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WHY OPERATION CROSSROADS? 



The gray-green dawn of July 25, 1946, en- 

 veloped Bikini Atoll. The target fleet lay still, with 

 '^Yoke" flags flying to signify all personnel had been 

 evacuated. Like moving shadows the support vessels 

 slowly filed out of the Lagoon. Last to leave was the 

 flagship MT. McKINLEY. The Lagoon was deserted. 



Just over the eastern horizon puffs of cumulus 

 clouds appeared, heralding perfect weather for the 

 flnal atomic test at Bikini. As the time for the ex- 

 plosion approached, men paced the decks, adjusted 

 their binoculars, studied the deserted target fleet to 

 fix in their minds the steel pattern soon to be shattered. 

 Clearly visible was the doomed SARATOGA, floating 

 majestically as she had throughout the war ; among the 

 forest of masts could be seen the tall thin mast of 

 LSM-60, the ship from which the bomb was suspended. 

 Closer — fatally close — lay the mighty ARKANSAS. 



Men stared fascinated as the relentless count began. 

 In a few seconds the awful explosion would come. Not 

 few : Two ! One ! 



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