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On the grounds of the military’s Trinity Site at 5:29:45 a.m. Mountain War Time on July 16, 1945 an explosion took place near Alamogordo, New Mexico that would forever change the face of war. This explosion was the result of years of work and experimentation on the top secret Manhattan Project.
The Trinity Site’s story actually began with the formation of the Manhattan Project in June 1942. Rumors were flying (backed up by intelligence reports) at that time about German scientists attempting to build an atomic bomb. Fearful of the ramifications if the Germans did succeed in building such a “super” bomb, great scientific minds were gathered to work on the theory and construction of a similar device.
Under the umbrella of the Manhattan Project three separate facilities were built. The first one was located at Oak Ridge, Tennessee, where huge process plants were built to separate uranium 235 into uranium 238. Hanford, Washington became the place where nuclear reactors were built, which produced a new element called plutonium.
The military installation of Los Alamos was built in northern New Mexico and it was here the group of scientists led by Dr. J. Robert Oppenheimer would stay. During their research it was discovered that both uranium 238 and plutonium were fissionable and possibly held the key to an atomic bomb. Although the scientists were sure of the explosive capabilities of uranium 238, they were not so sure of the plutonium and decided it must be tested before being used as a weapon of war.
Of the two different atomic bomb designs for these materials, the plutonium one was the most complex. It depended upon compressing the plutonium into critical mass, which would set up a chain reaction. While all of this worked well in theory, the scientists wondered if it would work in actual use.
There were a list of eight possible testing sites in California, Texas, New Mexico and Colorado, but the Trinity site was chosen because the area was already part of the government owned Alamogordo Bombing and Gunnery Range. Soldiers began arriving and preparing the site in late 1944. Security checkpoints were set up as well as schedules for patrols. The additional military support would continue well into 1945.
As the theories for the bombs became fact, new worries came to the minds of the scientists. The first testing of the plutonium bomb would actually involve two explosions. The first would be a massive explosion of TNT and then a fraction of a second later the nuclear explosion was to take place. While sure of the TNT’s explosion Oppenheimer’s scientists worried about it spreading the precious but highly dangerous plutonium all over the surrounding area.
As this possibility began to rear its head, a special jug like container (Jumbo) for the plutonium was built in Ohio. Originally 25 feet long, 10 feet in diameter and weighing in at 214 tons it was to hold the bomb because it could contain the full force of the TNT explosion. It was believed Jumbo would be vaporized if the nuclear explosion took place.
As the scientists became more confident about the chances of the plutonium bomb’s explosion, a decision was made to not use Jumbo but to place it under the steel tower that was specially designed to support the bomb. Sitting 800 yards from ground zero, the tower would be completely obliterated but Jumbo would survive intact. In fact, Jumbo is still sitting at the entrance to ground zero for tourists to see.
The bomb was assembled at the tower on July 13, 1945 and after a certain amount of difficulty its plutonium core was inserted. It was raised upon the tower and placed into a small shelter on July 14th while a special crew attached the detonators. By 5:00 p.m. on July 14th, 1945 the bomb was complete and ready for testing.
Three observation points were set up for the test explosion.
The south observation point was set up as a control center for the test and was made of wood, concrete and dirt. It was set up at a mere 10,000 yards from ground zero. It was from here that the automatic firing device was triggered and that the main men of the project, Dr. Oppenheimer included, would watch from.
At the base camp, which was ten miles southwest of ground zero were the scientists, support personnel and the head of the Manhattan Project, General Leslie Groves.
The third observation point was at Compania Hill, some 20 miles northwest of ground zero. It was from this point the visiting VIP’s were placed.
Everything was in place and ready to go at 4 a.m. July 16th, but everything was postponed because of bad weather. Although the bomb would work in such weather, the scientists didn’t want to explode it because of the increased danger of radioactive fallout.
As the poor weather disappeared, the countdown to explosion was started at 5:10 a.m. and at 5:29:45 the brilliant light and massive mushroom cloud that was an effect of the explosion was seen for miles around. Mere seconds later a shock wave and ominous rumbling would occur. In addition to this was a furnace like heat wave rushed out that was felt for over 10 miles.
Although the information of the test explosion wouldn’t be released to the public until after Fat Man and Little Boy were dropped on Japan, people in New Mexico knew without a doubt something special had occurred early on the morning of July 16th. It is doubtful many of the residents bought the Army’s made up story of an accidental explosion of a munitions storage area at the Alamogordo Bombing Range.
Not only was the bright light seen from as far away as Albuquerque, New Mexico, the shock wave broke windows up to 120 miles away while the tremors were reportedly felt 160 miles from ground zero.
The explosion made a ten-foot deep crater that was almost 2,400 feet across. Immediately after the test a specially equipped Sherman M-4 tank was sent in to examine the area around ground zero. The occupants of the tank found the only remaining parts of the 100-foot tower were stumps of its legs that had been embedded in concrete. The tank also found that the desert sand that had been under the tower had been melted by the intense heat into a solid glass-like area that was the color of jade. This glass material was originally given the name Atomsite but the name was later changed to Trinitite.
Today the 51,500-acre Trinity area has been declared a national historic landmark and is open to the public twice a year. Tourists can see the area where the scientists lived, ground zero where the bomb was placed, and the ranch house where the plutonium core was assembled.
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