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Poster for Exercise Desert Rock (1951)

Exercise Desert Rock (1951)

1951 · Short film · 27 min

  • War
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Synopsis

In 1951, the Army, working with the Atomic Energy Commission, carried out the Desert Rock Exercises, an experiment to "dispel much of the fear and uncertainty surrounding atomic radiation and the effects of gamma and x-rays." A tent encampment was set up about 27 miles from where the atomic explosions were detonated on the Nevada Proving Grounds. The encampment housed about 5,000 Army soldiers, civilian observers and technicians. Troops spent hours in classes receiving training in radiation and nuclear weapons effects. The following is a recorded interview between a sergeant and a training officer prior to a blast: Question. "How many of your men would volunteer to go up and be in the foxholes?" (one-half mile from ground zero) Answer. "It's quite a loud noise when that bomb goes off ... would it do them any harm?" Answer. "No sir, not the noise, no." Question. "How about the radiation? Do you think there is much danger?" Answer. "Radiation is the least of their worries that the men are thinking about." Question. Where did they learn differently?" Answer. "They were, prior to our instructions here. The majority of the troops were out in the open about seven miles away. The soldiers were told to crouch down and face away from the blast. The bomb flash blanked out the troops from view, and the flash was followed by blast winds and the noise of the explosion. Interviews with soldiers were conducted after the test. Following the test, the troops were trucked toward the…

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Details

Running time
27 minutes
Language
English

Subjects on the Internet Archive

Reviews on the Internet Archive

★★★★★ · informative and disturbing · aglaeser · 2016-10-27

Declassified film made in cooperation of Departments of Defense and Energy, documenting an US military manoeuvre regarding the use of an atomic bomb in the desert, and the effects on soldiers and animals. It is difficult to imagine, that Mrs. Clinton would take Obama's atomic-trike suitcase _and_ would actually make use of the device. It is almost equally unbelievable, that somebody would mine for uranium-ore and pretend it is normal basalt-rock. If this would become known to the public, gigatons of shit would be hitting the fan.

★★★ · Invalid license · Kevin VandeWettering · 2007-10-14

This film is a product of the United States Government and the claim of a "license" for this film is invalid. Works produced by the United States Government are public domain.

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