 In 10 seconds, the National Broadcasting Company presents a special broadcast from Operation Crossroads. We take you now to the NBC Newsroom in San Francisco. It's a Pacific story. However, tonight's Pacific story will be different from any ever heard. The National Broadcasting Company this evening brings you a first-hand account of the most important thing that happened in the Pacific today. Yes, the most important thing that happened in the world today. The dropping of the atomic bomb at Bikini Atoll. The dropping of this atomic bomb was an experiment of a kind and on a scale never before attempted by mankind. For months, NBC has been laying plans to bring you this broadcast directly from the scene of the great explosion. NBC newscasters and correspondents, long experienced in reporting the world's great events, have been on hand at Bikini for weeks. And now you can hear for yourself, directly from them, what happened when the bomb went off over the target ships in Bikini Atoll. We take you now to NBC in the Pacific. This is Ralph Howard Peterson speaking from the flying bay to the flagship, Mazda McKinley. We are now much in time in the interest of beginning Lagoon. Just about two miles from the target array. We are still a good distance from the Navy vessels that a few hours ago took the first atomic bomb. And if I may add, took it pretty well. Our post-bond went off on a slow and precious one. Like a young lady entering cold water. A number of times we were almost into the lagoon, but then we stopped and wheeled about. As I talk to you now, a number of ships are going into the lagoon. And very shortly we too were wrapped. For the distance, the target array looks virtually untouched. You still get the impression of a task force awaiting orders to sail. The various typeships present a picture of naval strength on the distances of four or six miles. There's only when you get close that you begin to realize that the atomic bomb rays have it among the target ships. For example, the Navy transports Carlisle and Gillum have been sunk. They destroy lamps and capsized. Heavy damage with the destruction of Subway and Skate. The carrier independence proceeds to have lost most of its island and is now leaning against the strain of the Japanese battleship Nevada. Strings of smoke still come from a deck. The German crews are Prince Oregon and are going through heavily damaged. This is now caught by Crossroad officials. Came as a surprise to me. Because from the distance, the Prince Oregon looks untouched. She was fairly far from the bullseye ship Nevada. So her damage apparently is in the superstructure. The Japanese cruiser, Sakawa, also suffered heavy damage. A number of other ships suffered major negligible damage. These were the Pensacola, the McGuffins in Nevada, and Tursamara vessels. The fact that the Nevada suffered only light damage, at least according to First Arrow reports, indicates that the bomb did not explode directly over the bullseye. There is every indication that the bomb explodes to the left of the Nevada. But just how far does the map go apart side, we probably never know. That is classified in secret material. Immediately after the bomb burst, we aboard the Mos McKinley, 11 miles from the Nevada, and eight and a quarter miles from Bikini Island, were amazed to see so many ships standing. At first, there was no smoke. And despite the huge peach-colored column of radioactive cloud plunging up into the stratosphere, you wouldn't think the atomic bomb had done any damage. A few minutes later, however, the first signs of the atom bomb had wrecked damage and the target fleet became apparent. Black and gray smoke began to rise in the Nevada vessels in the center of the array. These fires rather destroy Wilson, the Sakawa, the Nevada, the Saratoga, and the transport briscoe. By that time, the Mont McKinley was moving slowly toward the lagoon. But I know of no one who actually saw frames. However, perhaps if I looked long enough aboard ships, I might find someone who would swear they saw flames. You know, that's a funny thing about this atomic explosion. However, some say they've experienced a different sensation. Some say they've felt the heat in pressure waves. Others say they've felt the heat, but didn't notice the pressure wave. Apparently, in fact, I don't think there's an agreement. And that is, it was an eternity between the time the bombardier called bomb away and the instant the bomb exploded. It's hard to tell from this distance at the moment, but apparently the atomic blast did not affect the island of Bikini. As we passed on the ocean side of the island a while ago, I could see the basketball standard still standing in the recreation area. I haven't told you I was in Bikini and I am in Ireland. I'm standing, and there is no sign that any large waves have washed up on the beaches. Here in the flagship McKinley, there's a regular holiday spirit this afternoon. Work is going forward. Messages are being dispatched. Orders are being given. But there's a definite lessening of the nervous tension that is hung over the center of Operation Crossroads for the past 10 