Category:Radioactive Waste: Difference between revisions

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One day stands out in my memory. Posterity tells me to share his story as my dad has passed away.  
One day stands out in my memory. Posterity tells me to share his story as my dad has passed away.  


War secrets have long faded into history. Marfa/Roswell/Ardmore/Clovis/Alamorgordo -- B-17s to B-29s -- missions to the Pacific
War secrets have long faded into history. Marfa/Roswell/Ardmore/Clovis/Alamogordo -- B-17s to B-29s -- missions to the Pacific


It was in July 1945. My lieutenant father was based in New Mexico at Clovis Army Air Field flying training missions as a pilot. He told me that his unit knew, in their own way, about the first test of a nuclear weapon. They knew it was close to their base. The newspapers in New Mexico had reported, on July 17th, that a "munitions storage depot" had exploded. This was the official line to explain the bright flash in the sky south of Albuquerque and north of Alamogordo. He was scheduled to transfer to Alamogordo on July 23rd.
It was in July 1945. At that time my lieutenant father was based in New Mexico at Clovis Army Air Field flying training missions. He told me that his crew knew, in their own way, about the first test of a nuclear weapon. They knew it had happened not far from their base. The newspapers in New Mexico had reported, on July 17th, that a "munitions storage depot" had exploded. This was the official line to explain the bright flash in the sky south of Albuquerque and north of Clovis. He was scheduled to transfer to Alamogordo on July 23rd.


The initial testing of the first nuclear weapon was at [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Trinity_(nuclear_test) Trinity] in a barren area of New Mexico known as Jornada del Muerto ("Journey of the Dead Man").
The initial testing of the first nuclear weapon was at [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Trinity_(nuclear_test) Trinity] in a barren area of New Mexico known as Jornada del Muerto ("Journey of the Dead Man").


The desolation made it the choice of the Army and the scientists who had developed the bomb at the isolated nuclear physics laboratory at Los Alamos.
The desolation made it the choice of the Army and scientists who had secretly developed the bomb at the isolated nuclear physics laboratory at Los Alamos.


The B-17 crew that flew that week from Clovis decided (in a departure from the planned flight path) to veer "off course" and to go take a look at the area where the bomb went off... not a good decision, but in those days many of the pilots and crews were, how do I put this, let's say, strong willed. This crew chose to take a look at where they thought the site was...
The B-17 crew that flew that week from Clovis decided (in a departure from the official planned flight path) to veer "off course" and to take a look at the area where the bomb went off... not a good decision, but in those days many of the pilots and crews were strong willed to put it mildly. This crew chose to go where they thought the site of the blast was...


They were (or descended) off the radar and then as they all strained to look out the windows as they flew north (instead of west) they could see in the distance a bright glistening spot in the desert.
They descended off the radar and flew north then as they all strained to look out the window they could see in the distance a bright glistening spot in the desert.


They descended lower and flew over. He told me it was both frightening and beautiful. It radiated turquoise surrounded by desert.
They flew over. He told me it was both frightening and beautiful. It was a crater radiating a turquoise color.


The left-over crater from the blast shocked them into silence he said. The sand had turned liquid then fused and fallen back to earth.  
The left-over crater from the blast shocked them into silence he said. The sand had turned liquid then fused and fallen back to earth. The crater was coated with a 'glass' that would be called [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Trinitite "Trinitite".]


The turquoise 'glass' that the military quickly covered over would be called [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Trinitite "Trinitite".]
They flew on without talking, he said. The power of the weapon all too evident. No more fly-boys on a run.  


They flew on without talking, he said. The power of the weapons all too evident. No more fly-boys on a run.  
Now they knew what their bomber group, their B-29s and their special runs with unusual maneuvers were being equipped to do. The military soon covered over the crater and evidence of the blast.  


Now they knew what their bomber group, their B-29s and their special runs with unusual maneuvers were being equipped to do.  
Soon, they were to hear the news, [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Atomic_bombings_of_Hiroshima_and_Nagasaki August 6th and 9th, 1945], the atomic bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki, Japan.


In Almogordo, they heard the news, [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Atomic_bombings_of_Hiroshima_and_Nagasaki August 6th and 9th, 1945], the atomic bombings of Hiroshima, then Nagasaki, Japan.
Today it's August 2015, seventy years on and I remember how my father told me of his relief there were to be no more atomic bombs and hopefully no more wars with nuclear weapons.


Today in August 2015 it's seventy years on and I remember how my father told me of his relief there were to be no more atomic bombs or war with nuclear weapons.
He had trained as a warrior with nuclear weapons. He said it had gone too far. He was, we were, fortunate to not suffer the consequences as others have, even as a sword of a Damocles or worse continues to hang over our heads as a result.


