Bluegill Triple Prime: The Recovery and Salvage Operation - Cruickshank, Gallaudet, and Gallaudet (2026)

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Authors: Geoffrey P. Cruickshank, Caren Gallaudet, and Rear Admiral Tim Gallaudet, Ph.D., U.S. Navy (ret.)
Published: 2026-01-05 on Ocean STL Consulting, LLC.
PDF metadata creation date: 2026-01-01
Captured: 2026-08-25
Original PDF SHA-256: 58021ffc69446beff13f91b93a55a8cb2cf57f6c9fdd2d68b7634d465e07d3b0
Extraction: The 54-page Microsoft Print to PDF file has no usable text layer. Gemini vision OCR through agy and AOP produced this complete searchable Markdown derivative. The run processed all 54 pages; opening, middle, conclusions, references, and final pages were checked against rendered pages. Figure descriptions are machine-generated. Minor OCR errors may remain in reproduced deck logs, tables, and URLs.
Contents: The main paper is followed by the supplementary paper, "Record anomalies of the Diver involved in Bluegill Triple Prime recovery."
Analysis: ../../sources/bluegill-triple-prime-1962, ../../sources/cruickshank-bluegill-researcher

[Figure: A deep-sea diver in a vintage-style suit is being lowered on a platform into dark blue water. The diver is looking at a massive, cylindrical object resting on the seabed, which is partially illuminated.]

Bluegill Triple Prime: The Recovery and Salvage Operation

Geoffrey P. Cruickshank B.IT, M. IEEE

Caren Gallaudet M. Sc.

Rear Admiral Tim Gallaudet, Ph.D., U.S. Navy (ret.)

Bluegill Triple Prime: The Recovery Operation

Geoffrey P. Cruickshank B.IT, M. IEEE

Caren Gallaudet M.Sc

Rear Admiral Tim Gallaudet, Ph.D., U.S. Navy (ret.)

1. Introduction

*"[The Soviets] knew we did the nuke test. They were probably in the room with us when we did that test, because there was a small group of people on both sides [during the Cuban Missile Crisis] that were trying to do exactly what they did, which was fly swat some bugs out of the sky."*¹

That was Blink-182 frontman Tom DeLonge on Jimmy Church's program Fade to Black, broadcast August 30, 2016. He was describing what he was told by two unnamed, high level US Air Force insiders during meetings in extremely secured areas of certain USAF facilities. Unfortunately for DeLonge, just 10 days after this program was aired, people digging through the files of the DNC Wikileaks hack discovered the names of those two sources. DeLonge had been in conversations earlier that year with USAF Generals Neil McCasland and Mike Cleary, as well as Hillary Clinton's Presidential Campaign manager, John Podesta.² The subject: Unidentified Flying Objects – UFOs.

[Figure: A screenshot of email metadata. The top section is a title in a large, bold font, reading across two lines: "Re: Invitation: DeLonge/Podesta Meeting @ Mon Jan 25, 2016" and "10:30am - 11:30am (neilmcc79@gmail.com)". Below a horizontal dividing line, the email header fields are listed: "From: john.podesta@gmail.com", "To: neilmcc79@gmail.com", "CC: t.delonge@me.com, mfisher@hillaryclinton.com, rob.f.weiss@lmco.com, carey.mjd@gmail.com", "Date: 2016-01-25 00:01", "Subject: Re: Invitation: DeLonge/Podesta Meeting @ Mon Jan 25, 2016 10:30am - 11:30am (neilmcc79@gmail.com)".]

Fig. 1: Metadata from the John Podesta emails to DeLonge, McCasland and Carey

So, the question now is this: Was it well known in Top Secret / Sensitive Compartmented Information circles during 1962 that Unidentified Flying Objects were interfering with nuclear weapons tests, and that there was a potential opportunity to shoot one down (or, as DeLonge put it, "fly swat some bugs out of the sky")?

The answer, we believe, is YES, INDEED!

The Atlas 8F missile test – 19 September 1962

This Catalog Card is part of the Records of the Office of the Secretary of Defense, 1921–2008 from the National Archives of the United States.³·⁴

[Figure: A yellowed, typewritten catalog card with some handwritten notations.]

653                 MASTER CARD                      UNCLASSIFIED
                                                              (VIS98)
DF-BCF-84-0295    UFO SIGHTING; ATLANTIC MISSILE RANGE; 16 SEPTEMBER 1962
84-0663

1 reel,16mm,black/white,silent,unedited, 394 ft, Quality: poor, Basic: Print
                                  Reel 1

Aerial coverage flight of Atlas F (Test 103) down AMR. Shows missile in flight, then
breaking up, camera holding on nose cone, with smaller object in flight above and
behind nose cone on parallel path. (NOTE: one experiment aboard Test 103 was decoy
nose cone.)
394'      Total footage in reel.

                                  THE END

                                CARD 1 OF 1

Fig 2: National Archives catalog card from the footage provided by the OSD

The catalog card is the placeholder for footage taken by the United States Air Force of a UFO following an Avco Mk IV re-entry vehicle with a dummy nuclear warhead onboard, as it re-entered the Earth's atmosphere on the 19th of September 1962. The launch of the Atlas 8F from the Atlantic Missile Range at Cape Canaveral, Florida was delayed for several days for a variety of technical reasons, which is why the catalog card date lists the 16th of September 1962 as the date of launch.

The Atlas 8F carried several “penetration aids” – so named because they aided penetration of adversary airspace – in the form of decoy re-entry vehicles.⁵

Penetration System

The Mod II Pod was attached to the missile airframe in Quad II. The pod instrumentation system was powered by a secondary type battery which was contained within the pod. An instrumentation interface was provided to transfer pod generated signals to the missile Telemetry System. The T1 and T2 signals were provided to the pod by the Flight Control System pro-grammer at BCO / 0.1 seconds and VCO / 16.0 seconds, respectively. The T1 signal was used to activate the two pod primary-type batteries one of which was used for the sequential timer functions and the other for the activation of pod pyrotechnics. The decoy complement consisted of 4 re-entry decoys and 5 Mark 3 vacuum balloon decoys. Three of the re-entry decoys were Internal Reflector Cone with Augmenter Grid and the other was an AVCO Nike-Zeus decoy.

Re-entry Vehicle

A Mark 4 Mod 1-8 Re-entry Vehicle was carried aboard Missile 8F and comprised of the following:

An ablation shielded self stablizing sphere cone cylinder flare structure; a passive righting and spin system for re-orienting R/V during re-entry; an arming and fuzing system; a separation system; a telemetry system; a "C" Band tracking beacon; a four pound non-ejectable SOFAR Bomb and a recoverable data cassette.

Fig. 3: Excerpt from the Atlas 8F post flight test report of decoy nose cone

The first 3 minutes 30 seconds of the National Archive footage is used to observe how these penetration aids functioned during the test (incorrectly described in the metadata as "the missile breaking up"). The purpose of these penetration aids was to present several objects with the same signature as a re-entry vehicle (RV) to an adversary radar system in order to confuse the operator as to which object was the real RV. Around the 3 minute 40 second mark all the decoys have burnt up during re-entry, and the camera operator moves the focus to the actual Avco Mk IV RV. It is located by the use of the RV's on-board "C" band radio tracking beacon. After another minute of footage of the RV's descent path (when all remnants of the penetration aids and decoys have burnt up), another unidentified object appears behind and above the RV – which is travelling at a speed of around 20,000 feet per second (Mach 18). The object travels alongside the RV for around 90 seconds.⁶

[Figure: A screenshot of a video player. The video shows a dark background, representing space. There are two bright, white objects. The lower, slightly larger, and more teardrop-shaped object is pointed out by a red arrow and labeled "Avco Mk IV Re-entry Vehicle". A smaller, rounder, and higher object is pointed out by another red arrow and labeled "Unidentified Flying Object". The video player controls at the bottom show the timestamp 5:11 / 7:30. Along the top of the player interface are the words: "Transcription Not Started", "Tags 0", "Comments 1", "Extracted Text 0".]

Fig. 4: OSD supplied footage of unidentified flying object alongside the Avco Mk IV RV

There was also a NASA experiment strapped to the side of the Atlas 8F booster, consisting of several experiments to be conducted in the vacuum of space.⁷,⁸

Scientific Passenger Pod

SP Pod No. 17 was assigned to the NASA-Lewis Research Center, Cleveland 25, Ohio. The experiment consisted of two vacuum jacketed spheres (one 9 inch dia. and one 22 inch dia.) filled approximately 30% by volume with liquid hydrogen. This experiment measured the heat transfer rates to liquid hydrogen with radiant heat flux rates in the order of average space rates at zero gravity conditions. The experiment was also utilized to provide information on the effect of scale on the total heat input rate. The spheres were instrumented to obtain heat sink temperatures, pressure buildup and vacuum levels.

Fig. 5: Excerpt from the post flight test report discussing onboard NASA experiments

[Figure: A black and white photograph showing a close-up of the side of a large, metallic rocket. A white, nose-cone-shaped "Passenger Pod" is mounted to the side. At the top, a black, cylindrical object is also attached, near a white star insignia. Below, scaffolding and support structures are visible, with two workers in hard hats in the foreground.]

Fig. 6: Location of the NASA Passenger Pod on the Atlas 8F frame

Unlike the penetration aids and decoys, these pods were not designed for re-entry. The two hatches were merely sprung open just prior to booster / RV separation and the vacuum jacketed spheres released to commence the experiments. The instrumented nature of the spheres, their relatively light weight and the successful data collection of the experiments by NASA confirm that knowledge of the position of the experiments eliminated them from being mistaken as the object filmed “tagging along” with the RV at a speed of Mach 18.⁹

3. The Operation Dominic Commander leaves in a hurry after the Bluegill Triple Prime test and heads for Washington D.C.

After much sabre rattling, the Soviet Union recommenced atmospheric nuclear tests on the 1st of September 1961. The United States reciprocated with a “crash program” of its own atmospheric test program, with President John F. Kennedy selecting Major General Alfred Dodd Starbird as the Commander for Joint Task Force 8, otherwise known as Operation Dominic.¹⁰,¹¹

[Figure: A painted portrait of Major General Alfred D. Starbird. He is a white man with short, light-colored hair and glasses, wearing a dark green military uniform with decorations on the chest and collar.]

Fig. 7: Major General Alfred D. Starbird

Starbird was no stranger to nuclear weapons – from 1955 to 1961, he was the Director of the Atomic Energy Commissions’ Division of Military Applications. In this role, Starbird defined the United States Armed Forces nuclear weapons requirements for the weapons laboratories of Los Alamos, Livermore and Sandia. He was also acutely aware of the X-ray kill mechanism for incoming ICBM re-entry vehicles, particularly the XW50 and enhanced X-ray output XW-50-X1 weapons designs proposed for the Nike Zeus Anti-ICBM system.¹² Starbird knew that the this special weapon design used the Tsetse design for the primary fission trigger¹³, whilst the secondary fusion device used was of the spherical Mace¹⁴ design that utilised a gold radiation case and tamper to produce high energy X-rays through a process known as Bremsstrahlung Radiation generation.¹⁵

Report SC4362(WD), Proposed Ordnance Characteristics of the XW-50 Warhead, was presented to the Design Review and Acceptance Group August 25, 1960. The report described both XW-50 and XW-50-X1 designs, and the Group accepted the report for forwarding to the Division of Military Application.³⁷

A report on the NIKE ZEUS arming and safing system was released by Sandia September 13, 1960.

(b)(1), (b)(3)

/The warhead section of the XW-50 would include the adaption kit and

[Figure: A large, handwritten stamp across the document reads "RESTRICTED DATA". A horizontal line is drawn through the words, and a scribble is drawn below them.]

Fig. 8: As Director of the AEC’s Division of Military Applications, Starbird directly approved weapons designs

A sub-project of Operation Dominic was called Operation Fishbowl, and was dedicated to investigating the weapons effects of high-altitude nuclear explosions.¹⁶ A leaked report from the RAND Corporation in 1961 revealed the existence of a mechanism called thermo-mechanical spallation that could destroy incoming ICBM re-entry vehicles during their transit through space, enroute to the target.¹⁷ By using carefully designed nuclear weapons detonated high above the atmosphere to produce high energy X-rays, scientists discovered they could destroy multiple re-entry vehicle targets over a wide area with a single device.¹⁸

X-Ray Kill Problem, 1961

On March 10, 1961, the Latter brothers (Albert and Richard), Ernest Martinelli, and William McMillan circulated a Rand report they had written that was to cause great controversy and eventually affect the high-altitude program of Dominic appreciably. The report was entitled simply "Some New Considerations Concerning Nuclear Test Ban." (Apparently, Rand did not approve the formal issuance of this report and it is somewhat unclear as to how it got out.) The report made a number of very serious accusations. It started out:

The United States is seriously considering a nuclear test ban agreement which cannot be adequately controlled. Such an agreement would enable the Soviets to continue their nuclear tests underground and in outer space while the United States would, of course, live up to its commitment. In 1958, at the outset of the test ban talks, it was generally believed that underground nuclear explosions were detectable and nuclear tests in outer space impractical. The facts are now known to be otherwise. In April 1960, hearings before the Joint Congressional Committee on Atomic Energy made it clear that the Soviets can cheat if they want to without fear of the Geneva control system. There is now no essential disagreement among scientific experts on this point irrespective of their views on the desirability of a test ban.

