Transportation and Preparation for the Atomic Bombs

​By Kaity Burke

We remember the Trinity test as the changing point for the future of weapons development and the course of the Second World War. The basic details are frequently talked about; it was the first major test of the implosion design, it was successful, it occurred on July 16th 1945, etc, but the steps taken in preparation for this test are not often discussed. 

A test explosion was conducted in May of 1945 at Trinity site to do a dry run with the measurement and photographic equipment. 100 tons of TNT were detonated 20 feet off the group atop of a wooden structure. The test was a success, although the explosion was about a 20th in size in comparison to the well known explosion that would take place 2 months later.

The materials for the bomb were driven down from Los Alamos in the days leading up to July 16th. An Oldsmobile carried some of the bomb detonators in its trunk, an Army sedan carried the two hemisphere portions, and a convoy later transported the non-nuclear components and explosives. The items arrived safely at the Trinity site after having driven hours over dirt paths and paved roads. 

While there were many things that were successful in the planning and execution of the Trinity test, there were quite a few mishaps as well:

• The man who drove the detonators in his Oldsmobile had been pulled over during his trip to Trinity from Los Alamos. He was terrified that the officer would be suspicious of his nervous behavior and would ask to search the vehicle. Given the high secrecy associated with the detonators in his trunk, he didn’t know what he would have done if he didn’t succeed in just getting a ticket.
• Two B-29s were delayed in taking off from Kirkland Air force Base on July 16th, and when they were airborne they were unable to safely locate where the Trinity Test would be taking place. Oppenheimer advised Captain Parsons ``You're the Captain of your aircraft, I leave it up to your judgment to decide if it is safe to try to find Ground Zero”. The two planes were able to see the explosion from a distance, although they were ultimately unable to drop the measuring equipment that was onboard. 
• Jumbo, a steel containment vessel designed to contain the Gadget during the Trinity Test, was cast aside last minute as plans changed about how the test would be conducted. Instead, this 214 ton vessel was hoisted vertically and left to stand against the first atomic blast. Plans went awry when the Atomic explosion tore up, twisted and destroyed the steel tower that held up Jumbo, but Jumbo remained standing almost unharmed. There was another attempt to destroy the vessel years later, but it only resulted in blowing off the end caps. Jumbo remains on display at Trinity Site.

Four hours after the Trinity Test the USS Indianapolis set off from San Francisco towards Tinian. The USS Indianapolis was carrying components of the Little Boy bomb. These pieces were delivered July 26th, and the USS Indianapolis was sunk a few days later by a Japanese submarine.

One of the biggest lessons learned from this experiment and its execution is that there will be something that goes wrong, almost always. Outside factors will severely influence plans and operations, but the best way to deal with it is to constantly adapt. ​