Operation Dominic I & II

Operation Dominic I

Johnston Island, Christmas Island, Pacific in 1962

Shots Adobe, Aztec, Arkansas, Questa, Frigate Bird, Yukon, Mesilla, Muskegon, Swordfish, Encino, Swanee, Chetco, Tanana, Nambe, Alma, Truckee, Yeso, Harlem, Rinconada, Dulce, Petit, Otowi, Bighorn, Bluestone, Starfish Prime, Sunset, Pamlico, Bluegill Prime*, Androscoggin, Bumping, Chama, Checkmate, Bluegill Triple Prime, Calamity, Housatonic, Kingfish, Tightrope

Veterans may receive $75,000 Nuclear Test Site Cancer Compensation. Find out if you qualify.

Operation Dominic I was the largest and most elaborate U.S. testing operation ever conducted. In geographic terms, the diagnostic stations receiving data from the tests covered more than 15 million square miles.

Tests were conducted in three general locations: Johnston Island, airdrop and high-altitude detonations; Christmas Island, staging area for 24 airdrop tests; and the open ocean, launch of a Polaris missile from a submarine and subsequent detonation of a device in a reentry vehicle, and the detonation of a device carried by an antisubmarine rocket (ASROC).

Approximately 28,000 military and civilian personnel participated in the test series. More than 200,000 tons of supplies, construction materials, and diagnostic equipment were shipped or airlifted to the test areas. Most of the devices were detonated in the air after being dropped from a B-52 bomber.

Five high-altitude bursts, designated as Operation Fishbowl tests, were lofted by rockets. Their purpose was to study the effects of nuclear detonations as defensive weapons against incoming ballistic missiles.

Dates:  Apr 23 - Dec 31, 1962

Videos

Operation Dominic (1962)

Operation Dominic Nuclear Tests 1962

HD Hydrogen Bomb Explosion 1962 Operation Dominic Nuclear Fireballs Complication

Operation Fishbowl - High Altitude Weapons Effects

List of Participants

Army Participation

Air Force Participation

Navy Participation

Marine Participation

 

 

Operation Dominic II

Nevada Test Site (NTS) 1962

Shots Little Feller II, Johnnie Boy, Small Boy, Little Feller I

Operation Dominic II was an atmospheric nuclear test series conducted by the Atomic Energy Commission (AEC) at the Nevada Test Site (NTS) from July 7 to July 17, 1962. The operation consisted of four low-yield shots, three of which were near-surface detonations and one a tower shot. One of the near-surface shots was fired from a DAVY CROCKETT rocket launcher as part of Exercise IVY FLATS, the only military training exercise conducted at Dominic II. An estimated 3,900 Department of Defense (DOD) personnel participated in Exercise IVY FLATS, scientific and diagnostic tests, and support activities. The series was intended to provide information on weapons effects and to test the effectiveness of the DAVY CROCKETT weapon system under simulated tactical conditions. Also known by the DOD code name of Operation SUNBEAM, Dominic II was the continental phase of Dominic I, the atmospheric nuclear test series conducted at the Pacific Proving Ground from April to November 1962.

Dates: July 7 – July 17, 1962

Videos

Operation Sunbeam - Johnnie Boy 82004

Little Feller Anniversary

List of Participants

Army Participation

Air Force Participation

Navy Participation

Marine Participation

 

 

Contact Us for More Information

If you believe you were exposed to Operation Dominic and were subsequently diagnosed with cancer, please call the National Cancer Benefits Center at (800) 414-4328 or use our online form to request more information.