The report brought up the possibility of x-ray kill for incoming nuclear warheads on either side and went into great detail. It envisaged a pack of incoming missiles, including warheads and decoys, on the order of 10 to 15 miles or more in radius, and advised that it might be possible through x-ray damage to the ablation material in the warhead nose cones to achieve a kill radius

The report suggested that in the event of an inadequately controlled test ban, which would jeopardize the deterrent strength of the United States, it would be necessary to build a deterrent force even larger and more diversified than we would build without a test ban, and, finally, "In our opinion, the best course is to adhere to the principle of adequately controlled agreements. At the present time, this principle allows us to make an agreement stopping atmospheric tests, some space tests, and underground tests above a threshold."

Withheld Under
5USC.552(b)(1)

[Figure: A fully redacted, black rectangular area where a photograph was likely placed.]

Fig. 9: JTF-8 Scientific Director Dr. William Ogle describes the X-ray kill problem

Starbird's headquarters during Operation Dominic was the aircraft carrier USS Princeton (LPH-5), an Essex-class aircraft carrier which had been converted into an amphibious assault ship carrying helicopters and Marines.¹⁹ As the Joint Task Force 8 commander, Starbird was often listed in the logs of the JTF-8 ships as the SOPA - Senior Officer Present Afloat and his location listed as the USS Princeton.

The unique design and weapons effects of the Bluegill test were of extreme interest to the Joint Chiefs of Staff (most notably USAF Chief of Staff General Curtis E. LeMay) and to President Kennedy himself in 1962. The newly discovered X-ray kill mechanism of ICBMs was perceived as the only way to protect American citizens from the threat of Soviet nuclear weapons. The first three attempts of the Bluegill device all failed – the result of the Range Safety Officer having to send a self-destruct signal whilst they were either climbing to altitude or on the launch pad itself. The loss of each device (and the several hundred kilograms of gold that they contained) prompted President Kennedy to ask the Director of Los Alamos' J Division (weapons design) and JFT-8 Scientific Director Dr William Ogle if he could "hurry up" and finish the tests – Ogle said they could not.²⁰

The special version of the Thor missile that Douglas Aircraft Company had built for the Fishbowl tests were also proving to be problematic. The Douglas Space Vehicle 2E had

suffered 4 failures during the tests (Starfish, Bluegill, Bluegill Prime and Bluegill Double Prime) and Starbird had concerns about their reliability.²¹

The DAMP ship arrived as planned, and on October 14 the Task Force was ready to do Bluegill. However, unfavorable weather forced a delay to the night of the 15th. Shortly after launch on the night of the 15th the Thor again failed in flight, and the warhead and missile were destroyed. This failure was apparently due to troubles in the guidance system. The Thor crews and, for that matter, everyone else were tremendously dejected. Starbird effectively gave up on the Thor, suggesting that the Douglas representative sit to one side for a little while and contemplate the situation. However, there was no choice: the Task Force had to make the Bluegill attempt with a Hercules. The system stalled a little and then scheduled the next attempt for the night of the 22nd or 23rd, depending upon whether the Hercules or the Thor was picked.

Fig. 10: Concerns about the reliability of the Thor carrier missile during Fishbowl

The certification tests of the Nike Hercules missile system to safely carry the XW-50-X1 warhead to the correct altitude needed to be conducted, as a change of missile carrier required significant changes to the timing systems and instrumentation. These tests were conducted on the 21st and 22nd of October, with both missiles issued a self-destruct signal 9 seconds after liftoff due to tracking errors.²² Starbird was in a very tight spot and had no alternative but to attempt the Bluegill Triple Prime shot with the Thor DSV-2E missile carrier.

The 1983 report "Operation Dominic 1 - United States Atmospheric Nuclear Weapons Tests Nuclear Test Personnel Review" by the Kaman Tempo Group notes the following of the Tank Landing Ship USS Summit County (LST-1146):²³,²⁴

USS Summit County (LST-1146)

Tank landing ship with a normal complement of 119. Unit of TG 8.3.6.4 (Scientific). Participated in Johnston Island shots only. Operational activities in each shot that it participated in are summarized below.

BLUEGILL Triple Prime (Johnston Island, 25 October, 2359). At 1300 steaming on assigned station to remain with Harris County. On 26 October at 0000 observed detonation, ship approximately 15 nmi (28 km) south of detonation.

Fig. 11: USS Summit County position for the Bluegill Triple Prime test

[Figure: A map showing ship positions for the DOMINIC, BLUEGILL Triple Prime test. The map is centered on Johnston Island and Surface Zero. The grid shows latitude from 10°N to 22°N and longitude from 164°W to 174°W. Scales for Nautical Miles and Kilometers are provided. The positions of numerous ships are marked with dots and labels as follows:

USS JENKINS (DD-447)
USS TAKELMA (ATF-113)
USNS PVT FRANK S. PETRARCA (T-AK-250)
USS HITCHITI (ATF-103)
USS HASSAYAMPA (AO-145)
USS ENGAGE (MSO-433)
USS JOHN S. McCAIN (DL 3)
USS SAFEGUARD (ARS-25)
USAS AMERICAN MARINER
USS PRINCETON (LPH-5)
USS LIPAN (ATF-85)
USNS RANGE TRACKER (T-AGM-1) DOCKED AT JOHNSTON ISLAND
USNS HARRIS COUNTY (T-LST-822)
USS SUMMIT COUNTY (LST-1146) (This label is highlighted with a box)
USS HENRY COUNTY (LST-824)
USNS POINT BARROW (T-AKD-1)
USS FORSTER (DER-334)]

Figure 106. Ship positions, DOMINIC, BLUEGILL Triple Prime.

Fig. 12: Ship Array for Bluegill Triple Prime

[Figure: A black-and-white, aerial photograph of the Tank Landing Ship USS Summit County. The ship is underway on the open sea, viewed from off the port bow. The hull number "1146" is clearly visible painted on the bow.]

Fig. 13: Tank Landing Ship Uss Summit County (LST-1146)

The Tank Landing Ship, was to be positioned only 15 nautical miles from the Surface
Zero point (i.e., directly underneath) of the Bluegill Triple Prime detonation, which was
planned to occur at 00:01 on the 26th October 1962.²⁵ In the Summit County's ship logs
on the 25th of October, we see the following entries:²⁶
FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY
NAVYERS 720 (Rev. 4-56)

00-04 ANCHORED IN THE INNER HARBOR AT JOHNSTON ISLAND IN 4 FATHOMS OF
WATER, SAND AND CORAL BOTTOM, WITH 35 FATHOMS OF CHAIN TO THE BOW ANCHOR
ON THE FOLLOWING ANCHORAGE BEARINGS: LORAN TOWER 066, CONTROL TOWER 190
GREEN BEACON 098.5. MACHINERY OUT OF CAMBUSSION: NONE MACHINERY ON THE
LINE: NOS 1 AND 2 STS GENERATORS, 3/5 BOILER. SHIPS PRESENT: USS HENRY COUNTY
(LST 729), USNS HARRIS COUNTY (T-LST 822), USNS RANGE TRACKER (T-AGM 1)
USS PRINCETON (LPH-5). SOPA IS CJTT 83 IN PRINCETON. CONDITION OF
READINESS I AND MATERIAL CONDITION YOKE ARE SET.
RCOplad
ENS. USN

Fig. 14: Log entries for USS Summit County 25 October 1962 00-04 Watch

During the 00:00–04:00, the Summit County Watchkeeper notes that his ship is
anchored at Johnston Island along with several other vessels, and it has Rear Admiral
Lloyd M. Mustin as SOPA onboard the USS Princeton, which is also moored in Johnston
Island Inner Harbor.²⁷

Where was MAJ GEN. Starbird?

FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY
NAVPERS 720 (Rev. 4-56)

ADDITIONAL REMARKS
UNITED STATES SHIP SUMMIT COUNTY (LST1146) THURSDAY 25 OCTOBER. 62
(Date)
(Nonth)
08-12 ANCHORED AS BEFORE. 0830 MADE DAILY INSPECTION OFALL MAGAZINES
AND SMOKELESS POWDER SAMPLES, CONDITIONS: NORMAL
[Figure: Signature]
ENS USNAR

18-16 ANCHORED AS BEFORE. 1230 COMMENCED PREPARATIONS FOR GETTING
UNDERWAY, LIGHTED OFF THE MAIN ENGINES. 1945 SETTHE SPECIAL SEA AND ANCHOR
DETAIL, COMPLETED ALL PREPARATIONS FOR GETTING UNDER WAY. DRAFT FORWARD,
5 FEET GINCHES, AFT 12FEET. CAPTAIN AT THE CONN. NAWEATOR ON THE BRIDGE
1300 UNDERWAY FOR OPERATIONS IN ACCORDANCE WITH CITE 8.3 OP-ORDER
18-62. MANEUVERING ON VARIOUS COURSES AT VARIOUS SPEEDS TO CONFORAN
TO CHANNEL. 1380 SECURED THE SPECIAL SEA AND ANCHOR DETAIL, SET THE
REGULAR UNDERWAY WATCH, CONDITION IL SHIPS IN SCIENTIFIC FORMATION WITH
THIS SHIP GUIDE. USNS POINT BARROW (J-AKDI) BEARS 198.5, 7, 504 YARDS, USSHENRY
COUNTY (LST 884) BEARS 102, 5478 YARDS. USAS HARRIS COUNTY (LST 892) BEARS
099, 4467 XARDS. FORMATION COURSE 190. SPEED & KNOTS. 1440 To 120. SET
HELO COPTER HELICOPTER DETAIL, EFFECTED TRANSFER OF LIGHT FREIGHT FROM
YK 15, 1450 clo To 190, SECURED FROM HELICOPTER DETAIL.
[Figure: Signature]
b

Fig. 15: Log entries for USS Summit County 25 October 1962 08-12 and 12-16 Watch

In the 12:00-16:00 watch of the 25th of October, we find that the Summit County and
other ships in the Scientific Task Force formation are underway and heading toward
their assigned positions 11 Nautical miles south-east of Surface Zero for the Bluegill
Triple Prime detonation. It is noted that the Commander, Task Element 8.3.6.4 is the
SOPA for the scientific formation, and that he is present on the Summit County.

The crews of the ships USS Summit County, USS Harris County, USS Henry County and
the USNS Point Barrow have a front-row seat to the events about to take place, and their
position during the Bluegill Triple Prime test Surface Zero at 00:01 on the 26th of October
1962. They are also very likely to have seen exactly where the object that tumbled out of
the nuclear fireball crashed into the ocean, as their position at that point in time is
extremely close to the location of an extensive salvage operation that took place in the
days following this vitally important nuclear weapons test.

FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY
NAVPERS 720 (Rev. 4-56)

DECK LOG SHEET - TYPE B

[A form containing a handwritten deck log entry. The form's header is structured as follows:]


USS	Summit County (LST 1146)	ZONE DESCRIPTION	+10	DATE Friday 26 October, 1962
				(Day) (Date) (Month)
AT/PASSAGE FROM	Johnston Island	TO	Operation Area

REMARKS

00-04 Steaming in OPAREA in scientific formation with this ship guide.
USNS Point Barrow (T-AKD1) bears 128.5, 7,504 yards. USS Henry County
(LST 824) bears 102, 5478 yards. USNS Harris County (LST 822) bears 099,
4962 yards. Operating in accordance with CTU 8.1.3 message 120715 Z.
Machinery on the line: No's 1 and 2 main engines, No's 1 and 2 auxiliary
engines, #/s boiler. Machinery out of commission: None. ~~OTC is CTE 8364 in this ship~~ Formation course is 075°; formation speed is 6 knots. Material
Condition Zebra and Condition of Readiness IV are set. 0000 Observed on
nuclear detonation. 0030 Departed formation. Underway independently enroute
From H-Hour station to H+30 to 72 Hour station. Set course 185°, speed 10.1
Knots. 0033 c/s to 7.7 Knots. 0037 c/s to 10.1 knots 0040 Set Material Con-
dition YOKE. Secured from General Quarters. Set the regular underway watch.
WJ Ounny
ENS USNR

Fig. 16: Log entries for USS Summit County 26 October 1962 00-04 Watch

In the entry for the 00:00-04:00 watch, the “Condition Zebra” is all hatches closed for the Bluegill Triple Prime detonation which is also noted in the log. The USS Summit County breaks from the other ships in the scientific formation at 00:30 hours to move to a different station. Ogle notes in his Return to Testing that Starbird left Johnston Island at 04:00 on the 26th October.²⁹

November 1 was getting close. The fourth attempt at Bluegill using a Thor took place just after midnight on October 26: it was finally successful. Starbird left Johnston at 4 a.m., and that afternoon the airdrop test Calamity was fired. The decision was immediately made to switch back to Thor for the Kingfish shot. By