days. And now, I switch you to George Thomas Foster aboard the press ship... U.S. Post, after lunch. This is George Thomas Foster reporting from the radio ship the Appalachian. These things are happening so fast, but it doesn't pay to make notes. I've just come down from the radar tower of this ship. We were about to climb down out of the rigging and an outfit came over the ship's loudspeaker that changed all my notes. Over an hour or so of the ship's loudspeaker, Bellas heard a new estimate of damage, a rather important damage, as it looks from where we sit. But I figured that this is a time to take it easy. I mean, insofar as estimating hammock detonation. And now, we're going around these loudspeakers. They're calling a量 of dust. So when it's done, give it to the crew, let it jump, let it go, let it drop. Put a little pressure on your iPhone. Don't let it jump, let it drop. All right. They have a good estimate at their land. That would be a good estimate. Let it drop, let it drop. And there is this. Most of the ships are off-load. What? There can be lots of dust in the air. Are they good? We're sorry that broadcast conditions are not for you to permit our continuing with George Thomas Folster. We take on over now to W. W. Chaplin. This is W. W. Chaplin on the Army Radio Ships in the Lion Quadriline Lagoon. The great Alan Baum trial of naval vessels at Bikini is completed. But the jury is still out fast and a verdict. The bomb was dropped from great height at 9.04 this Monday morning, 6 p.m. Sunday, New York time. And it exploded above the anchored unmanned fleet in the back Bikini Lagoon. As to what happened then, you can get almost any answer you like. Now, most of the Army and Navy participants or observers I talked to have felt that the damage was not nearly as great as expected. It was certainly, they say, no Pearl Harbor. And airmen in bomber and observation planes said the shockwave wasn't as bad as weather bumps that they had experienced over the hump between India and China. Scientists on the other hand saw differently. Mr. Roger Warner, head of the Los Angeles scientists here, who was forced to give his seat in the bomber almost at the last moment. To a priority newcomer, he told me that he talked some second-hand reports, but the blast was every bit as powerful as those in New Mexico and Japan. With me in the studio here is Lieutenant Colonel John Moynaman, a member of Admiral Brandy's staff and formerly attached to the Manhattan District, which made the bomb. He's also author of the brand new book Atomic Diary. So he's really got a cross-section military scientist viewpoint, and he was on the radio plane that accompanied the bomber. John, will you give us a quick picture of the damage that you actually saw? Bill, I suppose hundreds of thousands of words have already been said and written about today's fantastic spectacles. As far as the actual damage goes, there's only one thing which I must say. We already hear early reports of sinking ships and fires and relative strengths in all manner of speculative things. But let us wait for the evaluation boards to shift out the monumental data, which I know was recorded today. Then we can get our results properly adjusted. Right above that make-believe fleet down below, the whole picture seemed entirely unreal. For months we have been pointing for this. Operation Crossroads now has completed one of its three-scheduled bomb births. This is a cold fact, but today's mission is about a milestone in the infant stages of the atomic age. I sincerely hope that this will be the milestone to a broader understanding, which after all, Bill, is the only lasting block to the use again of this unbearable weapon in warfare. That certainly sounds very sensibly, John. Now there's a couple of things that I'd like to ask you about. If you were out there in a plane very close to the area where the bomb detonated, and there are some things that we here haven't been able to find out. For instance, exactly what did that cloud look like? That cloud that came up after the bomb? From where you were? Well, Bill, when the detonation came, I was staring into the inky darkness of my blackout goggles, which defied evenly bright tropical day. And then there was an interminable wait from the time between the bomb away, which we heard in our earphones, and then the actual flash. That was the most intense and dramatic moment of the entire experiment. I counted a quick turn and ripped off my glasses, and there it was unfolding before us, and we really had a ringside seat. Thank you very much, Carl John Moynihan. This is W.W. Chaplin at Quadriline, switching you now to George Thomas Foster on the Appalachian. We're now back on board the Appalachian. And you will now hear Mr. David Deets, science editor at the Scripps Hall of Papers and author of the popular book, Atomic Energy in the Common Era. Mr. David Deets. This is David Deets speaking from the U.S. Appalachian. We are now settling in the little site of the White Beach and Green Toms of Bikini Island, awaiting the order to re-enter the lagoon along with Adler Brandy's flagship, the Mount McKinley. Earlier