Film badges were issued to everyone who was stationed on Christmas and
Johnston islands and all Navy ships directly involved with the tests. Persons
on remote islands monitoring for radiation or conducting experiments were not
badged. Of the over 28,000 participants in DOMINIC, over 25,000 were badged.
Badges were issued for extended periods to ensure that all possible exposure
was recorded.
Because all but one of the shots were airbursts, there was little or no
fallout problem and no residual radiation area around the surface zero. Although
SWORDFISH, the underwater shot, produced no fallout it did create a
short-lived radioactive base surge and a pool of radioactive water around the
detonation. The base surge dissipated in less than an hour, and the pool dissipated
after a few days.
In general, film badge readings were low. Only 842 (3 percent) of the
25,399 badged participants had an exposure greater than 0.5 roentgens (RI. Of
these, 56 exposures were over 3.0 R: 2 Army, 4 Navy and Navy civilians, 49 Air
Force, and 1 other civilian. The established JTF 8 Maximum Permissible Exposure
(MPE) was 3.0 R.
The two Army men with over 3.0 R exposure served with the unit that decontaminated
the aircraft involved in cloud sampling and as such were authorized
an MPE of 20.0 R. All the Air Force personnel over 3.0 R were asscciated with
cloud sampling (crew, maintenance, sample removal , or decontamination) and were
also authorized an WPE of 20.0 R before the operation started. The highest
total exposure recorded in this group was 17.682 R: this was also the highest
for the entire operation. There were 19 other Air Force exposures over 10.0 R.
The Navy personnel recording over 3.0 R were on USS Sioux (ATF-751, which
was involved in collecting samples of weapon debris from the radioactive pool
of water created by the underwater SWORDFISH shot. This group was allowed an
MPE of 7.0 R.
Evidence exists that many of the badges worn by personnel’during DOMINIC
were defectively sealed and recorded density changes due to moisture, light,
and heat in addition to nuclear radiation. A 1979-1980 reevaluation of 1,349
UOMINIC I film badges showed that 45 percent exhibited some damage related to
light, heat, and age due to defective wax seals. Environmental damage was observed
on 98 percent of the badges, which had a developed density equivalent
Of over 0.4 R (gasana).T hese findings show, for example, that one-third of the
higher -USS Princeton (LPH-5) exposures should actually read zero. The lack Of
any known activity during DOMINIC I that would result in exposures over 3.0 R
except for Sioux and the high correlation between environmental damage and high
dose readings indicate most of these readings are higher than the exposure actually
received. Nevertheless, all personnel have been assigned the recorded
exposure reading’in records maintained by the Navy.
One of the Thor rockets being launched at Johnston Island with a nuclear
payload burned on the launch pad. The high explosives in the nuclear warhead
detonated spreading alpha contamination around the launch complex. It took
several weeks to decontaminate and rebuild the launch complex. Stringent personnel
safety measures were enforced during the cleanup. No one received significant
contamination from this accident.
this is a bunch of crap understand this is only your dosimeter readings of gamma rays there are many radionuclides from fallout that have years of half life before they decay . We were exposed to more than they say. I have started a face book page called operation dominic 1 to try to find people who were there and their stories.
I have been revisiting the Operation Dominic sources. Much is still classified and we won’t ever know the truth. We were seated on the Flight Deck in rows and rows. I don’t remember how we were selected to observe the tests, but as a 20 year old Marine I was excited to be there. The initial flash was so bright, that those without goggles with their faces buried in their arms could see light through the arms. Once allowed to look it was awe inspiring to see that raw power generated by the detonation. I recall for the remainder of the night the aurora swept across the skies in blues and greens and reds. much later I remembered this as I watched the Aurora Borealis i Alaska’s winter sky. Like Arthur and Briner, when we were told that our badges were defective, I was super sceptical. I remember wondering later if we got to watch the tests, or were we the test? I am blessed at 78 to have nothing more than prostate cancer, while I lost my first Crew Leader Cliff Hemphill who died of multiple cancers without ever getting the benefits he deserved. For those of the Princeton who were at Operation Dominic, I would like to recommend joining the NAAV, (National Association of Atomic Veterans). The Association pushes for recognition and benefits for those affected by the Atomic Tests where ever they occurred.
October 23, 2020
I was aboard with Ron Hoak I can say that every thing was all I saw too!
I hope for all man kind that we never have to use these BOOMBS .
It was some thing I will never forget !
Red (G.L. Smith)
I finally received my 5×8 radiation card from the DTRA and it is joke covers period from 22 sep 62 thru 10 dec 62 only one entry under dosage it says .92(mr) accumulated dose is (92mr) so which is right. there also should be a DD1141 form that was filled out. This is only the gamma reading does not include the other radionuclides we were exposed to from the fallout of previous tests.
received another set of supposed 5×8 cards from DTRA one is filled in with one entry and the other is blank I was told by LTCMDR FRANKS that they are copies of each other, no way there are obvious differences and when I ask for an explanation they just ignore me. My guess is the blank one is so they can put whatever number so the VA can disqualify you from your claim.
In am looking for an article in the ships newspaper from Feb. 2001 written by Roy Longaker about operation dominic this was a two part story and I need the second half of the story if anyone has it contact me at lbriner694@aol.com
I witnessed several of these blasts too. I could see the bones in my arm and wrist when the overhead blast went off. I also remember the aurora Ron Hoak describes. Those film badges were a hoax. So were the so called “pocket dosameters”.
