MEMORANDUM -- Weapons Tests and Peaceful Uses of the Atom
In response to a request by the President, the following statement
has been prepared by the Executive Branch officials chiefly concerned,
It covers:
i.
The United States Program of Testing Atomic Weapons.
Il.
Fall-Out from Atomic Tests.
Ii,
Long-Range Detection of the Detonation of Nuclear
Weapons.
IV.
International Atoms-for-Peace Program, ory
4
a
ial
ew
2
se
~ caeewe-
’
hoe
r
wn
See!
I.
THE UNITED STATES PROGRAM OF TESTING NUCLEAR WEAPONS
1, Beginning with the first test in 1945, the United States has conducted
13 test series.
With the exception of the first test, which was in time
of war, each series was publicly announced before it was held.
2. Each of the series and every shot in each series was individually
justified and evaluated as necessary for the advancement of our nuclear
weapon technology or to gain important weapon effects information.
3, Of the shots in the several series, approximately 20% have been of
high-yield thermonuclear designs and 80% of fission devices.
4. The first test -- TRINITY -- in July 1945 demonstrated the feasibility
of an atomic weapon.
REPRODUCED AT THE DWIGHT D.
EISENHOWER LIBRARY
5. In July 1946, 2 devices were fired at Operation CROSSROADS at
Bikini Atoll for information as to the effects of atornic bursts on ships.
6.
Subsequent tests took place as follows:
Operation SANDSTONE during the spring of 1948.
Operation RANGER in the winter of 1950-51.
Operation GREENHOUSEin the spring of 1951.
Operation BUSTER-JANGLEin the fall of 1951.
Operation TUMBLER-SNAPPER in the spring of 1952.
Operation IVY in the fall of 1952.
Operation UPSHOT-KNOTHOLEin the spring of 1953.
Operation CASTLE in the spring of 1954.
Operations TEAPOT and WIGWAMin the spring of 1955,
Operation REDWINGin the summer of 1956.
7.
These tests were designed to fulfill, and bave fulfilled, the following
purposes:
(a)
The development of successive designs using less
material and therefore increasing the defensive
strength of the United States in terms of the
amount of material available,
more