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Shiplord Kirel: From behind wingnut lines1/07/2017 3:46:16 pm PST

Five men at atomic ground zero

On July 19, 1957, five men stood at Ground Zero of an atomic test that was being conducted at the Nevada Test Site. This was the test of a 2KT (kiloton) MB-1 nuclear air-to-air rocket launched from an F-89 Scorpion interceptor. The nuclear missile detonated 10,000 ft above their heads.

This was Operation Plumbbob John, July 19, 1957.

This weapon was later known as AIR-2 Genie. Most sources give the yield as 1.5 KT and the height of this detonation as 18-20K feet. The Genie was deployed operationally on F-89, F-101, and F-106 interceptors. Over 3000 were made and it remained in service until the last F-106 was retired in 1986.