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REENTRY DAY VIEW OF INDEPENDENCE. OP- 

 POSITE. The carrier "Independence" seen by the 

 vanguard of persons reentering the lagoon follow- 

 ing Test Able. The light carrier was badly wrecked 

 by the explosion, gutted by fire, and further dam- 

 aged by explosions of low order, including those 

 of torpedoes. The Joint Chiefs of Staff's Evalua- 

 tion Board made a terse statement which was is- 

 sued to the public from the White House. The 



bomb, they said, had exploded with an intensity 

 approaching that of the best of the three previous 

 atomic bombs. It had exploded at a point 1500 

 to 2000 feet westerly of the assigned target, and 

 at approximately the planned altitude. The light 

 carrier "Independence" was within one-half mile 

 of the explosion point. ABOVE. Blasted portside 

 of the carrier, her plates molded to her frame by 

 the explosion. 