Fig. 17: Ogle's memoirs recall that Starbird left Johnston Island directly after the Bluegill Triple Prime test, at 04:00

Back on the Summit County, there seems to be some confusion now as to who is in command. The watchkeeper for the 27th October 00:00 – 04:00 is initially unaware that the SOPA has now changed. He writes “SOPA is CTE 8.3.6.4 in this ship”, and then crosses it out, with the note “COMLAN SHIPRON THREE is embarked”.³⁰

FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY
NAVPERS 720 (Rev. 4-56)
DECK LOG SHEET - TYPE B

USS	SUMMIT COUNTY (LST 1146)	ZONE DESCRIPTION	+10	DATE	SATURDAY	27	OCTOBER	, 19	62
	SP/PASSAGE FROM	Operation Area	TO				(Month)
							Johnston Island

REMARKS

00-04 UNDERWAY INDEPENDENTLY AT OP AREA IN ACCORDANCE WITH CTU 8.1.3. MESSAGE 120715 Z MACHINERY ON THE LINE: NO. 1 MAIN ENGINE, NOS. 1 AND 2 5/5 GENERATORS, 5/S BOILER MACHINERY OUT OF COMMISSION: NONE IS LTE 8.364 IN THIS SHIP BASE COURSE IS 280, SPEED 5 KNOTS. MATERIAL CONDITION YOKE AND CONDITION OF READINESS IV ARE SET, 0100 % TO 100. 0300 % TO 280. COMLAN SHIPRON THREE is embarked.
[Signature: illegible]
Ens USNR

Fig. 18: Log entries for USS Summit County 27 October 1962 00-04 Watch

This appears to be a reference to the Commander, Landing Ship Squadron 3. As the Summit Country, Harris County and the Point Barrow were landing ships / specialist recovery vessels and were working on another sub-project of Operation Dominic, this would make sense. ³¹ It should also be noted that the third attempt of a Bluegill weapons test (Bluegill Double Prime) was scheduled around this date, with the Summit County being the closest vessel. It is interesting that the Watchkeeper crossed out the SOPA entry and replaced it with "COMLAN SHIPRON THREE", indicating that whoever this person was, THEY were running the operation at Surface Zero, and would have had witnessed firsthand the object tumble out of the fireball and into the ocean.

UNITED STATES SHIP	PRINCETON (LPH-5)	MONDAY	8 (Day)	OCTOBER (Date)	19 (Month)	62

00-04 Anchored Southeast of Johnston Island in 13 fathoms of water, coral bottom, with 75 fathoms of chain to the starboard anchor on the following bearings: Johnston Island aero beacon 2814°T, left tangent Johnston Island 2764°T, and Sand Island tower 294%°T. Ships present: USS Summit County (LST-1146) with COMLANSHIPRON 3 embarked, plus various other units of the U.S. Pacific Fleet. SOPA is CJTG 8.3 embarked on board the USS PRINCETON (LPH-5). Material Condition Yoke and Condition of Readiness 4 are set throughout the ship. There is one prisoner confined in the ships brig.
[Signature: J. A. CARNEY]
J. A. CARNEY
ENS USNR

Fig. 19: Log entries for USS Princeton 8 October 1962 00-04 Watch with reference to COMLAN SHIPRON 3.

Further evidence of Starbird's sudden departure from Johnston Island before the final
tests of Operations Fishbowl and Dominic can be found in the entry for the 20:00 – 24:00
watch on the USS Engage (MSO-433), which indicates that the Senior Officer Present
Afloat is now JTF-8 Deputy Commander Rear Admiral Lloyd M. Mustin on the USS
Princeton (misspelled as "Mussgins"):32

[Figure: Log entries from USS Engage 26 October 1962. It shows a table-like structure with "FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY" and "ADDITIONAL REMARKS" as main headings. Below "FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY" is "NAVPERS 720 (Rev. 4-56)". Below "ADDITIONAL REMARKS" is a handwritten date "FRIDAY 26 OCTOBER 1962". The table has a row "UNITED STATES SHIP ENGABE (MSO-433)". The main body contains handwritten entries:
"20-24 STEAMING AS BEFORE. 1954 YC TO Ø35° T. 1959 SET
SPECIAL SEA AND ANCHOR DETAIL. 2005 YC TO Ø40°T. 2018
YC TO Ø28°T. 2021 YC TO Ø26°T. 2046 2/270 Ø88°T. 95 TO 4 KTS.
2043 YC TO Ø86°T. 2045 YS TO 2 KTS. 2047 ANCHORED OFF
JOHNSTON ISLAND IN 7 FATHOMS OF WATER, SAND AND CORAL
BOTTOM, WITH 45 FATHOMS OF CHAIN VEERED TO STBD
ANCHOR ON THE FOLLOWING ANCHOR BEARINGS: LORAN
TOWER 303°T, AREO BEACON 283°T, LEFT TANGENTS. 280°T
WHITE AND GREEN BEACON 286°T, SHIPS PRESENT INCLUDE
VARIOUS UNITS OF THE U.S. PACIFIC FLEET. SOPA IS RADM
MUSSEINS EMBARKED IN U.S.S. PRINCETON (LPH-5). SHIP IS
IN CONDITION READINESS III MATERIAL CONDITION YOKE
IS SET."
At the bottom right, there's a handwritten signature "S.A. Henning ENS. USNR"]

Fig. 20: Log entries of USS Engage 26 October 1962 20-24 Watch reference to SOPA

Starbird's hurried departure also occurred only three days before one of the most
important tests of Operation Dominic – the high yield, low fission “clean” thermonuclear
weapons test Housatonic. This was a Livermore Radiation Laboratory third generation
weapons design called “Ripple II” that produced virtually no radioactive fallout. 33 It was
airdropped from a B-52 just off Johnston Island and produced a yield of 8.3 Megatons –
the largest of all 31 thermonuclear detonations of Operation Dominic. Why would the
Joint Task Force 8 Commander not stay an extra 3 days to observe this shot? It also
appears that Starbird handed over the command of Operation Dominic / JTF-8 to RADM
Mustin at that point in time. Why would he do that at such a critical juncture of the
operation?

The reason posited here is that Starbird left Johnston Island because he had a special
mission after Bluegill Triple Prime – the delivery of information that was so highly
classified that it could not be sent electronically or written down. He had to verbally

brief the Commander in Chief, President John F. Kennedy and the Joint Chiefs of Staff
with the news that they had successfully shot down the UFO that had been interfering
with their weapons tests in the last few months - as was filmed during the Atlas 8F test.

4. The "Missile Debris" transfer between multiple ships

According to OPERATION DOMINIC, FISH BOWL SERIES Project Officer's Report—
Project 8A.3 Close-In Thermal and X-ray Vulnerability Measurements—Shots Blue Gill
and King Fish, all 3 instrumentation pods from the Bluegill Triple Prime test were
recovered by 09:00 on the 26th October. 34

All three pods were recovered.
Pod B-1 was the first pod found; the sighting occurred two
hours after the burst. The flashing light system was operating
although the SARAH beacon failed to function. The Destroyer
Leader USS McCain retrieved pod B-1 and returned it to the
Johnston Island harbor entrance. Here it was transferred to a

118

LCM landing craft and hauled to the Johnston Island seapiane
ramp. A mobile crane was then used to transport the pod to the
recovery area and place it in a hot cell.

Pods B-2 and B-3 were not located until after dawn. The
flashing lamp and SARAH beacon systems failed on both pods.
The sea-dye dispenser functioned and aided search aircraft in
locating each pod. A helicopter retrieved and returned pod B-2
to the Johnston Island recovery area. Pod B-3 could not be picked
up by helicopter in the normal manner due to a malfunction in
the parachute ejection system. The USS McCain aided in retrieving
this pod by cutting the parachute lines and putting a modified
cargo net around the pod. A helicopter then returned pod B-3 to
the recovery area.

Fig. 21: Bluegill Triple Prime B-1 pod recovered by USS McCain at 02:00, pods B-2 and B-
3 recovered by helicopter.

Note the mention of the Seaplane Ramp at Johnston Island.
One pod was recovered by the U.S. Navy ships whilst the remaining two pods were
recovered to Johnston Island by USMC helicopters by 09:00.35 However, the deck logs of
the USS Safeguard, USS Engage and the USS John S. McCain show that all three vessels
spent the rest of the day collecting "missile debris" and pods. Later that day, there
appears to be a surreptitious transfer of this debris to ship where the Senior Officer
Present Afloat (RADM Mustin) is located - the USS Princeton.

[Figure: A black and white photograph of RADM Lloyd M. Mustin, 1962. He is wearing a dark naval uniform with a white officer's hat, and standing in front of what appears to be a ship's interior or bulkhead.]

Fig. 22: RADM Lloyd M. Mustin, 1962

RADM Mustin was no stranger to high altitude nuclear weapons tests - he had additional
duty from May to October 1958, in command of Task Force 88, a special task force
organized to plan and conduct the Argus high-altitude nuclear tests which were fired in
a remote part of the South Atlantic. 36
The first thing to note is the 00-04 watch entry into the deck logs of the USS Princeton.37
The watchkeeper notes that SOPA is CJTG, inferring Starbird but later adds "8.3" in pen.
As well as being Deputy Commander of JTF-8, RADM Mustin was also Commander of
Joint Task Group 8.3 on 26th October 1962. It had not filtered through the Command that

Mustin was permanently replacing Starbird – the event is listed in Mustin's service record as simply being “October 1962”.³⁸ With less than 7 days of Operation Dominic left to go, and at the very height of the Cuban Missile Crisis, Mustin is now in full command of the atmospheric nuclear test series, with his HQ on the USS Princeton.

[Figure: This is a form titled "DECK LOG—SMOOTH REMARKS SHEET" under "FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY" and "NAVPERS-719 (New 10-56)".
The "UNITED STATES SHIP" is "PRINCETON (LPH-5)".
The date is "FRIDAY 26 OCTOBER 1962".
The entries are:
"00-04 Steaming independently North of Johnston Island in accordance with CJTG OP-Order 12-62. SOPA is CJTG embarked on board. Condition of Readiness 4 and Material Condition Yoke are set. 0000 Steering various courses at various speeds while night steaming. 0105 Steinbach, Gary M., 531-55-05, SN, USN, was released from confinement and returned to duty on expiration of confinement by order of the Commanding Officer. 0354 C/C to 270°T."
The signature block is "R. M. WICKLUND ENS USNR"]

Fig. 22: USS Princeton log entry with correction to SOPA

The three vessels involved in the recovery of the instrument pods have different descriptions of what went on during the day of 26th October 1962. Remembering that all three instrument pods had been recovered to Johnston Island by 09:00, the first log to look at is Safeguard entry for the 08:00 – 12:00 watch:³⁹

[Figure: This is a form with "UNITED STATES SHIP" labeled "SAFEGUARD (ARS25)".
The date is "FRIDAY 26 OCTOBER, 1962".
The entries are:
"08-12 UNDERWAY AS BEFORE. 0846 C/C TO 285. C/S1C AHEAD 125 ROIS.
0910 MADE DAILY INSPECTION OF MAGAZINES AND SHORELESS POWDER SAMPLES; CONDITIONS NORMAL. 0924 ASSUMED STATION 1500 YARDS ON STOD BEAM OF USS MCCAIN (DL3), BASE COURSE 283 FT. BASE SPEED 13 KNOTS. 0938 CHANGED BASE COURSE TO 247 FT. BASE SPEED 1C KNOTS.
1050 USS ENGAGE ASSUMED GUIDE. 1100 ASSUMED STATION 1500 YARDS ON THE PORT BEAM OF USS ENGAGE (HSO 433), BASE COURSE 100 FT. BASE SPEED 13 KNOTS. 1138 CHANGED BASE COURSE TO 071 FT. NO FURTHER REMARKS."
There is a signature below, with "CW02 USA" underneath.]

Fig.23: USS Safeguard log entry – nothing out of the ordinary noted

Comparing with the Engage entries for the same period, the “green tube” recovered has clearly been exposed to radiation, as it has reading of 60 milli Roentgens at a distance of one foot:⁴⁰ There is also a transfer of material from the Engage to the McCain via a light line between the two ships.

08-12 6868 / TO 205°T. 8834 MANEUVERING TO PICK UP GREEN TUBE SPOTTED VISUALLY IN WATER. 8842 GREEN TUBE ON BOARD, CO MR READING AT ONE FOOT. 8845 / TO 285°T, /5 70 12 KTS. 8912 FORMED LIKE ABREAST WITH USS Me CAIN BEARING DIST DISTANCE 1500 YOS. MC CAIN IS GUIDE ON C 285°T, 8/5 10 KTS. 1436 PREPARING TO RECEIVE USS Me CAIN TO STED FOR LIGHT LINE TRANSFER. 1056 LIGHT LINE COMPLETED, ASSUMED TACTICAL COMMAND OF USS SAFEGUARD. De 893°T, 8/3 10 KTS. TO INVESTIGATE NEW SEARCH AREA. 1855 MADE DAILY INSPECTION OF MAGAZINES AND SMOKELESS POWDER SAMPLES, CONDITIONS NORMAL. 1115 / το 883°T. %S TO 13 KTS. 1135 Ye To 71°T.
SA. Herring
ENS. USUR

Fig.24: USS Engage log entry - radioactive green tube recovered

The McCain entries for this period are curious, stating that they were still searching for pods. 41 Pod B1 had been recovered by this vessel at 02:33 and was transferred to a Landing Craft - Mechanised (LCM) with a special concrete radiation barrier for transport to Johnston Island. Pods B2 and B3 were recovered by USMC UH-34D helicopters of the HMM-364 squadron as per standing orders - any pods located during the hours of darkness were recovered by ship, and during daylight hours they were recovered by helicopter. 42 The McCain also recovers a floating object but does not record what that object is.

