Atom Atoll (Report to The Armed Forces, Issue Number 147) is a short film from 1953 documenting Operation Greenhouse, a series of nuclear tests conducted on the islands of Enewetak Atoll by members of Joint Task Force 3. Members of the task force gather around a table (00:44). Aerial footage shows the islands of Enewetak Atoll. Weapon designers work on a plastic balloon that will measure the blast of a nuclear detonation (02:21). Men set up other research instruments. On Zero Island, the tower holding an atomic bomb is readied for the test (03:20). Men put on protective glasses, and then the bomb is detonated (03:48). Cargo is moved from a ship for testing operations (04:36). Men eat at a mess hall. A member of the task force operates a water pump (05:05). Landing craft and small ships help move supplies from island to island during Operation Greenhouse. Tanks are positioned specific distances from the blast point to record the heat created in each vehicle’s hull. A prototype bomb-proof roof is set up (06:20). Airplane wings and fuselage are also arranged for testing. Men are briefed about a research flight into the blast cloud. Drone aircraft are prepared to fly near the blast (07:33). Drone jets take off from the airfield and fly high above the islands (08:23). A bomb is detonated, and footage shows buildings being damaged or demolished from the blast. Men work on the instruments, such as oscilloscopes, used to measure radiation (10:31). Mice are placed into cages for testing (11:12). Various materials are set up for another test. The firing team makes a final check of the bomb site (12:31). Men stand in front of the sequence timer used for detonating the atomic bomb (13:57). The bomb is detonated, and the explosion lights up the sky with a massive mushroom cloud. The film ends with a shot of the U.S. Capitol Building (15:55).
Operation Greenhouse was the fifth American nuclear test series, the second conducted in 1951 and the first to test principles that would lead to developing thermonuclear weapons (hydrogen bombs). Conducted at the new Pacific Proving Ground, specifically on islands of the Enewetak Atoll, all of the devices were mounted in large steel towers, to simulate air bursts. This series of nuclear weapons tests was preceded by Operation Ranger and succeeded by Operation Buster-Jangle.
Operation Greenhouse showcased new and aggressive designs for nuclear weapons. The main idea was to reduce the size, weight, and most importantly, reduce the amount of fissile material necessary for nuclear weapons, while increasing the destructive power. With the Soviet Union’s first nuclear test a year and half earlier, the United States had begun stockpiling the new designs before they were actually proven. Thus the success of Operation Greenhouse was vital before the development of thermonuclear weapons could continue. A number of target buildings, including bunkers, houses and factories were built on Mujinkarikku Islet to test nuclear weapon effects.
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This film is part of the Periscope Film LLC archive, one of the largest historic military, transportation, and aviation stock footage collections in the USA. Entirely film backed, this material is available for licensing in 24p HD, 2k and 4k. For more information visit http://www.PeriscopeFilm.com
