Taylor watched Bikini Atoll A-bomb explosion, touched atomic dust

August 6 and August 9 are regarded as anniversaries of atomic bomb explosions, since those were the days in 1945 which saw bombs dropped on Japanese cities. For Fallbrook senior Lee Taylor, July 25 is also a significant anniversary in atomic bomb explosion history, since in 1946 Taylor witnessed an underground detonation 42 miles from the Bikini Atoll explosion and actually touched an airplane which had atomic dust.

Taylor was an assistant boiler division officer aboard the U.S.S. Shangri-La, an Essex-class aircraft carrier, when Operation Crossroads conducted its Baker test.

“I thought that was the greatest experience,” Taylor said.

Operation Crossroads was intended to determine the effect of an atomic bomb on a fleet of ships. Captured German and Japanese ships and older United States ships were harbored outside Bikini Atoll. The original plan called for three tests: Able was the above-water detonation, Baker was the underwater detonation, and the data from the first two detonations would be used for the Charlie test. Charlie was later cancelled after analysts determined that the Able and Baker tests provided the needed information.

“They just wanted to see how it reacted on a whole fleet of Navy ships,” Taylor said. “They found out everything they had to find out, wanted to find out.”

Taylor waited on the Shangri-La’s catwalk for the bomb to explode. He had been notified that the bomb would be exploded ten degrees off the ship’s port bow. He was observing that area and was then told that the bomb would be detonated in ten seconds. That was followed by a commander counting down.

“When he said zero I saw the greatest column of water I had ever seen,” Taylor said. “It just came straight up.”

The atomic bomb in the Baker test was 90 feet under water when it was detonated. “It was a big column of water,” Taylor said. “It looked like slow motion.”

The water went through the clouds. “It was clear above and clear below,” Taylor said.

Taylor then saw the mushroom cloud forming at the top of the column. “I was so inspired,” he said.

Taylor explained that the power of the atomic bomb put its use into perspective. “Man just has to learn to get along with man with all that power,” he said.

The Shangri-La launched two F-4F drones which flew through the atomic dust. “It was our job to fly the two drones off the carrier,” Taylor said.

The two Navy planes flew through the atomic footprint with bags on their wings to gather atomic dust. Taylor saw the two F-4Fs go through the cloud. Barges were sent to bring the drones back onto the carrier, and the planes were then put on the ship’s deck. “We didn’t know the dangers of radiation at the time,” Taylor said.

“I went up to them and I just put my hand on the cockpit and looked at the equipment,” Taylor said. “I wasn’t there long, but I saw that and I thought it was awesome because it was making history.”

That gave Taylor the contact with the atomic dust as well as a view of the electronic gear in the cockpit. “I was right against it,” he said.

Later the dangers of radiation became known. “I got worried,” Taylor said.

Taylor was examined but did not experience conditions from the nuclear fallout. He was told that although he had been exposed to a large dose of radiation it was for such a short time that no damage had occurred. “I was pretty lucky,” he said.

Taylor was in college studying engineering when America entered World War II. “We all wanted to get into the service,” he said.

Taylor, who was 21 when the American portion of the war began, took the California Maritime Academy exam and spent the first part of the war at that institution. He graduated from the California Maritime Academy in 1943.

By 1943 the United States had suffered heavy losses and needed officers. Taylor’s course was accelerated, and upon graduation he received his Third Engineer’s license which allowed unlimited horsepower for steam. He stayed in the Navy long enough to obtain his First Engineer’s license.

Taylor also married his wife, Barbara, in 1943.

Taylor was discharged from active duty later in 1946 and returned to school. He then worked at the Mare Island shipyard as a chemical engineer. He later became a supervising mechanical engineer and retired in 1980.

By 2000 both of Taylor’s children had moved to northern San Diego County, and in December 2000 Lee and Barbara Taylor moved to Fallbrook.