08-12 Steaming as before. Maneuvering at various courses and speeds to recover pods. 0825 Naneuvering at various courses and speeds to recover floating object. 0835 C/C to 240, C/S to 12 kts. 1000 Made daily inspection of magazines and smokeless powder samples; conditions normal. 1023 Maneuvering to light line transfer with USS ENGAGE (MSO-433). The guide is ENGAGE. 1035 Completed light line transfer. 1047 C/C to 093, C/S to 25 kts.
R.
LTJG, USNR

Fig.25: USS McCain log entry - recovers floating object, transfer from Engage

Meanwhile, during the same watch period, the Princeton is still engaged in flight operations:

08-12 Steaming as before. 0730 Mustered the crew on stations, no new absentees. 0734 C/C to
260°T. 0735 C/S to 5 knots. 0740 C/S to 3 knots. 0747 C/S to 8 knots. 0750 C/S to 10 knots.
0754 C/C to 105°T. 0755 C/S to 0 knots. Commenced flight operations, steering various courses
at various speeds during flight operations. 1127 Secured from flight operations, C/C to 270°T,
C/S to 20 knots.
Bub
H. AUBUCHON
LT USN

Fig. 25: USS Princeton flight ops

The Safeguard entries for the 12:00 – 16:00 watch period has the following entry, again
referencing some unknown pods, which are later described as “missile debris”:

12-16 Underway as BEFORE. 1218 C/C TO 100°T 1229 % TO 8 KTS. 1232
Sighted Pod BEARING 288T DISTANCE 2 MILES. STEERING VARIOUS COURSES AND
SPEEDS TO MAKE RECOVERY, CAPTAIN HAS THE CONN, 1314 HAVE MISSILE DEBRIS
Aboard 1317 % TO 4NTS COURSE 095°T. 1332 %TO 048T IS TO 8.4 KTS TO
MAINTAIN STATION ON USS ENGAGE (MSO-433) 1423 % to 060T 1445S TO 6.4B.
1450 TO 090T 1505 C/C TO OOOT 1509 C/C TO 270°T 1532 C/C to 180°T
No FURTHER REMARKS.
9.3. Crayton
USN

Fig. 26: USS Safeguard still sighting “pods” hours after all three have been
recovered

The Engage has the following entry for that period, noting that Safeguard reports sighting
a cylindrical object:

12-16 STEAMING AS BEFORE. 1216 % To 695°T. 1215 5TEERING
VARIOUS COURSES AND SPEEDS INVESTIGATING NOSE CONE
RECOVERY AREA. 1233 USS. SAFEGUARD REPORTS SIGHTING
A CYLINDIRCAL OBJECT IN WATER, BROKE FORMATION TO
INVESTIGATE. 1319 SAFEGUARD JOINS FORMATION. 1552
SAFEGUARD AND ENGAGE PROCEEDING TO JOHNSTON ISLAND
ANCHORAGE ON BASE COURSE @dd°T, SPEED 8 ATS.
do I Zeiter
ENS USNR

Fig.27: USS Engage deck log records Safeguard investigating “cylindrical object”

The entries for the 12:00-16:00 watch periods for the McCain and Princeton have
nothing of interest, other than helicopter movements and small craft alongside.

12-16 Steaming as before. 1201 V/C to 040. 1205 C/C to 030. C/C to 330. 1210 C/S to 25 kts.
1213 C/S to 15 kts. C/C to 120. Set the helo detail. 1216 C/S to 5 kts. 1217 C/C to 140. 1231
s
C/C to 180, C/S to 25 kts. Secured the helo detail. 1251 C/S to 15 kts. 1253 C/S to 270. 1318
C/C to 029, C/S to 25 kts. 1334 C/C to 035. 1345 C/S to 15 kts. C/C to 000. 1349 C/C to 270.
1354 C/C to 180. 1402 C/C to 090. 1406 C/S to 25 kts. C/C to 040. 1429 C/S to 15 kts. 1433 C/C
to 090. 1438 C/C to 085. 1440 C/C to 180. 1448 C/C to 270. 1457 C/C to 000. 1512 C/C to 090.
1525 C/C to 180. 1546 C/C to 320. C/S to 25 kts. 1546 C/C to 090. 1555 C/S to 26 kts.
[Figure: Signature with text P. C. PETERSON, LT, USN]
Fig. 28: USS McCain logs nothing of interest

12-16 Steaming as before. 1205 C/C to 285°T. 1224 C/S to 8 knots, C/C to 120°T. 1234 C/S to
10 knots, C/C to 134°T. Commenced flight operations. 1306 Commenced engineering casualty drills.
1350 C/C to 070°T. 1402 C/C to 135°T. 1421 C/S to 5 knots. 1430 All engines stopped. C/C to
250°T. 1434 Received small craft alongside to port. 1435 Small craft is clear. C/S to 10 knots.
1456 C/C to 315°T, C/S to 20 knots. 1540 C/C to 138°T, C/S to 12 knots. 1549 The Summary Court
Martial, C. A. Buesener, LT, USNR, convened at 1545 in the case of Talolo, S., 327765, SGT,
USMC.
[Figure: Signature with text LT USNR]
Fig.29: USS Princeton logs nothing of interest

The watch entries for the period of 16:00 to 20:00 on the 26th October 1962 have some
interesting discrepancies between all 4 ships regarding the transfer of the recovered
debris from the Safeguard to the McCain, and then a supposed fuel transfer from the
Princeton to the McCain. Neither the Safeguard nor McCain mention the missile debris
transfer their deck logs, but the Engage does. Also, the McCain does not record the type
and volume of the fuel taken onboard. Was the “refuelling” really a cover for the transfer
of debris from the McCain to the Princeton, where the Commanding Officer of JTF-8 /
Operation Dominic (RADM Mustin) was located?

16-20 UNDERWAY AS BEFORE. 1554 % το 690°T 1555 /5 TO 13 KNOTS. 1609 Στο ΔΦΟΤ
1613 % το 180° τ, /s To 8 KNOTS. 1615 % το 1987. 1635 % το 335°T, Is To 13 KNOTS.
1643
/ TO 150°T. 1634/5 70 8 KNUTS 1702 / το ΟΦΦ'Τ. 1715% το 274° 1818% το φ90°Γ
1831 το 180°T 1834 / το 270°T 1838 TO 350°T 1848 / TO 008°T 1859 03-
SERVED SUNSET; RANGE LIGNT IS INOPERATIVO. 1947 S TO 16.5 IKONOTS 2901 FC TO 035° T
YS TO 4 KNOTS AND PROCEEDED TO ANCHORAGE.
2039 LET GO OF ANCHOR. ANCHORED IN
40 FEET OF WATER WITH 45 FATHOMS OF ANCHOR CHAIN TO THE PORT ANCHOR. SANDY
CORAL BOTTOM OFF JOHNSTON ISLAND WITH THE FOLLOWING ANCHOR BEARINGS: AERIAL
BEACON 281.5°T, FLASHING GREEN LIGHT 286°T, LORAN TOWER 300°T.
REMARKS
FIXED
NO FURTHER

D. M. Lowrzy
ENSION OSNR

Fig. 30: USS Safeguard with no mention of its debris transfer to McCain

16-2 STEAMING AS BEFORE. 1632 DETACHED SAFEGUARD
FOR RENDEZVOUS WITH USS Me CAIN TO TRANSFER DEBRIS.
1645 RESUMED TACTICAL COMMAND OF SAFEGUARD, BASE
COURSE OT, SPEED 8 KTS.
1655 / TO $45°T. 1916
με το 18 τ, /S TO 9 KTS. 1941 Yero $26°r. 1944 Yero 040%
19115 DETACHED SAFEGUARD FOR PURPOSES OF ANCHORING.

J. Zeille
DER. USNR

Fig. 31: USS Engage logs the transfer of debris from Safeguard to McCain

16-20 Steaming as before. 1617 C/C to 315. 1622 C/S to 20 kts. 1624 C/S to 15 kts. 1629 C/C
to 160. 1631/S to 25 kts. C/C to 155. 1641 C/S to 070, C/S to 15 kts. 1643 C/C to 050. 1649
C/C to 350. 1653 C/S to 20 kts. 1654 C/C to 340. 1659 C/C to 260. 1701 C/C to 255. 1703 C/C to
270. C/S to 12 kts. 1713 Stationed the refueling detail. 1717 C/S to 13 kts. 1736 C/C to 090.
C/S to 25 kts. 1730 Maneuvering to take refueling station alongside the USS PRINCETON (BPH-5) on
base course 090, speed 12 kts. 1759 Changed base course to 166. 1814 Alongside USS PRINCETON to
port on base course 166. Speed 12 kts. 1815 Forward lines over. 1822 Commenced receiving fuel.
w.l. Bl
W. C. BALLAMY, LTJG, USN

Fig. 32: USS McCain makes no mention of debris transfer from Safeguard

16-18 Steaming as before. 1604 C/C to 171°T. 1634 C/C to 090°T. 1646 C/C to 270°T. 1654 C/C
to 240°T. 1658 C/C to 270°T. 1717 The Summary Court Martial, LT C. A. Buesener, USNR, in the
case of Talolo, Selusi, 327765, SGT, USMC, adjourned to await the action of the convening
authority. 1730 C/C to 090°T.
P
D. P. GRANT
LTJG USN
18-20 Steaming as before. 1746 Manned all refueling stations. Commenced preparations for taking
the USS McCain (DL-3), alongside to starboard for refueling. 1802 USS McCain (DL-3) started
approach. 1819 First line is over. 1820 Commenced pumping at station number 7. 1826 High line
rigged. 1830 First load received. 1841 Secured from flight quarters. 1851 Observed Sunset and
darkened ship starboard side. All navigational lights are dim. 1932 High line unrigged. 1936
High line clear. 1759 Late Entry: C/C to 166°T.
Wicklund.
R. M. WICKLUND
ENS USNR
Fig. 33: USS Princeton logs of fuel transfer to McCain, without mention of volume or type
of fuel

UNITED STATES SHIP HASSAYAMPA (AO 145)

	Sunday 21 October	62
	(Day) (Date) (Monik)
00-04	Steaming independently on course 270 in accordance with CTU 8.3.6 OpOrder 12-62 speed 15 kts. Conditions of Readiness IV and Material Condition Yoke (modified) are set. SOPA is CJTG 8.3 in USS PRINCETON (LPH-5). 0000 C/C to 180, C/S to 5 kts. 0230 C/C to 026.
	4.7. Soodma A. L. GOODMAN LIJG, USNR
04-08	Steaming as before. 0600 Set Replenishment at Sea Detail. 0623 C/S to 15 kts. 0630 C/S to 12 kts. 0635 C/C to 090. 0705 USS MCCAIN alongside to starboard. 0714 Commenced pumping to USS MCCAIN (DL-3). 0715 USS PRINCETON (LPH-5) alongside to port. 0729 Secured pumping to USS MCCAIN (DL-3). 0753 USS MCCAIN clear to starboard.
	T. L. CLARK LTJG, USN
08-12	Steaming as before. 0847 C/S to 11.5 kts. 0850 C/S to 11 kts. 0858 C/S to 10 kts. 0928 Secured pumping to USS PRINCETON (DL-3). 0943 USS PRINCETON clear to port. 0946 C/C to 080. 0948 C/C to 070. 0951 C/C to 060. 0954 C/C to 050. 0959 USS SAFEGUARD (ARS-25) alongside to starboard. 1005 USS LANSING alongside to port. 1015 Commenced pumping to USS SAFEGUARD (ARS-25). 1017 Commenced pumping to USS LANSING (DER-388). 1117 Secured pumping to USS LANSING. 1121 Made daily inspection of magazines and smokeless powder samples; conditions normal. 1126 Secured pumping to USS SAFEGUARD (ARS-25).11 1127 USS LANSING ar to port. 1140 USS SAFEGUARD (ARS-25) clear to starboard. 1152 USS ENGAGE (-433) alongside to starboard.772
	IF 17 Clark T. L. CLARK LTJG, USN
12-16	1207 Commenced pumping to USS ENGAGE. 1246 Secured pumping to USS ENGAGE. 1257 USS ENGAGE clear to starboard. 1302 First line over to USS JENKINS (DD-447). 1312 Commenced pumping to USS JENKINS (DD-447). 1349 Secured pumping to USS JENKINS (DD-447). 1359 USS JENKINS clear to starboard. 1400 Secured the Replenishment at Sea Detail. 1401 C/S to 19.5 kts. 1402 C/C to 330.
	77-Cluk CTARK

Fig. 34: USS Hassayampa logs 21 October fuel transfer to McCain
23

The missing volume and type of fuel entry in McCain's deck logs regarding its refuelling
from the Princeton is puzzling. Just 6 days prior on the 21st of October, all 4 ships had
been replenished by the fleet oiler, USS Hassayampa (AO-145):43

04-08 Steaming as before. 0418 C/C to 090. 0420 C/S to 5 kts. 0435 C/C to to 150. C/S to 10 kts.
0442 C/C to 220, 0514 C/C to 240. 0529 C/S to 15 kts. 0535 C/C 225. 0547 C/C to 060. C/S
10 kts. 0551 C/S to 5 kts. 0552 C/C to 025. 0554 C/C to 030. 0613 C/S to 4 kts. 0616 C/C to
025. 0626 C/S to 10 kts. 0629 C/C to 050. 0631 C/S to 15 kts. 0632 C/C to 060. C/S to 12 kts.
0633 C/C to 075, C/S to 10 kts. 0634 C/C to 035. 0639 Stationed the refueling detail. 0640 C/C
to 090. 0642 Maneuvering to approach the USS HASSAYAMPA (AC-145) to port. 0701 Alongside, lines
over for and aft. 0713 Commenced receiving fuel. 0739 Completed refueling, having received 1405
barrels of NSFO. 0749 All lines clear., C/S to 25 kts. 0750 Secured the refueling detail. C/C
to 036, 0756 C/S to 12 kts.

