http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1953
Wikipedia
1953
March 17 – The first nuclear test of Operation Upshot-Knothole is conducted in Nevada, with 1,620 spectators at 3.4 km (2.1 miles).
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Upshot-Knothole_Annie
Wikipedia
Upshot-Knothole Annie
Annie was a nuclear warhead, part of Operation Upshot-Knothole in the United States. It's launch on 17 March, 1953 was nationally televised.
Annie was used to test the results of a nuclear bomb on two wooden frame houses, fifty automobiles and eight bomb shelters designed for residential use. The Federal Civil Defense Administration concluded that if windows were left open to prevent the car collapsing on its occupants a car would be "relatively safe" from a small nuclear bomb if at least ten blocks away from the hypocenter. The homes in the study were constructed in such a way as to minimize the thermal effects of Annie, with an eye towards determining if, in the absence of fire, the basement of the closer home — 3,500 feet (1,100 m) from the hypocenter — might shelter its occupants, while the second — at 7,500 feet (2,300 m) — could remain standing. Both homes performed as expected under the conditions of their construction.
http://select.nytimes.com/gst/abstract.html?res=F50F17F9355B117A93C4A91788D85F478585F9
The New York Times
Article Preview
Atomic Blast to Test Indoor Bomb Shelter
[ DISPLAYING ABSTRACT ]
WASHINGTON, March 5 (AP) -- The Government announced today that explosives with the force of 15,000 tons of TNT would be unleashed on two ordinary frame houses in an atomic test in Nevada scheduled for March 17.
http://ndep.nv.gov/BOFF/house1.htm
Nuclear Blast Explosion -- Civil Defense Test
Nevada Test Site
The house in the photos below was located 3,500 feet from ground zero. The nuclear blast the completely destroyed the house was conducted on March 17, 1953 at the Nevada Tests Site -- Yucca Flat. The photographs are clips from film made by a 35mm. Mitchell camera located 60 feet from the house. Shooting 24 frames per second, the time from the first to last picture was 2 1/3 seconds. The camera was completely enclosed in a 2 inch lead sheath as a protection against radiation. The only source of light was that from the bomb.
Photographs were made by Edgerton,, Germeahausen and Grier,, Inc. (EG&G) for the Atomic Energy Commission (AEC) -- now DOE.
http://select.nytimes.com/gst/abstract.html?res=F70F16FA3C5A107B93C4A81788D85F478585F9
The New York Times
Article Preview
2 DUMMY FAMILIES AWAIT ATOM BLAST; Grim Scene Is Set in 2 Houses at Different Distances From Explosion Tomorrow
[ DISPLAYING ABSTRACT ]
LAS VEGAS, Nev., March 15 (AP) -- A grim "dummy" picture of a happy family and some visiting neighbors about to be caught unaware by an atomic explosion was shown today as a preview of Tuesday's test here.
http://www.chron.com/CDA/archives/archive.mpl?id=1994_1238196
chron Houston Chronicle Archives
Union, S.C., case prompts children's fears of murdering moms
LENA WILLIAMS New York Times
FRI 11/11/1994 HOUSTON CHRONICLE
The confessed killing of two little boys by their mother in Union, S.C., horrified the nation last week.
The incident may also have terrified youngsters across the country.
"Is Mommy going to kill me?" some children reportedly have been asking teachers, nannies, parents and older siblings in the wake of the deaths.