today, you heard NBC correspondent describe the detonation of the atomic bomb. I thought you might be interested in some scientific comments from me. At the time of the explosion, we were approximately 20 miles from the bomb. The atomic bomb appears to have behaved as we found it's expected it would. There were no tidal waves and no earthquakes. The fact that the atomic cloud did not rise as high as the well at Nagasaki and the fact that it seemed to possess much power no of them do to the fact that this bomb exploded over water. Instead of picking up that large of dust, the well picked up steam from the surface of the lagoon. The detonation of the bomb was heralded by the expected sizzling flash of light. This light is the byproduct of the heat of the explosion. When the charge of plutonium in the bomb undergoes nuclear fission, a temperature of 100 million degrees is generated. Immediately after the flash of light, a ball of fire began to rise and expand, reaching a diameter that seemed to be about three miles. This ball of fire was composed of the fragments of the original plutonium plus a vast amount of air which was heated to incandescent by the tremendous temperature. It rose in the air because of its heat, but almost at once its great energy began to create a vast turbulence of the air. Within a matter of seconds, the ball of fire was transformed into the atomic bomb cloud. This rose into the sky as a great pillar of luminous cloud, climbing at the rate of about 1,500 feet per minute. The atomic bomb cloud rises for the same reason that smoke goes up the chimney. It rises because it is hot. The height to which it rises, however, is a testimony of how hot it is. Great energy is contributed to the cloud by the ring of activity of the fission fragment in it. Eight minutes after the detonation, the atomic cloud had powered up to a height of 23,100 feet. At this time it was about 11,000 feet in diameter. Soon a half of the pillar of cloud began to broaden out into a huge crown or mushroom effect. This mushroom was luminous, creamy white, greased with pastel shades of pink and salmon and apricot. Gazing at its beauty, one almost forgot its lethal nature. While this mushroom cloud is spectacular, its explanation is simple. No doubt on a summer day you have seen a great thunder cloud that powered up into the sky. A wind at higher level began to blow off the top of the cloud into a broad sheet, giving the whole thing the appearance of an anvil. Indeed meteorologists research such a cloud as an anvil cloud. In exactly the same fashion, winds in the stratosphere caused the top of the atomic bomb pillar of cloud to begin to broaden into a sheet. And this sheet formed the mushroom. As we watched the mushroom broaden and drift off to the southwest, all of what will remain is that the meteorologists had been correct in predicting the proper wind. Because if the cloud had not moved in the predicted direction, the end might have been disaster. But fortunately, as Radnor Brown told us earlier this morning, everything went off according to plan and the cloud moved away without damage. Thank you very much, Mr. D. Now while we're here aboard the Appalachian, I want you to meet a new friend of mine. You've been hearing from scientists and you've been hearing from all types of experts. I have Corral, Seaman first class, John A. Weir of New York City. I want him to tell us what he's doing today and what he thinks of the New York of the atomic bomb. But first of all, John, are you really from New York City? Well, not really. I was born in Montgomery, Alabama. I knew it. I knew it. That's not one of the establishes. When that voice comes out, I want other people to know. Now, tell us, John, where were you when the atomic bomb went off this morning? Well, George, I was up in the radar tower watching from practically the highest point on the ship, most of the program. Were you up there somewhere where I was? Exactly. Okay. And did you wear your glasses when you were there? Yes, I wore sunglasses before goggles dang and looked through binoculars. Now, I understand that some of the boys aboard ships, some of the shipmates couldn't get glasses. And if they looked right into the bomb blast without their goggles on, have you heard that? Well, most of the boys who didn't have goggles, didn't look at the blast. They covered their eyes with their arms and looked down at the blast. And you actually don't know of any fellas on board here who looked at the blast without goggles on covering their eyes? No, I haven't pressed anything on that. Well, what did you think of the blast? Was it up to what you expected or not? Well, it was quite what I expected, but I'm a little disappointed in the fact that we were 20 miles away. Perhaps in the next test, we can be closer and therefore get more of a thrill. Well, all right, if you're looking for a thrill, we're getting close in there. I tell you, we have a little while left here. What are you looking forward to? You're a youngster. How old are you? I'll be 19 this month. You're 19. You saw your first atomic bomb go off today. Now, what are you looking forward to in your