[Figure: Signature and name of W. C. Ballamy, LTJG, USN]

Fig. 35: USS McCain log notes the volume and type of fuel received from Hassayampa

The deck logs of McCain for this event clearly document the volume and the type of fuel
received - 1405 barrels of Navy Special Fuel Oil (NSFO).

On the 31st October 1962, the McCain is again replenished by the Princeton - this time
both ships record the volume and type of fuel transferred, as per US Navy Standard
Operating Procedures for Watchkeeping:

12-16 Steaming as before. 1201 c/c to 195, c/s to 15 kts. 1218 c/c to 185, c/s to 25 kts.
1219 Set the refueling detail. Maneuvering to come to refueling station alongside starboard side of
USS PRINCETON (LPH-5). 1227 Assumed refueling station base course 095, base speed 12 kts. 1229
Lines over fore and aft. 1237 Commenced pumping forward and aft. 1345 Stopped pumping forward
and aft., took on 71,530 gals. NSFO (85.2%). 1353 All hoses and lines clear of the ship. 1354
Maneuvering at various courses and speeds to clear the PRINCETON. 1357 c/c to 270, c/s to 15 kts.
1515 c/c to 085, c/s to 5 kts. Preparing to rechive helos. 1522 Received COBB, C. M. civilian
attached to CJTU 8.1.3 from helo. 1525 c/c to 115. 1529 Lit fires under 1A boiler. 1536 c/s to
12 kts. c/c to 270.

[Figure: Signature and rank LTJG, USN]

12-16 Steaming as before. 1154 C/C to 255°T. 1216 C/C to 095°T, C/S to 12 knots, base course and
speed for replenishment. Completed all preparations for replenishment. 1225 USS McCain (DL-3)
commenced approach on our starboard side. 1234 First line over. 1236 Commenced replenishment of
USS McCain (DL-3). 1345 Completed replenishment, commenced disengaging. 1354 All lines clear. 1356
USS McCain (DL-3) is clear to starboard. 1358 Secured the replenishment detail. 1413 C/C to 275°T,
C/S to 20 knots. 1418 Received report that 77,931 gallons of NSFO to USS McCain (DL-3). 1453 C/Ss
to 10 knots, C/C to 355°T. 1459 Flight quarters. 1506 C/C to 090°T, all engines stopped. Maintaining
head of 090°T, bearing 323°T, distance 8000 yards from Johnston Island while conducting flight
operations. Had steering casualty to steering gear, starboard unit. 1547 Received draft reading
after refueling, forward 24'6", aft 28', mean 26'0".

[Figure: Signature and rank LT USNR]

Fig.36 & 37: Deck logs of both Princeton and McCain log volume and type of fuel

The deck logs of the USS John S. McCain for the 26th & 27th of October 1962 make no
reference to the volume and type of fuel transferred from the USS Princeton. Initially it
was thought that this transfer was a cover story for the debris to be transferred from the
McCain to the Princeton, however as retired US Navy Diver Caren Gallaudet points out,
the fact that a highline transfer is a very complex operation with specific weight
limitations makes this theory seem unlikely. Unless the debris was very lightweight (like
the green tube debris that was transferred between the Engage and the McCain earlier
in the day), it would be a much easier for such a transfer to occur using the LCMs
("Mike" boats) or whaleboats. The reason for this fuel transfer without volume and fuel
type remains a mystery for now.

COMSERVPAC Message 290214Z and the salvage flotilla
Aboard the USS Princeton in the afternoon of Friday, 26th October 1962, it is posited that
newly minted JFT-8 Commander RADM Lloyd Mustin assessed the situation and began
devising a course of action. As discussed in Supporting Evidence for Bluegill Triple Prime
Shootdown Theory and Hypothesis, vessels USS Safeguard and specialist recovery
vessel USNS Point Barrow (T-AKD-1) were involved in some type of recovery operation
that commenced at 08:00 on Sunday 28th October. During this recovery operation,
several crew members onboard the Point Barrow were exposed to radiation levels that
were "not in keeping with its assigned tasks", as pointed out in the 1983 Kaman Tempo
report. The deck logs of the USNS Point Barrow were unable to be located in 1983 to
ascertain where this unexpected radiation exposure occurred. 44
The final Fishbowl test using a Thor missile with instrumentation pods fitted was the
Kingfish test, which did not take place until the 1st of November 1962, so these two
vessels were not searching for pods. Control of the Safeguard was switched several
times between the bridge and the fantail of the ship, which is consistent with winching
operations and recovery of submerged objects. It is highly probable that these vessels
were attempting to recover the object shot down during Bluegill Triple Prime.

Mustin most likely arranged a meeting on the USS Princeton with the commanders of
the various task elements and units of JTF-8. The deck logs of the USS McCain on the
afternoon of the 28th of October have the vessel's commanding officer and the
COMDESDIV 243 commander leave the McCain via helicopter at 14:34:

FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY
NAVPERS-718 (New 10-56)
DECK LOG SMOOTH REMARKS SHEET

UNITED STATES SHIP JOHN S. MC CAIN (DL-3)
SUNDAY 28 OCTOBER 19 62
(Day) (Date) (Month)

12-16 Anchored as before. 1301 USS FORSTER (DER-334) got underway and stood out of the anchorage.
1357 Received LCM-11 alongside for mail transfer. 1430 Stationed the helo detail. 1434 Transfered
Commanding Officer of this ship, and COMDESDIV 253 to the helo. 1437 Secured the helo detail.
[Signature: R. T. Shigeya]
R.T. SHIGEYA, ENS, USNR

16-20 Anchored as before. 1835 Set the helo detail. Received Commanding officer MCCAIN, COMDESDIV
253. 1840 Secured the helo detail.
[Signature: R. J. Riggs]
R. J. RIGGS, LTJG, USNR

Fig. 38: USS McCain logs transfer of its commanding officer and Commander, Destroyer
Division 253 to the helicopter

The Princeton's deck logs for the same period on the 28th also has flight operations:

12-16 Anchored as before. 1310 Secured from flight quarters. 1353 Flight quarters for designated
personnel.
[Signature: C. W. Huffman]
C. W. HUFFMAN
ENS USNR

16-18 Anchored as before.
[Signature: C. A. Buesener]
C. A. BUESENER
LT USNR

18-20 Anchored as before. 1849 Observed Sunset.
[Signature: D. Grant]
D. GRANT
ENS USN

20-24 Anchored as before. 1948 Flight quarters for designated personnel. 2047 Secured from flight
quarters.
[Signature: S. G. McCluskey]
S. G. MCCLUSKEY
ENS USN

Fig. 39: USS Princeton flight ops

The theory posited in this paper is that the result of the meeting chaired by RADM Mustin
between the command staff of JTF-8 onboard the USS Princeton on the 28th October
1962 was a request to the Pacific Fleet Salvage Officer, Commander Willard F. Searle,
Jr., United States Pacific Fleet for a salvage operation to be undertaken to recover the
object shot down by the nuclear blast. His response through the Commander, Services

Pacific (COMSERVPAC) was to issue an instruction to the commanding officer of Fleet
Ocean Tug USS Abnaki (ATF-96) and District Harbor Tug USS Tuscumbia (YTB-762) to
commence preparations to embark to Johnston Island with barges and covered lighters
for the salvage operations. 44 This signal was sent at 02:14 on the 29th of October 1962
UTC, which was 16:14 on the 28th of October local time in Pearl Harbor. It is recorded in
the Abnaki's deck logs as COMSERVPAC MSG 290214Z. Because both vessels were
relatively small, they may not have had the cryptographic equipment onboard to send
and receive signals at higher classification levels. However, as both vessels were in port
on the day the signal was sent, the commanders of both vessels may have received their
orders directly from higher authority at Pearl Harbor.
After taking on provisions the previous day, USS Abnaki embarked from Pearl Harbor on
Tuesday, 30th of October in company with USS Tuscumbia with recovery barges in tow.

[Figure: Black and white photo of a medium-sized ship, the USS Abnaki (ATF-96), sailing on water, with "TF-96" clearly visible on its bow. The ship appears to be moving from left to right in the frame, with a wake visible behind it. The deck is cluttered with various equipment and structures, including cranes and what appear to be lifeboats.]

Fig. 40: USS Abnaki (ATF-96) underway on January 12, 1971, after the recovery of a
spaceship. In this case, a dummy Apollo capsule.

[Figure: A tugboat named YTB 762 is pictured in the foreground, with part of a large battleship, USS Missouri (BB-63), in the background. The battleship has many people on its decks, and its large gun turrets are visible. The tugboat is dark-colored with a white number "62" on its side, and the words "YTB 762" are clearly written on its stern. The battleship is a lighter gray color, and its bow with the number "63" is visible. The water around the boats shows some ripple from movement. The sky is clear.]

Fig. 41: USS Tuscumbia (YTB-762) in Pearl Harbor with USS Missouri (BB-63)

[Figure: A covered lighter, YFN-934, is being towed by the USS Abnaki. The lighter is a large, flat-bottomed vessel, and has a grey superstructure. The Abnaki is partially visible on the right side of the image.]

Fig. 42: Covered Lighter YFN-934, similar to YFN-994 towed by Abnaki

FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY
NAVPEPS 730 (Rev. 4-56)
ADDITIONAL REMARKS
UNITED STATES SHIP ABNAKI (ATF-96)
TUESDAY 30 OCTOBER, 62
(Day) (Date) (Month)

08-17 Moored as before. 0847 made
daily inspection of magazines and
bombles. Power normal.
J.R. Hoffley CWO USN.

17-16 Moored as before. 1245 Commenced
making preparations for getting underway.
1315 Set special sea detail. 1352 Captain
on the bridge. DOD CWO Hoffley. 1332
Underway from Naval Shipyard Pearl Harbor,
Hawaii. To take in tow YFN B-137. 1340
Maneuvering with buoy YFN B-137. 1351
Made approach to hook up. Buoy YFN B-137.
1351. Port anchor with 11 fathoms on deck.
1401 Port anchor. 40 morely. Underway.
1420 Towing permanent secured. 1443
Came along side to get underway from Naval
Shipyard Pearl Harbor, Hawaii. With tow.
1444 Cantid. Buoy YFN B-137. 1447
Anchor weighed. 1448 Underway.
1500 Lt Of 2962147. Buoy (YFN B-13).
Captain Coming. Maneuvering to conform.
Channel. 1500 Lt Of. Departing 1572.
Passed buoy (9) abeam. 1526 Passed buoy (7).
Hauled 1532. Passed buoy (1) abeam. 1540
Special sea detail. 1543 Anchor. Underway.
1546 Speed 10°. 1550 Hoisted 1557%.
R.P.M. 151. Underway.
1558 Rendezvous with YTB 762 and underway.
J.R. Hoffley CWO USN.

Fig. 43: USS Abnaki log entry for 30th October 1962, preparing to embark to Johnston Is.


