the series.
It shows a group on Enewetak turned away from the detonation as
it breaks the predawn darkness (H).
Operation REDWING Test Events, 1956
Event
Date
Type
Yield
LACROSSE
5 May
Surface
40 kilotons
CHEROKEE
21 May
Airdrop
Several megatons
ZUNI
28 May
Surface
YUMA
28 May
Tower
NA*
ERIE
31 May
Tower
NA
Surface
13.7 kilotons
3.5 megatons
SEMINOLE
6 June
FLATHEAD
12 June
Barge
NA
BLACKFOOT
12 June
Tower
NA
KICKAPOO
14 June
Tower
NA
OSAGE
16 June
Airdrop
NA
INCA
22 June
Tower
NA
DAKOTA
26 June
Barge
NA
MOHAWK
3 July
Tower
NA
APACHE
9 July
Barge
NA
NAVAJO
11 July
Barge
NA
TEWA
21 July
Barge
HURON
22 July
Barge
5 megatons
NA
*Not announced
4.13.1
Background and Objectives of Operation REDWING.
The main purpose of Operation REDWING was to test high-yield
thermonuclear devices that could not be tested in Nevada.
The only shot of
the series not expressly for weapons development was CHEROKEE, which was
airdropped from a B-52.
Its primary purpose was to demonstrate the ability of
the U.S. to deliver large-yield nuclear devices.
The event was viewed by 15
press observers, the first such group invited to view a Pacific nuclear test
Since the CROSSROADS deonations of 1946.
Seventeen invited civil defense
officials also observed the shot (17: 2, 177, 22-23).
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