future? As far as atomic bomb use is concerned. Any ideas on that? Well, I have just one hope on that, and that is that the Operation Crossroads Project will be the last wartime war demonstration of the bomb. That is, from the future, it can be used only for peace and strength. Thank you very much, John. We live in New York City, and I hope everything that you wish comes true. And we have an idea beside us. Mr. Bill Ross, a truth-telling philanthropic prize winner for scientific writings, and now on the staff of The New York Times, and he is being to give you his opinion on atomic bombs. Well, that's Bill Ross. Thank you, Josh Foster. This is William Lawrence of The New York Times speaking. This is the third atomic bomb used to make some comparisons. I feel, however, that these comparisons might do harm in the sense that they might attract our attention from the real problem. In actual physical appearance, the clouds today were smaller than either of the three clouds that are followed. The three atomic bombs. The one over New Mexico, and the one over Hiroshima, and the one over Nagasaki. But I think that is relatively unimportant. The atomic bomb is still the most powerful force on Earth. It is still the greatest problem we have facing this. If we hadn't seen the Nagasaki Ram, the 12 to 60,000 feet, it would still be terrifying and awe-inspiring to say that to get something that could rise to a cloud of 1 to 6,000 feet or 30,000 feet in the air. If we're being misleading, I think it is said that these bombs are to sink all the sleep on the lagoon. But how this particular cost was not designed for that kind of an effect. We shall have to wait for a while for the second test, which will come in about three or four weeks from now, namely, of course, we reached the bomb of the exploded 18 feet or so underwater. In particular, a later test scheduled for next year. An original atomic bomber was going to be exploded several hundred feet or thousand feet under the water. It was tasked to receive much more devastating effects than we thought it would. What we should still be thinking. Not so much as a scenario in terms of the military or laser effects of the bomb, we should think of it as a powerful problem facing the world and how to stop it being used with power against cities, against men and women, against labor, against air forces. Who should remember about all the time that the bomb was here to stay? Our rule. For the benefit of mankind. Thank you Mr. Lanz. And now we're going to take you to the parliament where two speakers are standing by to give you a hand impressions from that vessel. Go ahead, parliament. Six hours after the atom bomb burst at Bikini, the lasers on the tenement have had a chance to digest their first impressions of the super explosion of a package of plutonium atoms. With me are two of our scientists. So this is my opportunity to get some learned views on today's activities. Let's hear first from Mr. Jack the Mint of fluorescence laboratories in Portland, Oregon. Jack, you've just come down from the fire control tower. We'll be latest on the occurrence of the target array five or six miles away. What can you tell us? My latest impression, Mr. Wood, is that the damage is dynamic. A contemporary one, Lanz. The destroyer hues is lifting, fire bursts the flame and smoke our history from the Saratoga and the Independence as well as transport ships. Some ships are slowly sinking. Maps and guns are found at rocky shangles like broken twigs. A few ships are seemingly demolished above deck. From your observation, Jack, does it look as if the bomb exploded over the bull's eye or at the edge of the target array? From my observations, the bomb seems to have exploded at the edge of the target array. Well, what was your interest today as an individual and as a scientific observer? My interest lies with the luminous attacks occurring in an atomic explosion and subsequent there, too. Aesthetically, the pastel shades are gorgeous, not harsh and conflicting. Scientifically, they are a very great interest. It is important for us to learn the processes involved, for they will have an understanding of the forces of nature. Well, you have a chance without atomic clouds today, Jack. Now let's talk for a moment with Mr. Erbil Van Dyke from RCO Laboratories. As a radio engineer, Mr. Van Dyke, I know you're interested in the television pickup of the Adam Blast. What are the screens on the pen and in show with my power? On the pen and in show, we had two receivers at each of seven locations on the ship. The two receivers had different pictures, one from the time after between the round, at such a point that a large part of the target plate was visible. The other picture was of the lagoon beach, facing the fleet. This meant that as their ship permanent was 20 miles away, we still could see inside the lagoon very effectively. Each one of the two pictures, for example, while watching the fleet picture a few minutes after the blast, a far large fire broke out on one of the ships, and it was a half minute or so before people on the panament watching through binoculars could see the snouts in