RADM Timothy Gallaudet (Ret.) and his wife Caren Gallaudet have stood enough
bridge watches on US Navy ships to know exactly what is in these logs. Caren also notes
that the deck logs of the USS Safeguard during the recovery operation are "very tight
lipped" about the dive operations it participated in with the Point Barrow between 28-30
October 1962. As we have seen in this document, the Safeguard crew had previously
left out details of debris transfer to the McCain that were logged by the Engage watch
keeper - perhaps they were under orders to do so. Here is their assessment of the most
significant events in the Abnaki's deck logs for November 1962:46
1 Nov
* Abnaki is underway with Tuscumbia in company from Hawaii to Johnston
Island in accordance with COMSERVPAC message dated 29 Oct @ 0214Z
with covered lighter YFNB-13 in tow

2 Nov
* Abnaki continues steaming to Johnston Island, nothing unusual occurs

3 Nov
* 0800: Abnaki heaves tow to 100 feet and makes preparations to navigate
Johnston channel
* 0926: Abnaki lets go port anchor eventually veering 15 fathoms of chain in
3 fathoms of water (not much chain, indicating the ship will get underway
again soon).
* 0951: Abnaki disconnects YFNB-13 and Tuscumbia takes it in tow
* 1531: Abnaki weighs anchor and gets underway in accordance with CTU
8.3.6 message dated 03 Nov @ 0320 (likely Abnaki CO's designation as
OTC for this mission)
* 1551: Abnaki on course 270 at 120 RPM/14.3 knots
* 1600-2000: Abnaki changes course to 000, then 029 then 065 and slows
to 7 RPM
* 2130: Abnaki is underway on course 075 at 2.4 knots and observes
nuclear detonation
* 2135-2234: Abnaki changes courses and speed from 075 at 6.7 knots, 2.4
knots, 9.5 knots to 250 to 200 to 215 to 13 knots

30

4 Nov
* 0144: Abnaki anchors in waters 8 fathoms deep 25 miles off (SSW?) of Johnston Island
* 1202: Tuscumbia brings Barge 6085 alongside Abnaki. Divers inspect the barge.
* 1222: Divers back aboard Abnaki and Barge 6085 is connected and ready for towing
* 1245-1316: Abnaki heaves in anchor and gets underway on course 085 speed 3.3 knots (likely repositioning slightly) then drops anchor in 8 fathoms of water 25 miles SSE of Johnston Island, heaving 15 fathoms of anchor chain.
* 1413: Tuscumbia brings Barge 6456 alongside Abnaki and the crew sets up the barges in a Christmas tree rig tow formation^47
* 1615: LCM-9 comes alongside Abnaki and the "inspecting party" (divers) with CWO2 J.E. Haffey (who also stands officer the deck watch and is the deck log author with the messy handwriting in blue ink) departs the ship
* 1715: Inspecting party boards Barge 6456
* 1745: Inspecting party returns to Abnaki via LCM-9

TB 55-1900-232-10

[Figure: Diagram showing a towing setup with a flounder plate, chain bridle, tow pendant, underrider, tow wire, tow shackle, and plate shackles. An additional tow connection can be made. A note below the diagram states: "FOR DEEP-DRAFT TOWS, USE AN ADDITIONAL LENGTH OF CHAIN TO ENSURE THE UNDERRIDER IS DEEP ENOUGH TO CLEAR THE BOTTOM OF THE DEEP-DRAFT HULL."]

FIGURE 2-16. Christmas Tree Rig.

Fig. 44: "Christmas Tree" rig setup over the recovery site

31

5 Nov
* 0400: Log indicates anchored in 11 fathoms of water, which contradicts log entry above, but I do not think that indicates an anomaly, but rather a combination of tidal range and human error
* 1630: Abnaki veers 90 fathoms of anchor chain. This is significant. The weather did not change, and that length of chain is normal for that depth of water. I suspect that the ship did not payout that much chain on 4 Nov (15 fathoms) because they probably expected to get underway soon. For whatever they were doing on 5 Nov, they realized they needed a more secure anchorage. However, there is no mention of any inspecting party movement or diver operation, which was logged previously. I suspect they learned something new and were told not to log it.

6 Nov
* 1040: Tuscumbia brings YFN-994 (a covered lighter) alongside Abnaki
* 1235: Abnaki heaves (pulled in) port anchor chain to 30 fathoms
* 1435: Abnaki commences preparations to get underway
* 1450: Tuscumbia comes alongside Abnaki to deliver Barge 6085
* 1535: Abnaki heaves port anchor to short stay, preparing for tow operations
* 1543: Tuscumbia brings alongside Barge 6456 which connects to Abnaki at 1558
* 1601: Abnaki weighs anchor and gets underway in accordance with COMSERVPAC message dated 29 Oct @ 0214Z with Tuscumbia in company and YFN-994 and Barges 6456 and 6085 in tow
* 1610-1906: Abnaki stops, anchors, gets underway again, then anchors as Barge 6085 gets hung up on a coral head, Barge 6456 breaks free, and Tuscumbia and LCM-9 work to get the tow in order, with Abnaki taking repeated hits from both barges (not sure if this is routine Murphy's law at sea or something caused by what they might have recovered)
* 2049: Abnaki veers 100 fathoms of anchor chain

7 Nov
* 0913: Abnaki underway from Johnston Island anchorage for Pearl Harbor in company with Tuscumbia and YFN-994, Barge 6456 and Barge 6085 in tow

32

8-11 Nov
Ο Abnaki on routine underway with tow and Tuscumbia
12 Nov
Ο Tuscumbia takes Barges 6456 and 6085 from Abnaki, which moors next to
the USS Deliver (ARS 24) at US Submarine Base Pearl Harbor48
It should be noted here that the Bluegill Triple Prime Surface Zero was located only 21
miles (34 km) SSW of Johnston Island, so the area the USS Abnaki and USS Tuscumbia
were conducting salvage operations on the 4th of November could very well be where the
object that can be seen tumbling out of the nuclear fireball crashed into the ocean. 49
6. David Noble Whitecrow meets one of the salvage divers in 1976
Former US Navy sailor and native American David Noble Whitecrow served on the
USS Finch (DE-328) and later the USS Nimitz (CVN-68) from 1960-80.50 On the 15th of
December 2018, Whitecrow recorded an interview with sociologist Dr. Simeon Hein, 51
where he described and incident while onboard the Finch in 1962 when he was
ordered on deck to observe a huge, cigar-shaped craft come near his ship after the
first nuclear weapons tests of Operation Dominic. 52 The Adobe (25 April 1962) and
Aztec (27 April 1962) tests off Christmas Island in the Pacific Proving Ground were the
"proof of concept" air-dropped detonations of the XW-50-X1 Yield 3 (400KT) and Yield
2 (200KT) thermonuclear weapons which were later used in the high altitude nuclear
tests of Checkmate, Bluegill Triple Prime and Kingfish of Operation Fishbowl.53
At the 1 hour 20 minute mark of this interview, Whitecrow begins to relate the story of
a Boatswain's Mate Chief he met at the Guantanamo Bay Naval Base Chief's Club in
September 1976, who stated that upon his imminent retirement "I'm going to write
my Great American Novel on a bogie or a UFO that we attempted to salvage in the
South Pacific around the end of Operation Dominic". 54 Asking the Chief if he could
come around a few days later and discuss the incident, the conversation continued
the Chief's house where he was holding a farewell party. Whitecrow was shown a box
that was filled to the top of binders, loose-leaf papers and other documents and was
told that this is the material the Chief was talking about at the club that would be
used to put his story together for publishing. Whitecrow asked the Chief to give a
condensed version of the events, and was given the following information verbally:
33

"He began to tell me the story about when he was a second-class diver in Pearl
Harbor back in 1962, and his group was called away on a top-secret mission
...south of Pearl Harbor... in the vicinity where an air vessel had gone down. He said
"air vessel" had gone down, and his troop didn't have a need to know until they got
underway - meaning out of Pearl Harbor - and a few nautical miles out before they get
to get the exact location. He didn't say how many were in this group, but he said it was
a full complement of divers Chiefs and listed men etc."
The Chief's reference to a "top secret mission" for a full complement of divers aligns
with the possible contents of COMSERVPAC MSG 290214Z, which ordered the Fleet
Ocean Tug USS Abnaki and the Harbor Tug USS Tuscumbia to embark to the Johnston
Island area with YFN-994 covered lighter and Barges 6456 and 6085 in tow.
Whitecrow continues to relate what the Chief told him:
"He was what you call a "gofer" - as a second-class (diver)- you get to go first! So, you
know he's ready, he's eager, he's young, he can do it, right? They get out on station,
they're not told what to look for, they gear him up - he still doesn't know
what to look for - he's just given instructions, you get taps on the head, and they've
told they told him "Okay, when you get overboard and you hit bottom, we just want
you to observe, okay. We're going to tell you where to look. We're going to tell you"-
because sonar had already picked up this object, I guess, they already had the
coordinates or whatever it was. So, he goes over the side and he
doesn't tell me how many fathoms it is or whatever, but he describes when he hits the
bottom of the sea floor he looks around (they give him some lamps, and I don't know
what kind of power, what kind of light they give him) but anyway he's flashing it
around and he doesn't realize that his back is to whatever it is looking for and doesn't
realize it, okay? He doesn't realize his back is to the object he's supposed to be
searching for, so he does a 360-ocean slow turn and what he faces he almost - you
know-he almost loses it. He can't believe the size of this thing. He thought that when
he hit the bottom of the ocean - because it was a clear day if you could see the depths
- I mean in the Pacific, believe me, where there's no pollution during that period of
time you could see pretty far, okay - but he thought when he had gone down in a
canyon or something, in a crevasse and what he was looking at was the edge of this
coral. It was blocking out the Sun shimmering through that from the surface, but as he
got closer, he realized that this this was this was not natural coral - this was not the
side of a cliff down below okay or ravine. I can't give you the right description, but this
is how I received his conversation, and when he got close to it, he reported aboard,
you know with whatever communication system - that he wanted to come up."
34

"For whatever reason, he did not want to be down there. They gave him
instructions to get close to it - to touch it, kick it, whatever you got to do and
come up and report to us what it is. And so, he said that he put his
hand out - he put his hand out to touch it and his hand went inside of it! As
soon as his hand went inside of it, he thought that it was going to
suck him in - it didn't pull him in, but he got really, really, nervous, okay?"
This part of Whitecrow's story is particularly intriguing, because one of the ships in
the mysterious salvage mission - the USS Abnaki - had a rather odd ship insignia
painted by one of the crew members in 1962:

[Figure: An image of a circular insignia with the words "USS ABNAG" at the top. A large hand is prominently displayed, with each finger having a word written on it. From thumb to pinky, the words are "AID THE FLEET", "TOWING", "SALVAGE", "FIREFIGHTING", and "DIVING". Below the hand, the number "96" is written. A faint signature "KABERLEIN" is visible at the bottom right.]

Fig. 45: Unusual "hand" insignia of the USS Abnaki painted in 1962

35

Although the US Navy History and Heritage webpage caption for this image states
this insignia was received in 1958, the artist (Haberlein) has clearly signed it as '62,
the year of its creation. 55

[Figure: A close-up of a portion of a painting showing a curved edge in red, part of a dark shape, and the signature "HABERLEIN" with the numbers "67" underneath. The "67" seems to be part of "62", as indicated by the text.]

Fig 46: Artist "Haberlein" signs the painting ""62", indicating year of creation is 1962

Whitecrow continues the story given to him by the Chief:

"This is something they teach you- they train you because of sharks, you
know seals, porpoises - curiosity mammals. They teach you how to control yourself
because you're gonna see life live things down there - hammerheads whatever. He
lost it though- I mean he was really scared and as soon as his hand went in - he was
telling me it was kind of like jello, but at the same time it felt like a like a giant jellyfish.
When his hand went in, and as he was pulling his whole arm from the elbow out - the
thing lit up - I mean he said this gigantic whatever it was lit up and started to pulsate
with light that lit up the whole sea bottom. Light up the whole sea bottom and he
skirmish his arm out of there and he panicked. He went into panic mode, so they
hauled him up and he doesn't talk about - you know he has to - when they pause
halfway to stop the bends and stuff. But he got up there and when they removed his is
brass helmet and everything, he had puked all over himself. I mean it was really bad.
And so, they didn't make him up, they did not take him out of the suit and said,
"You've got to go down one more time", you know? And he says, "Over my dead
body!"

So, all of this is taking hours - I'm not talking about the five minutes, I'm describing it
to you. The Chief is down these couple hours that the boat they're on is rocking, you
know. And there's - you have to take care of the equipment. There's all kind of stuff
going on and there there's a picket ships or other ships circling the perimeter of this
Salvage boat. So anyway, he actually said he had to be airlifted out - he had to be

36

airlifted- they had one of those old-fashioned sea planes – Navy seaplanes that came
down picked his ass up and took him to Pearl Harbor and put him in the hospital."

As shown earlier in the section relating to pod recovery, there was a Seaplane and
ramp in operation on Johnston Island in late October / early November 1962.56 It is
unknown whether the seaplane flew directly to Honolulu from Johnston Island or if
there was a transfer to a jet aircraft for the medical evacuation.