He was being trained as a warrior with nuclear weapons. He was, we were, fortunate to not suffer the consequences as others have, even as the sword of a Damocles or worse continues to hang over our heads.
Generations in the future have to deal with the potential consequences of the nuclear age...
 
The words of the head of the atomic weapon project for the U.S. continue to echo


Generations in the future have to deal with the potential consequences as the nuclear age continues on...


The words of the head of the atomic weapon project for the U.S. continue to echo


https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/worldviews/wp/2015/08/06/how-the-hiroshima-bombing-is-taught-around-the-world/
https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/worldviews/wp/2015/08/06/how-the-hiroshima-bombing-is-taught-around-the-world/

Revision as of 21:17, 7 August 2015

Nuclear Waste https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Radioactive_waste

Nuclear Fuel Cycle https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nuclear_fuel_cycle

Ⅰ Ⅱ Ⅲ Ⅳ Ⅴ Ⅵ Ⅶ Ⅷ Ⅸ

Nuclear Test Data

https://marshallislands.llnl.gov/enewetak.php

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Elugelab

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Operation_Castle

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Operation_Ivy

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ivy_Mike

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Operation_Redwing

http://www.nytimes.com/2014/12/04/opinion/a-pacific-isle-radioactive-and-forgotten.html

http://www.slate.com/blogs/atlas_obscura/2013/06/25/the_cactus_dome_is_enormous_concrete_structure_built_over_a_nuclear_crater.html

http://www.theguardian.com/world/video/2015/jul/03/dome-pacific-radioactive-waste-leaking-video

Trinitite .jpg


Siterunner: My father in World War 2 was a bomber pilot trained to fly "secret missions" at the end of the war.

He spoke to me, on rare occasions, about his training and B-17/29 "special" assignments.

One day stands out in my memory. Posterity tells me to share his story as my dad has passed away.

War secrets have long faded into history. Marfa/Roswell/Ardmore/Clovis/Alamogordo -- B-17s to B-29s -- missions to the Pacific

It was in July 1945. At that time my lieutenant father was based in New Mexico at Clovis Army Air Field flying training missions. He told me that his crew knew, in their own way, about the first test of a nuclear weapon. They knew it had happened not far from their base. The newspapers in New Mexico had reported, on July 17th, that a "munitions storage depot" had exploded. This was the official line to explain the bright flash in the sky south of Albuquerque and north of Clovis. He was scheduled to transfer to Alamogordo on July 23rd.

The initial testing of the first nuclear weapon was at Trinity in a barren area of New Mexico known as Jornada del Muerto ("Journey of the Dead Man").

The desolation made it the choice of the Army and scientists who had secretly developed the bomb at the isolated nuclear physics laboratory at Los Alamos.

The B-17 crew that flew that week from Clovis decided (in a departure from the official planned flight path) to veer "off course" and to take a look at the area where the bomb went off... not a good decision, but in those days many of the pilots and crews were strong willed to put it mildly. This crew chose to go where they thought the site of the blast was...

They descended off the radar and flew north then as they all strained to look out the window they could see in the distance a bright glistening spot in the desert.

They flew over. He told me it was both frightening and beautiful. It was a crater radiating a turquoise color.

The left-over crater from the blast shocked them into silence he said. The sand had turned liquid then fused and fallen back to earth. The crater was coated with a 'glass' that would be called "Trinitite".

They flew on without talking, he said. The power of the weapon all too evident. No more fly-boys on a run.

Now they knew what their bomber group, their B-29s and their special runs with unusual maneuvers were being equipped to do. The military soon covered over the crater and evidence of the blast.

Soon, they were to hear the news, August 6th and 9th, 1945, the atomic bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki, Japan.

Today it's August 2015, seventy years on and I remember how my father told me of his relief there were to be no more atomic bombs and hopefully no more wars with nuclear weapons.

He had trained as a warrior with nuclear weapons. He said it had gone too far. He was, we were, fortunate to not suffer the consequences as others have, even as a sword of a Damocles or worse continues to hang over our heads as a result.

Generations in the future have to deal with the potential consequences of the nuclear age...

The words of the head of the atomic weapon project for the U.S. continue to echo


https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/worldviews/wp/2015/08/06/how-the-hiroshima-bombing-is-taught-around-the-world/

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Waste_Isolation_Pilot_Plant

Welcome https://www.env.nm.gov/wipp/

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Yucca_Mountain_nuclear_waste_repository

Subcategories

This category has the following 2 subcategories, out of 2 total.

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Pages in category "Radioactive Waste"

The following 3 pages are in this category, out of 3 total.

Media in category "Radioactive Waste"

The following 63 files are in this category, out of 63 total.