... maybe they have a 2014 edition? http://blog.nuclearsecrecy.com/
... loaded for Bear!
... 'Falcon' nuclear tipped air-to-air missiles being loaded into the belly of the 'fighter' version of the SR-71 'Blackbird'. More here. Sorry about the poor quality- but keep in mind we'd be in a lot of trouble for this photo a couple decades back!
all images- Right click- open in New Window= super colossal size!
1986 ... meanwhile in the USSR!
... more Soviet civil defense info. Got a message from a Russian comrade who said his school was filled with these things back in the 80's. It was not a fond memory!
RESTRICTED DATA: The Nuclear Secrecy Blog!
... new discovery of a great source of information about nuclear weapons and the Cold War - "Restricted Data: The Nuclear Secrecy Blog" . Above is a small portion of the thousands of people who worked on WW2's Manhattan Project (as depicted from their ID badge photos). Follow this LINK to get an interactive pan and zoom image [click full screen in lower right].
This is a very large in depth source of well researched information. Very scholarly- but entertaining. (hey, I see you bozos in the back of the class rolling your eyes!) Lots of PDF downloads of formerly CLASSIFIED materials. Print them out and put in clear-vue binders and flash them around; impress your friends; scare your teachers and get a date from that hottie in your Physics class!
[looking closely at those ID photos makes me think this is yet another example of really bad government photography ie: don't do a good job or that's what they'll expect all the time!]
[looking closely at those ID photos makes me think this is yet another example of really bad government photography ie: don't do a good job or that's what they'll expect all the time!]
all images- Right click- open in New Window= super colossal size!
1962 ... Welcome!
... at first it seems strange that during the height of the Cold War, Strategic Air Command headquarters would have a 'visitor's guide'. On second thought; nothing helps secure continued funding like like an efficient public relations department! All those Congressmen and big-wigs of the Military Industrial Complex need to have something to bring back to their kids after the VIP tour.
1955 ... SAC Command- Offut AFB
... sorry about the poor quality of the picture. (Boris and Natasha were neither competent spies or good photographers.) This image shows construction of the underground command center for the Strategic Air Command. All started rather hurriedly after someone looked up at their ramshackle WW2 era office building and said "Gee- you think we're a little vulnerable?"
What we see is lot of reinforced concrete that will be buried under 20 to 30 ft. of overfill.(Remember; most hardened Cold War structures were built in large, dug out holes; not tunneled.)
"Survive anything but a direct hit" is a well-worn cold War phrase. The exact physics, and luck of that, are a bit murky. I suspect that it wasn't long after the last bulldozer finished the overgrading and they started watering the grass seed, that someone said "maybe we should have dug a deeper hole?"
"Survive anything but a direct hit" is a well-worn cold War phrase. The exact physics, and luck of that, are a bit murky. I suspect that it wasn't long after the last bulldozer finished the overgrading and they started watering the grass seed, that someone said "maybe we should have dug a deeper hole?"
What is clear is that in this 1958 USAF classified film, as soon as WW3 get's under way, SAC's Commanding General trades this hole in the ground for an 'in-vulnerable' flying command center. Leaving all the underlings behind to calmly watch the monitors and maps, until the nano-second when they get turned into radioactive applesauce.
1950 ... Atomic Bombing: How to Protect Yourself!
... early Nuclear: Civil Defense information had a distinct 'Can-Do' attitude. Slugging it out with fission-weapons in the under 100 kiloton range seemed a serious, survivable challenge for a nation of do it your-selfers and a well organized Kiwanis Clubs. In 1950 the technology and destructiveness was nothing like what was to shortly emerge.
all images- Right click- open in New Window= super colossal size!
1961 ... battlefield nuclear weapons.
... a primary reason NATO was created was to counter-balance the large number of tank battalions the soviets had pointed at Western Europe. NATO doctrine relied heavily on small 'battlefield' nuclear weapons to destroy the soviet armor. For many years the 'Little John' and 'Honest John' were the simple, solid fueled rockets that would have been used to deliver these warheads. The little guy had a range of about ten miles with a 10 kiloton warhead; his big brother could scoot 15 to 30 miles with a party-favor of between 15-30 kilotons.
all images- Right click- open in New Window= super colossal size!
1960 ... fallout shelter display
... little Jimmy is all set to settle in for a good night's sleep out in the office building courtyard. Notice this design of shelter has an 'L' shaped entrance. Radiation travels in straight lines and cannot turn a corner. But like a lot of American Civil Defense planning it never seems to take into account radioactive fallout dust. I guess they assume that since this shelter is designed to be built inside a basement; the house structure above will act a suitable barrier and filter for the fallout dust.