Film badges were issued to everyone who was stationed on Christmas and
Johnston islands and all Navy ships directly involved with the tests. Persons
on remote islands monitoring for radiation or conducting experiments were not
badged. Of the over 28,000 participants in DOMINIC, over 25,000 were badged.
Badges were issued for extended periods to ensure that all possible exposure
was recorded.
Because all but one of the shots were airbursts, there was little or no
fallout problem and no residual radiation area around the surface zero. Although
SWORDFISH, the underwater shot, produced no fallout it did create a
short-lived radioactive base surge and a pool of radioactive water around the
detonation. The base surge dissipated in less than an hour, and the pool dissipated
after a few days.
In general, film badge readings were low. Only 842 (3 percent) of the
25,399 badged participants had an exposure greater than 0.5 roentgens (RI. Of
these, 56 exposures were over 3.0 R: 2 Army, 4 Navy and Navy civilians, 49 Air
Force, and 1 other civilian. The established JTF 8 Maximum Permissible Exposure
(MPE) was 3.0 R.
The two Army men with over 3.0 R exposure served with the unit that decontaminated
the aircraft involved in cloud sampling and as such were authorized
an MPE of 20.0 R. All the Air Force personnel over 3.0 R were asscciated with
cloud sampling (crew, maintenance, sample removal , or decontamination) and were
also authorized an WPE of 20.0 R before the operation started. The highest
total exposure recorded in this group was 17.682 R: this was also the highest
for the entire operation. There were 19 other Air Force exposures over 10.0 R.
The Navy personnel recording over 3.0 R were on USS Sioux (ATF-751, which
was involved in collecting samples of weapon debris from the radioactive pool
of water created by the underwater SWORDFISH shot. This group was allowed an
MPE of 7.0 R.
Evidence exists that many of the badges worn by personnel’during DOMINIC
were defectively sealed and recorded density changes due to moisture, light,
and heat in addition to nuclear radiation. A 1979-1980 reevaluation of 1,349
UOMINIC I film badges showed that 45 percent exhibited some damage related to
light, heat, and age due to defective wax seals. Environmental damage was observed
on 98 percent of the badges, which had a developed density equivalent
Of over 0.4 R (gasana).T hese findings show, for example, that one-third of the
higher -USS Princeton (LPH-5) exposures should actually read zero. The lack Of
any known activity during DOMINIC I that would result in exposures over 3.0 R
except for Sioux and the high correlation between environmental damage and high
dose readings indicate most of these readings are higher than the exposure actually
received. Nevertheless, all personnel have been assigned the recorded
exposure reading’in records maintained by the Navy.
One of the Thor rockets being launched at Johnston Island with a nuclear
payload burned on the launch pad. The high explosives in the nuclear warhead
detonated spreading alpha contamination around the launch complex. It took
several weeks to decontaminate and rebuild the launch complex. Stringent personnel
safety measures were enforced during the cleanup. No one received significant
contamination from this accident.
It’s nice to know all this crap, 55yrs later. Reads like a CYA ,press release.
.
this is a bunch of crap understand this is only your dosimeter readings of gamma rays there are many radionuclides from fallout that have years of half life before they decay . We were exposed to more than they say. I have started a face book page called operation dominic 1 to try to find people who were there and their stories.
I have been revisiting the Operation Dominic sources. Much is still classified and we won’t ever know the truth. We were seated on the Flight Deck in rows and rows. I don’t remember how we were selected to observe the tests, but as a 20 year old Marine I was excited to be there. The initial flash was so bright, that those without goggles with their faces buried in their arms could see light through the arms. Once allowed to look it was awe inspiring to see that raw power generated by the detonation. I recall for the remainder of the night the aurora swept across the skies in blues and greens and reds. much later I remembered this as I watched the Aurora Borealis i Alaska’s winter sky. Like Arthur and Briner, when we were told that our badges were defective, I was super sceptical. I remember wondering later if we got to watch the tests, or were we the test? I am blessed at 78 to have nothing more than prostate cancer, while I lost my first Crew Leader Cliff Hemphill who died of multiple cancers without ever getting the benefits he deserved. For those of the Princeton who were at Operation Dominic, I would like to recommend joining the NAAV, (National Association of Atomic Veterans). The Association pushes for recognition and benefits for those affected by the Atomic Tests where ever they occurred.
October 23, 2020
I was aboard with Ron Hoak I can say that every thing was all I saw too!
I hope for all man kind that we never have to use these BOOMBS .
It was some thing I will never forget !
Red (G.L. Smith)
I finally received my 5×8 radiation card from the DTRA and it is joke covers period from 22 sep 62 thru 10 dec 62 only one entry under dosage it says .92(mr) accumulated dose is (92mr) so which is right. there also should be a DD1141 form that was filled out. This is only the gamma reading does not include the other radionuclides we were exposed to from the fallout of previous tests.
received another set of supposed 5×8 cards from DTRA one is filled in with one entry and the other is blank I was told by LTCMDR FRANKS that they are copies of each other, no way there are obvious differences and when I ask for an explanation they just ignore me. My guess is the blank one is so they can put whatever number so the VA can disqualify you from your claim.
In am looking for an article in the ships newspaper from Feb. 2001 written by Roy Longaker about operation dominic this was a two part story and I need the second half of the story if anyone has it contact me at lbriner694@aol.com
I witnessed several of these blasts too. I could see the bones in my arm and wrist when the overhead blast went off. I also remember the aurora Ron Hoak describes. Those film badges were a hoax. So were the so called “pocket dosameters”.