Operation Crossroads

[Brig]

I don't know where to post this, since there is no non-WWII US board, so I posted it here. I am looking for information on this Operation, which took place primarily in 1946. I have just found out that my step-grandfather served out of Roswell and was shipped to the Pacific for this Operation, having taken charge of a small group of clerks and other such document processors. The Operation-Atomic Bomb testing, post-war, I believe over water to test the effects. Lt. Col. Nero was a part of it, and I read about this stuff in the discharge papers, for I am told that when he was alive he'd never talk about the operation.

So, my question is, are there anygood research books out there on the Operation? does anyone know anything about it? I'm interesting in looking into this, since it's the only military history in my family (even if it isn't by blood). thanks

[Billy Bishop]

Here's a start.

Sorry, but I personally don't know much on the subject.

[Brig]

thanks

actually, I don't know what branch he served in, his discharge papers carefully sidestep the matter, mentioning air force, army, and navy. hmm...

[Billy Bishop]

Try searching his name in google, you never know what will show up.

It's odd how they 'forgot' to add that in his papers eh!

[Brig]

he operated out of Roswell, too. too bad he's not stll alive, I could ask him about all those UFO cover-ups around that time

[Billy Bishop]

Heh, I don't think he'd tell you. He was propbably sworn to secrecy...

[Brig]

he never even talked about his service in Crossroads, so I would doubt something like that, too

[col. klink]

A good place to start

nuketesting.enviroweb.org/hew/Usa/Tests/Crossrds

Crossroads was the first post war peace time tests. One of the testused ships from WWII to test blast effects among them was Prinz Eugen, the battlecruiser that accompanied the Bismarck

[col. klink]

Oops! The end of that link should read
Crossrd.html

There's no s and I left out the html. Sorry.

In 1946 there wasn't a seperate air force yet. It was still part of the Army.

[ChristopherPerrien]

Crossroads was a bomb test, Roswell and Dugway are two base that have and still do Atom bomb storage, testing, and research, , so he could have been out there processing data for a test or all the way to just doing personnel paperwork(pay, leave, etc.) for soldiers / sailors sent out there from those bases to "set up" or monitor the tests.

[Brig]

Crossroads was a bomb test, Roswell and Dugway are two base that have and still do Atom bomb storage, testing, and research, , so he could have been out there processing data for a test or all the way to just doing personnel paperwork(pay, leave, etc.) for soldiers / sailors sent out there from those bases to "set up" or monitor the tests.

he was discharged freom Roswell, but served in the Pacific

[Brig]

wow, I'm an idiot. I never even saw this board

[col. klink]

I think that whole area around Roswell at that time in the late 40s is interesting. That area was the center of the USs nuclear weapons development. You had Los Alamos where they built and still build nukes. Roswell Army Air Field was the home base of the 509th Bombardment Group, the first and for years the only unit in the world able to deliver nuclear weapon. The Able shot of Crossroads was dropped by a B-29, Dave's Dream, from the 509th. White Sands was the Army's missile range where they were firing captured V-2s. Alamogordo was the location of the Trinity site where the first atom bomb was tested. Plus that era around 47 and 48 is interesting as the Air Force was becoming a seperate service from the Army. It was a bit more complicated then wearing Army olive drab one day and putting on Air Force blue the next. I think part of the confusion about the Roswell incident is related to bureaucratic errors and mistakes of reports being lost because of the seperation of the two services. Names changed, as an example Alamagordo Army Air Field became Holloman Air Force Base. I would think a clerk based in that area at the time would have been pretty busy. It might not have been combat but it would be an interesting story of how large organizations change and grow.

[USAF1986]

I recommend Operation Crossroads: The Atomic Tests at Bikini Atoll by Jonathan M. Weisgall. Excellent book!

Regards,
Shawn

[Brig]

thanks