Beyond the Horizon: Exploring Operation Dominic's Hidden Nuclear Testing| USAF's Involvement

Lookout Mountain Laboratory, under the auspices of the United States Air Force (USAF), crafted a documentary detailing the USAF's integral role in Operation Dominic, a series of nuclear tests conducted in the Pacific. Operation Dominic I unfolded across three primary locations: Johnston Island, serving as the site for airdrop and high-altitude detonations; Christmas Island, functioning as a staging area for 24 airdrop tests; and the open ocean, where activities included launching a Polaris missile from a submarine, subsequent detonation in a reentry vehicle, and the detonation of a device carried by an antisubmarine rocket (ASROC).

The test series engaged approximately 28,000 military and civilian personnel, with over 200,000 tons of supplies, construction materials, and diagnostic equipment transported to the designated test areas. A significant portion of the experiments involved the deployment of devices from B-52 bombers, resulting in airborne detonations. Additionally, five high-altitude bursts, designated as Operation Fishbowl tests, were propelled by rockets to explore the effects of nuclear detonations as defensive measures against incoming ballistic missiles. The documentary sheds light on the comprehensive scope of Operation Dominic and the collaborative efforts involved in this pivotal moment in military history.

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