"He stayed there (hospital) long enough for some of his shipmates to come and visit
him, and when they told him - this is second-hand, and that by
the time it reached me its fourth and fifth hand. What they told him - and they were
they were bound like I was under penalty of prison and forfeit of your salaries that if
they revealed anything that happened - after he was medevac'd to Pearl Harbor
military hospital, that they were in deep, deep, trouble - but they whispered to him
that after they had taken him off, the following day they were still on station and set
buoys on this thing. They had marked it, they had set down sonar monitoring devices,
there were submarines up off station taking soundings- every ship's taking soundings
-he said the flotilla out there was unimaginable. And he said when they
had a like five or six divers go in to inspect this and they came up, they
had finally measured this thing and he said it was it was huge - it was longer than an
aircraft carrier, okay? And he said it was it was cylindrical and that's all he was able to
get out where he was informed. He said he know well what they were they trying to do
they were trying to figure out - they were bringing professionals - how to bring this
thing up, or how to cut it into or how to, you know, how to salvage it. But before they
could, before they could actually remove it - he had to kind of imagine or make up a
story based on just the fragmented pieces he was able to pull together from his
shipmates okay. Most of them were being shipped out - most of his shipmates who
made the initial discovery were all getting transferred to different locations
throughout the United States and abroad. So, what he was able to piece together he
told me was this thing - at night and he didn't give a time, but under the cover of
darkness and the clear night, this thing lit up with phosphorescence
to a point where the whole ocean lit up like an eel, or a neon light bulb or a tube. And it
rose above the surface slowly and slow enough to allow the surrounding ships to
pull away without - you know falling, you know, being disturbed in a way
that they would capsize. And we're talking about escort destroyers, and destroyers
and other ships in the vicinity that were monitoring the scene with all kinds of
devices. And and he said it moved so fast under this this the sea surface without
causing great waves and it went out of sight- it went out of sonar reach they could not
locate it they couldn't find it".

37

The deck logs of the USS Abnaki have her returning to Pearl Harbor on the 15th of
November 1962, where she was photographed steaming in the channel. 60

[Figure: A black and white photograph of the USS Abnaki, a medium-sized naval vessel, with the identification number "TF96" clearly visible on its bow. The vessel is in a body of water, likely a harbor or channel, with land and a hazy horizon in the background. Several flags and antenna structures are visible on its mast. The ship appears to be moving, indicated by a slight wake.]

Fig. 47: USS Abnaki in Pearl Harbor, 15th November 1962

The Abnaki arrived on station of the salvage area around mid-day local time on the 4th
of November, 25 miles SSE of Johnston Island and then arrived back in Pearl Harbor
on the 15th of November 1962. This gives plenty of time for the crew to visit their
stricken shipmate in hospital, as the Chief recalled to Whitecrow. The short time on
station (3 days) implies that the salvage operation may not have been successful,
and the cylindrical craft may have left the area as the hospital visitors had conveyed
to the Chief.

Other details provided by David Noble Whitecrow have led to the possible positive
identification of the 2nd Class Diver involved in the 1962 incident. However, at the
time of writing (June 23, 2025) the family of the now deceased sailor do not want his
name to be published.

38

7. Radiation exposures to crews of USS Abnaki and USS Tuscumbia

Curiously, although the USS Tuscumbia arrived on station on the very last day of Operation Dominic (4th November 1962), it is one of the vessels singled out by the 1983 Kaman Tempo report for having crew members having higher than expected radiation levels. 57,58

A total of 16 ships had film badge readings that were suspect:
| USS Chickasaw (ATF-83) | USS Loyalty (MSO-457) |
|---|---|
| USS Falgout (DER-324) | USS Newell (DER-322) |
| USS Fort Marion (LSD-22) | USS Oak Hill (LSD-7) |
| USS Fortify (MSO-446) | USS O'Bannon (DDE-450) |
| USS Inflict (MSO-456) | USNS Point Barrow (T-AKD-1) |
| USS Impervious (MSO-449) | USS Takelma (ATF-113) |
| USS Walker (DDE-517) | USS Taylor (DDE-468) |
| USS Lansing (DER-388) | USS Tuscumbia (YTB-762) |

Fig. 48: USS Tuscumbia listed as having "suspect film badge" readings

The Tuscumbia was only a relatively small vessel with a complement of 9, yet EVERY SINGLE CREWMEMBER had higher than expected radiation exposure, given that their assigned duties put them nowhere near any radiation sources.

Similarly, the USS Abnaki had crew members with very high levels of radiation exposure. One crew member had an exposure level of 2.5 roentgens per hour (R/hr). 59

Both the USS Abnaki and the USS Tuscumbia were present for a single nuclear detonation, the high-altitude, low yield Tightrope shot that had a zero amount of fallout. How did these crew members get exposed to radiation, when their official assigned tasks put them nowhere near any radiation sources?

39

Table 24. DOMINIC personnel exposures, U.S. Navy organizations (continued).

| Org Code | Organization and Home Station                  | Total Badged | 0    | 0.001-0.5 | 0.5-1 | 1-1.5 | 1.5-2 | 2-2.5 | 2.5-3 | Over 3.0 | High (R) |
|:---------|:----------------------------------------------|:-------------|:-----|:----------|:------|:------|:------|:------|:------|:---------|:---------|
| Navy     | Ships (continued)                             |              |      |           |       |       |       |       |       |          |          |
| 8360     | USS O'Bannon (DDE-450)                        | 451          | 52   | 396       | 1     | 1     | 0     | 1     |       |          | 2.500    |
| 8326     | USS Page County (LST-1076)                    | 111          | 41   | 70        |       |       |       |       |       |          | 0.156    |
| 8303     | USNS Pvt. Frank S. Petrarca (T-AK-250)        | 80           | 37   | 42        |       |       |       |       |       |          | 0.982    |
| 8382     | USNS Point Barrow (T-AKD-1)                   | 89           | 0    | 13        | 3     | 33    | 24    | 9     | 7     |          | 2.980    |
| 8325     | USS Polk County (LST-1084)                    | 103          | 93   | 10        |       |       |       |       |       |          | 0.130    |
| 3534     | USS Halsey Powell (DO-686)                    | 1            | 1    |           |       |       |       |       |       |          | 0.000    |
| 8306     | USS Halsey Powell (DO-686)                    | 261          | 13   | 247       | 1     |       |       |       |       |          | 0.551    |
| 8311     | USS Ponchatoula (A0-148)                      | 277          | 277  |           |       |       |       |       |       |          | 0.000    |
| 8341     | USS Preston (ODE-795)                         | 200          | 186  | 14        |       |       |       |       |       |          | 0.118    |
| 8375     | USS Princeton (LPH-5) (includes 101 USMC)     | 1,175        | 307  | 832       | 3     | 0     | 1     | 31    | 1     |          | 2.870    |
| 8394     | USNS Range Tracker (T-AGM-1)                  | 70           | 14   | 55        | 1     |       |       |       |       |          | 0.810    |
| 8318     | USS Razorback (SS-394)                        | 86           | 56   | 30        |       |       |       |       |       |          | 0.047    |
| 8350     | USS Reclaimer (ARS-42)                        | 80           | 7    | 73        |       |       |       |       |       |          | 0.358    |
| 8373     | USS Rowan (DD-782)                            | 243          | 47   | 196       |       |       |       |       |       |          | 0.231    |
| 8381     | USS Safeguard (ARS-25)                        | 86           | 0    | 85        | 0     | 1     |       | 1     |       |          | 1.250    |
| 8317     | USS Sioux (ATF-75)                            | 98           | 34   | 54        | 3     | 0     | 1     | 1     | 2     | 3        | 4,150    |
| 8354     | USS Snohomish County (LST-1126)               | 99           | 12   | 87        |       |       |       |       |       |          | 0,444    |
| 8353     | USS Southerland (DDR-743)                     | 263          | 34   | 225       | 3     | 1     |       |       |       |          | 1,110    |
| 8376     | USS Summit County (LST-1146)                  | 121          | 0    | 121       |       |       |       |       |       |          | 0.430    |
| 8349     | USS Takelma (ATF-113)                         | 90           | 55   | 35        |       |       |       |       |       |          | 0.102    |
| 8368     | USS Tawakoni (ATF-114)                        | 63           | 63   |           |       |       |       |       |       |          | 0.000    |
| 8386     | USS Taylor (DO-468)                           | 290          | 1    | 45        | 82    | 64    | 49    | 33    | 16    |          | 2.980    |
| 8351     | USS Tolovana (AO-64)                          | 216          | 8    | 207       | 0     | 1     |       |       |       |          | 1.060    |
| 8392     | USS Tuscumbia (YTB-762)                       | 9            | 0    | 9         |       |       |       |       |       |          | 0.190    |
| 8316     | USS Yorktown (CVS-10) (includes 37 USMC)      | 2,347        | 2,264| 83        |       |       |       |       |       |          | 0.207    |
| Naval    | Air Units                                     |              |      |           |       |       |       |       |       |          |          |
| 8361     | Commander Fleet Air Wing 2                    | 35           | 27   | 8         |       |       |       |       |       |          | 0.122    |
| 8367     | Airborne Early Warning Barrier Squadron       | 62           | 53   | 9         |       |       |       |       |       |          | 0.030    |
| 3520     | Attack Squadron 215 (VA-215), Moffett Field CA| 1            | 0    | 1         |       |       |       |       |       |          | 0.235    |
| 8320     | Heavy Photo Sq 62 (VAP-62), Det 35 (includes 1 Marine) | 28      | 23   | 5         |       |       |       |       |       |          | 0.027    |
| 8395     | Patrol Squadron 6 (VP-6)                      | 4            | 4    |           |       |       |       |       |       |          | 0.000    |
| 8390     | Patrol Squadron 9 (VP-9)                      | 305          | 46   | 257       | 0     | 0     | 0     | 2     |       |          | 2.020    |
| 8365     | Patrol Squadron 28 (VP-28)                    | 142          | 31   | 111       |       |       |       |       |       |          | 0.176    |

(continued)

Fig. 49: All 9 of the USS Tuscumbia's crew members received higher than normal
radiation exposures, despite only being in the Johnston Island area for 3 days

40

Table 24. DOMINIC personnel exposures, U.S. Navy organizations.

| Org Code | Organization and Home Station | Total Badged | 0 | 0.001-0.5 | 0.5-1 | 1-1.5 | 1.5-2 | 2-2.5 | 2.5-3 | Over 3.0 (R) | High (R) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| **Joint Task Force 8 Organizations** | | | | | | | | | | | |
| 8300 | Hq Joint Task Group 8.3 | 204 | 69 | 132 | 2 | 1 | | | | | 1.050 |
| 8362 | Task Unit 8.3.9 | 24 | 18 | 5 | 0 | 1 | | | | | 1.230 |
| 8347 | Task Element 8.3.9.6 | 55 | 15 | 31 | 6 | 1 | 1 | 1 | | | 2.270 |
| 8304 | Task Element 8.3.9.7 | 94 | 10 | 82 | 2 | | | | | | 0.533 |
| **Navy Scientific Organizations** | | | | | | | | | | | |
| 3524 | Bureau of Yards and Docks, Washington DC | 1 | 0 | 1 | | | | | | | 0.028 |
| 3519 | Fleet Weather Central, Pearl Harbor HI | 4 | 2 | 2 | | | | | | | 0.104 |
| 3525 | Navy Hydrographic Office, Washington DC | 2 | 1 | 1 | | | | | | | 0.038 |
| 3535 | Naval Material Laboratory, Brooklyn NY | 1 | 1 | | | | | | | | 0.000 |
| 3537 | Navy Administrative Unit, Sandia Base NM | 6 | 2 | 4 | | | | | | | 0.106 |
| 3541 | Naval Air Development Center, Johnsville PA | 1 | 1 | | | | | | | | 0.000 |
| 3526 | Commander Pacific Missile Range, Pt. Mugu CA | 1 | 1 | | | | | | | | 0.000 |
| 3505 | Pacific Missile Range, Pt. Mugu CA | 81 | 56 | 25 | | | | | | | 0.215 |
| 3540 | Naval Ordnance Laboratory, Silver Springs MD | 1 | 1 | | | | | | | | 0.000 |
| 8329 | Naval Ordnance Laboratory, Silver Springs MD | 23 | | 19 | 2 | | | | | | 0.608 |
| 3538 | Naval Radiological Defense Laboratory, San Francisco CA | 1 | 1 | | | | | | | | 0.000 |
| 8330 | Naval Radiological Defense Laboratory, San Francisco CA | 16 | 1 | 12 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 4.100 |
| **Ships** | | | | | | | | | | | |
| 8393 | USS Abnaki (ATF-95) | 71 | 8 | 60 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | | 2.500 |
| 8327 | USNS Alatna (T-AOG-81) | 53 | 6 | 3 | 11 | 26 | 7 | | | | 1.660 |
| 8331 | USS Richard B. Anderson (DD-786) | 169 | 148 | 21 | | | | | | | 0.094 |
| 8315 | USS Arikara (ATF-98) | 83 | 30 | 53 | | | | | | | 0.330 |
| 8323 | USS Bausell (DD-845) | 220 | 180 | 40 | | | | | | | 0.041 |
| 8340 | USS Brush (DD-745) | 211 | 167 | 44 | | | | | | | 0.044 |
| 8309 | USS Cabildo (LSD-16) | 262 | 94 | 168 | | | | | | | 0.317 |
| 8336 | USS Carbonero (SS-337) | 85 | 78 | 7 | | | | | | | 0.021 |
| 8342 | USS Chemung (AO-30) | 223 | 5 | 218 | | | | | | | 0.288 |
| 8372 | USS Chickasaw (ATF-83) | 68 | 1 | 67 | | | | | | | 0.327 |
| 8374 | USS Chipola (AO-63) | 244 | 23 | 211 | 6 | 2 | 1 | 1 | | | 2.070 |
| 8305 | USS Conserver (ARS-39) | 110 | 85 | 25 | | | | | | | 0.122 |
| 3546 | USS Constellation (CV-64) | 3 | 0 | 3 | | | | | | | 0.065 |
| 8321 | USS Cree (ATF-84) | 75 | 36 | 39 | | | | | | | 0.065 |