the sky. The other picture showing the beach was interesting because the beach was different before and after the blast. A large boat, for example, had been turned around and various objects had been moved by the blast. Do you think Mr. Van Dyke of this experiment served as a good operational test then for television? Well, I think it was a good example of the kind of service which television can do very effectively. It meant that our human eyes from 20 miles away were taken right inside the lagoon so that we were able to solve what was going on without being present. Do you feel that that could be of some importance to television's future? Probably a very important part of television's future. I'm sure there will be many cases like it in the future. Thank you, Mr. Arthur Van Dyke and Mr. Jack Dementhe for the scientific view for it. I switch you to W. W. Chaplin on Quarjoline Island. The Army Radio Ships, Findelai and Quarjoline Harbor. The full results of the Adam Baum talk to Bikini won't be known for months, even years, but one thing, we who are here for the Crossroads Project know full well. Adam Baum furnished a day of drama, of melodrama, such as the war itself seldom produced. The first tense moment of the day came at dawn when the bomb plane took off after a massive evacuation of non-essential personnel from our island. We who were left here had no liking for that bomb as a close neighbor. We'd been living with it for two weeks and the 25-second run down the airstrip for the train off was a strain we'll not soon forget. The plane took off without mishap and we breathed again. Then came the radio reports from a plane in the air close to Bikini from ships in the near vicinity at last the sound of the bomb itself. Then we ran breathless from our below-deck's deadcast studio to the main deck and the bomb cloud. We had hardly hoped for that to be a column of deadly vapor rising into the sky more than 200 miles away. But there it was. In the far blue sky from over the curve of the world a great white pillar shot upward spread out divided into two white heads and then gradually rode away on the prevailing trade winds from the east. After that even damage reports seemed anti-climax despite the fact that they are becoming more serious as the hours go on. From Quagelain we had sent the atom bomb to Bikini from Quagelain we saw the dreaded radioactive cloud mount the sky and right away we saw the atom bomb test start and end. This is W.W. Chaplin on Quagelain switching you to Ralph Howard Peterson on the Mount McKinley. Again speaking from the flying bridges of the flagship Mount McKinley a few moments ago when I spoke to you there were only a few strands of smoke at a rate. But now that thing is really starting to burn. It appears to be about the independence. Yes, I've just been informed that it is the independence. A moment ago we could actually see red planes with the naked eye. Right now the smoke of the arrow is going black. A few moments ago a number of firetugs were playing streams of water on several other smoking ships. Now they appear to have been all around the independent aircraft carrier. On the independent? They are on the decks. Many airplanes, army vehicles, gas tanks. There's 37 of these on the front of the bank. To the north of us is a rain cloud coming up. Perhaps that would help the firetugs try to put out the fire. Also at this moment we're moving into the lagoon. We've gotten upstream in another ceiling yet. Apparently Admiral Blandy wants to see the damage and close up and is going in to see the independence which is now a fire. The smoke has changed from green to black and is also increasing. Another ship nearby is also beginning to smoke. I return you now to NBC in the United States. Was the atom bomb blast an explosion? Was it really a blast? We have asked ourselves that question since radio broadcast from Bikini brought us our first sound of the bomb. It is described as not an explosion of the sword induced by dynamite but rather as a boiling disturbance of the atmosphere. We have recorded the sound of that disturbance at the time of the drop into the lagoon so that you'll have an opportunity to decide for yourself just what occurred when the atom bomb was detonated today. We now bring you the recording of the bombs blast at Bikini. Is the atom bomb. Ladies and gentlemen, you have been listening to a first-hand broadcast by NBC reporters and correspondents directly from Bikini at all in the Pacific where the atomic bomb was exploded this afternoon. Those who participated in the broadcast from Bikini were Ralph Howard Peterson, George Thomas Folster, W.W. Chaplin, Lieutenant Commander Bill Wood, Mr. Jack Demand of the Fluorescent Laboratories Portland, Oregon, Mr. Arthur Van Dyke, Assistant to the Vice President of RC Laboratories, William E. Lawrence of the New York Times, and David Deets, the science editor of the Scripps Howard newspapers. The Pacific story, which has been this evening the story of the dropping of the atomic bomb this afternoon at Bikini, came to you from Bikini and from San Francisco. This is NBC, the National Broadcasting Company.