42484,
PRIVACY ACT MATERIAL REMOVED
LAWRENCEBERKELEY LABORATORY
BLDG: 10
ROOM: 118
EXT. 5100
July 26, 1991
TO:
Lori Hefner,
LBL Archivist and Records Management
FROM:
_
.
Information Resources Department/Photography
A
SUBJECT: Participation in Atomic Testing
In 1962 I was involved in 3 AEC (Atomic Energy Commission) programs, working
as a photographer.
1.
2.
3.
1.
“Dominic" in the Pacific Ocean
“Pluto” at Mercury Site, Nevada
"Small Boy" at Mercury Site, Nevada
Dominic - Spring 1962
I received all my briefings and medical shots in order to join the LRL and LLL
groups at Christmas Island. However, the test shots were cut short, so the
photographer who went out before me (Don Bradley) was extended 3 more
weeks. Consequently, I never went.
2.
Pluto - April 2-6, 1962
This was a rocket engine powered by atomic fuel rods. It was mounted on a
railroad car.
Myprimary job was in a clean room taking photographsof trays of spent fuel
rods, as the engine was disassembleed. I did this for one week. I was told I was
being sent down there because all the Mercury Site photographers had exceeded
their radiation dosage limits. At that period of the Lab history all the
photography groups in Berkeley, Livermore, Site 300 and Mercury; were under
one Department head—JohnBlack.
3.
Small Boy - July 25-27, 1962
This was the first test of the Neutron bomb (Atmospheric). I only found this
out a few years ago in a newspaperarticle.
UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA-(Letterhead for interdepartmental use)