene 36, Take 5.
- Doctor, what are we doing
to protect our men in Bikini
from possible harm?
- In contrast to the
Japanese, none of our men
will enter the area until it is considered
radiologically safe.
Colonel Stafford Warren will
head a staff of imminent
radiologists who, with the aid
of delicate scientific instruments
will measure the amount
of radiant energy that may be present.
We are taking every
precaution to be certain
that no man is injured
in any way as a result
of this experiment.
We didn't know of
anything what was going on.
No one told us about any radiation
or been exposed to anything.
We were really unconcerned about that,
because we had gone
aboard the target ships,
and we thought that was
one of the greatest things
that there was on board there.
We saw these men coming aboard ship,
and they had these Geiger
counters with them.
They were walking all over the ship.
They had regular shoes
on but they had cloth
pulled up over the shoes there
they were walking around with.
I still had on a pair of
shorts, and my tennis shoes,
and I had a little t-shirt
on with a sailor hat.
And that's all the
clothing that I had on me.
- Scientists have a compelling interest
in these new experiments.
Each time an atomic bomb explodes,
theory is translated
into startling reality.
Today's records and figures
make tomorrow's textbooks.
We went swimming in the water,
a lot of dead fish around.
But we went swimming in the water.
This water was also used
for pulling through water
from the bay and lagoon area there
into the condensers of the ship to make
our own drinking water.
We used the water to
wash our clothes with.
We wasn't so worried about it,
because they continued to
tell us to not worry about
any of this.
It wouldn't harm us and we
wasn't in any danger whatsoever.
Back to Washington comes
Vice-Admiral William H.B. Blandy,
the man who directed
the two atom bombs tests
in Bikini Atoll is here to report.
In his first statement to
the press, the admiral sounds
a somewhat ominous note.
- The Bikini tests,
especially the second test,
which involved the explosion
of an atomic bomb underwater
have proven that this bomb,
as used in naval warfare,
would be not only the most powerful,
but the most insidious
weapon ever used in history.
I sincerely trust that a plan,
which is at the same time
practical and acceptable
to all nations can be
devised to outlaw it.
But if this is not done, at
least Crossroads will have given
the United States information
to make it better prepared
than any other nation on Earth
for this type of warfare.
The natives
of the Marshall Islands
have promised that they shall
never use an atomic bomb
against any enemy.
They have further expressed
their willingness and desire
to join any world
organization to outlaw the use
of the atomic bomb in
possible future warfare.
These are a simple,
honest, religious people.
Peace-loving and not too wise on the ways
of our civilized world.
While we were on
our way back to Pearl Harbor,
why I was taking mostly
bed rest at the time.
And when I got to Pearl Harbor
they then transferred me
to the hospital there where
many tests were performed on me.
The Summoner left and
went on another tour,
of course I remained in the hospital.
In 1947, they gave me a medical discharge
and sent me home.
My feet and legs were swollen
only just a little bit.
Sometimes it prevent me
from wearing my shoes.
And I would do as I was told to do.
They told me that if my
feet started swelling on me,
I get bed and elevate my feet and legs,
the swelling would go down, which it did.
Years went on and this
continued to go on and on.
And years went on into the 50's.
But each time the swelling would get
just a little bit worse.
My right leg went down, but my
left leg continued to get big
and it was swollen up huge,
the size of the waist of a man.
And it had started cracking open on me.
And they had to take it off,
because of the severity of the pain.
And the many open wounds that was on it.
And that was in '77, March of '77.
One year later, the
surgery right after that,
the swelling began to
go into my right leg.
And it, again, the swelling
wouldn't stop that time.
It continued to swell so
severely that it literally
burst open from the back of my knee
all the way down to the ankle.
And at that time, I was
taken to the hospital,
and it was August 1978,
my right leg was amputated
below the knee.
Immediately after the
amputation of my right leg,
while in the hospital, my left
hand began to swell on me.
And they didn't have the
answers for that either.
There's no question in my
mind that of all the things
that went on in Operation
Crossroads was me...
It was a slow death from
that time to this date.
Not only me but there's other
thousands of men out there
that may be even worse off than I am.
There's so many thousands of
those men that are dead now,
and they don't really know
what caused their death.
When I say
action, don't start right away.
Action!
- The search of science
for the absolute weapon
has reached fruition in this country.
But we stand ready to
destroy this instrument.
Let us not deceive ourselves,
we must select world peace
or world destruction.
Cut.