(continued)

Fig. 50: USS Abnaki had a total off 63 crew members with unusual radiation exposures

41

8. Conclusions
We have found several hard datapoints from official government documentation that
line up to indicate an extraordinary event happened in the middle of the Pacific
Ocean in early hours of 26th of October 1962. MAJGEN Alfred Starbird's rapid
departure from Johnston Island just 7 days before the completion of the atmospheric
test program, with two of the most important tests yet to be completed remains
unexplained. Ship-to-ship transfers of debris collected from the Surface Zero area
were captured in some ship deck logs but not others, for reasons that remain unclear.
We have also found that David Noble Whitecrow's recollections of the conversations
he had with the Boatswain's Mate Chief on Guantanamo Bay Naval Base in the latter
half of 1976 line up with actual operations in November 1962. As the logs of the USS
Abnaki and USS Tuscumbia prove, a salvage dive operation of some type was carried
out very close to the area that was Surface Zero of the Bluegill Triple Prime weapons
test. The specific signal sent out at 02:14 Zulu time on the 29th of October 1962 that
initiated the salvage operation could well have been a "Top Secret" communication,
received in writing by the commanders of both the USS Abnaki and USS Tuscumbia
whilst they were still in port at Pearl Harbor, negating the need for both small vessels
to have highly classified cryptographic signalling equipment onboard. The unusual
selection of a human hand for the insignia of the USS Abnaki by its crew in 1962 also
seems to corroborate David Noble Whitecrow's recollections.

As the 1983 Kaman Tempo report found, the crewmembers of the USS Abnaki and
USS Tuscumbia received radiation exposures at levels that were not in keeping with
their official assigned duties. We believe they received these exposures through
participation in the attempted salvage and recovery operation of the unidentified
object that was shot down during the Bluegill Triple Prime nuclear weapons test on
26th October 1962. We also believe the event may have caused severe psychosocial
injury to one of the divers involved that had negative effects for the rest of his life. It is
therefore also our belief that this incident should be investigated in full, as a priority,
by the Federal Bureau of Investigations and the All-domain Anomaly Resolution
Office (AARO) of the Office of the Secretary of Defense. We will be able to provide the
name, rank and serial numbers of US Navy personnel (now deceased) that may have
had direct involvement in this incident to properly credentialed and cleared
investigators if required.

42

9. References
All URLs accessed 23rd June 2025
1. Fade To Black Radio Program; _Jimmy Church with Tom DeLonge : Sekret Machines : LIVE_. Episode 515. Recorded August 30, 2016
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2. WikiLeaks; _The Podesta Emails_. Published October 6, 2016
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3. United States Defense Visual Information Center; _Catalog Card, National Archives and Records Administration_. Published October 7, 2024
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5. General Dynamics & Astronautics; _WS 107A Flight Test Working Group – Flight Test Report Atlas Missile 8F_. October 29, 1962
   https://apps.dtic.mil/sti/pdfs/AD0861789.pdf Page 50
6. United States Air Force; _Unidentified Flying Object (UFO) Sighting_. Filmed September 19, 1962
   https://catalog.archives.gov/id/614788
7. General Dynamics & Astronautics; 1962
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8. San Diego Air and Space Museum; _PictionID:44808038 - Catalog:14_014151 - Title: Atlas 134F_. Uploaded December 21, 2015
   https://www.flickr.com/photos/sdasmarchives/23810589701/
9. General Dynamics & Astronautics; 1962
   https://apps.dtic.mil/sti/pdfs/AD0861789.pdf Page 9

43

10. Wikimedia Commons; June 1, 2017
https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/e/e7/Alfred_Dodd_Starbird.jpg
11. Ogle, William E. (1984); An account of the return to nuclear weapons testing by the
United States after the test moratorium 1958-1961. Los Alamos Scientific Laboratory
https://www.osti.gov/opennet/detail?osti-id=16156584 Page 244
12. Information Research Division 3434, Sandia National Laboratories; History of the
Mk50 Warhead, January 1968.
https://osf.io/g3nsm Page 15
13. Hansen, Chuck.; Swords of Armageddon, Chukelea Publications, 2007
ISBN 978-0-9791915-1-0. Vol. IV, Page 1585
14. Senior, Kyle T.; Mace, a Los Alamos Secondary Device. February 4, 2023
https://super-octopus.com/2023/02/04/mace-a-los-alamos-secondary-device/
15. Encyclopedia Brittanica; Bremsstrahlung Radiation entry
https://www.britannica.com/science/bremsstrahlung
16. Emanuelson, Jerry.; Operation Fishbowl. Futurescience, LLC. 2009.
https://www.futurescience.com/emp/fishbowl.html
17. University of Nevada Las Vegas; Nevada Test Site Oral History Project: Interview with
Byron Leo Ristvet. April 17, 2006.
https://special.library.unlv.edu/ark:/62930/d1qf8jw7j Page 29
18. Ogle; (1984). https://www.osti.gov/opennet/detail?osti-id=16156584 Page 214
19. Seaforces Org.; US Navy - Aircraft Carrier CV 37/CVA 37/CVS 37, LPH 5 -
USS Princeton. 1999
https://seaforces.org/usnships/cv/CV-37-USS-Princeton.htm
20. Ogle; (1984) https://www.osti.gov/opennet/detail?osti-id=16156584 Page 421
21. Ibid., Page 430
22. Ibid., Page 431
44

23. Defense Nuclear Agency; *Operation Dominic 1962: United States Atmospheric Nuclear Weapons Tests Nuclear Test Personnel Review*. March1983. https://www.osti.gov/opennet/servlets/purl/16389215.pdf Page 313
24. *Ibid*., Page 246
25. United States Navy Naval History Archive; National Archives and Records Administration, 1999 https://www.history.navy.mil/content/history/nhhc/our-collections/photography/numerical-list-of-images/nara-series/usn/USN-1040000/usn-1045195-uss-summit-county--lst-1146-/jcr_content/mediaitem/image.img.jpg/1445624516246.jpg
26. United States Navy; *Deck Log Book of USS Summit County LST-1146*, National Archives and Records Administration, October 1962 https://s3.amazonaws.com/NARAprodstorage/lz/dc-metro/rg-024/594258/VA_Batch_0001A/LST-1146_BWN00114147_1962_10/LST-1146_BWN00114147_1962_10.pdf Page 52
27. *Ibid*., Page 53
28. *Ibid*., Page 54
29. Ogle, (1984) https://www.osti.gov/opennet/detail?osti-id=16156584 Page 431
30. United States Navy; *Deck Log Book of USS Summit County LST-1146*, National Archives and Records Administration, October 1962 https://s3.amazonaws.com/NARAprodstorage/lz/dc-metro/rg-024/594258/VA_Batch_0001A/LST-1146_BWN00114147_1962_10/LST-1146_BWN00114147_1962_10.pdf Page 56
31. United States Navy; *Deck Log Book of USS Princeton LPH-5*, National Archives and Records Administration, October 1962 https://s3.amazonaws.com/NARAprodstorage/lz/dc-metro/rg-024/594258/VA_Batch_0001A/LPH-5_BWN00104418_1962_10/LPH-5_BWN00104418_1962_10.pdf Page 33
32. United States Navy; *Deck Log Book of USS Engage MSO-433*, National Archives and Records Administration, October 1962 https://s3.amazonaws.com/NARAprodstorage/lz/dc-metro/rg-

45

024/594258/VA_Batch_0001A/MSO-433_BWN00079408_1962_10/MSO-
433_BWN00079408_1962_10.pdf Page 57
33. Grams, Jon; Ripple: An Investigation of the World's Most Advanced High-Yield
Thermonuclear Weapon Design. Journal of Cold War Studies 2021; 23 (2): 133–161.
https://direct.mit.edu/jcws/article-abstract/23/2/133/101892/Ripple-An-Investigation-
of-the-World-s-Most?redirectedFrom=fulltext
34. Adams, F.D.; OPERATION DOMINIC, FISH BOWL SERIES
Project Officer’s Report—Project 8A.3 Close-In Thermal and X-ray Vulnerability
Measurements—Shots Blue Gill and King Fish. Flight Dynamics Laboratory - Wright-
Patterson AFB, OH. September 1, 1985.
https://apps.dtic.mil/sti/pdfs/ADA995482.pdf Page 119
35. Deputy Chief of Staff, Weapons Effects and Tests Field Command; OPERATION
DOMINIC FISH BOWL AND CHRISTMAS SERIES
Organizational, Operational, Funding, Logistic, and Scientific Summary.
Defense Atomic Support Agency Sandia Base, New Mexico. December 30, 1963.
https://apps.dtic.mil/sti/tr/pdf/ADA995461.pdf Page 109
36. United States Navy; Modern Biographical Files of Lloyd Montague Mustin
(1911–1999). Naval History and Heritage Command. March 20, 2019.
https://www.history.navy.mil/research/library/research-guides/modern-biographical-
files-ndl/modern-bios-m/mustin-lloyd-m.html
37. United States Navy; Deck Log Book of USS Princeton LPH-5, National Archives and
Records Administration, October 1962
https://s3.amazonaws.com/NARAprodstorage/lz/dc-metro/rg-
024/594258/VA_Batch_0001A/LPH-5_BWN00104418_1962_10/LPH-
5_BWN00104418_1962_10.pdf Page 105
38. United States Navy; Modern Biographical Files of Lloyd Montague Mustin
(1911–1999). Naval History and Heritage Command. March 20, 2019.
https://web.archive.org/web/20151231175714/http://www.history.navy.mil/research/hi
stories/biographies-list/bios-m/mustin-lloyd-m.html
39. United States Navy; Deck Log Book of USS Safeguard ARS-25, National Archives and
Records Administration, October 1962
https://s3.amazonaws.com/NARAprodstorage/lz/dc-metro/rg-
024/594258/VA_Batch_0004/ARS-25_BWN00108241_1962_10/ARS-
25_BWN00108241_1962_10.pdf Page 55
46

40. United States Navy; Deck Log Book of USS Engage MSO-433, National Archives and
Records Administration, October 1962
https://s3.amazonaws.com/NARAprodstorage/lz/dc-metro/rg-
024/594258/VA_Batch_0001A/MSO-433_BWN00079408_1962_10/MSO-
433_BWN00079408_1962_10.pdf Page 55

41. United States Navy; Deck Log Book of USS John S. McCain DL-3, National Archives
and Records Administration, October 1962
https://s3.amazonaws.com/NARAprodstorage/lz/dc-metro/rg-
024/594258/VA_Batch_0001A/DL-3_BWN00090495_1962_10/DL-
3 BWN00090495 1962 10.pdf Page 103

42. Deputy Chief of Staff, Weapons Effects and Tests Field Command; OPERATION
DOMINIC-FISH BOWL AND CHRISTMAS SERIES
Organizational, Operational, Funding, Logistic, and Scientific Summary.
Defense Atomic Support Agency - Sandia Base, New Mexico. December 30, 1963
https://apps.dtic.mil/sti/tr/pdf/ADA995461.pdf Page 102

43. United States Navy; Deck Log Book of USS Hassayampa AO-145, National Archives
and Records Administration, October 1962
https://s3.amazonaws.com/NARAprodstorage/lz/dc-metro/rg-
024/594258/VA_Batch_0032/AO-145_BWN00086365/AO-
145_BWN00086365_1962 10.pdf Page 85

44. Cruickshank, Geoffrey P.; Supporting Evidence for Bluegill Triple Prime UAP
shootdown theory. Published online December 2024.
https://www.linkedin.com/posts/geoff-cruickshank_research-proposal-for-bluegill-
triple-prime-activity-7263773978614276096-
npMX?utm_source=share&utm_medium=member_desktop&rcm=ACoAAAhdW9cBjTpK
nQGYm6Sy5-aKf6L-5zYVNWU

45. United States Navy; Deck Log Book of USS Abnaki ATF-96, National Archives and
Records Administration, October 1962
https://s3.amazonaws.com/NARAprodstorage/lz/dc-metro/rg-
024/594258/VA_CatalogReplacements_0001/ATF-96_BWN00063596_1962_10/ATF-
96_BWN00063596 1962 10.pdf Page 67

46. United States Navy; Deck Log Book of USS Abnaki ATF-96, National Archives and
Records Administration, November 1962
https://s3.amazonaws.com/NARAprodstorage/lz/dc-metro/rg-

47

024/594258/VA_CatalogReplacements_0001/ATF-96_BWN00063597_1962_11/ATF-
96_BWN00063597_1962_11.pdf
47. Integrated Publishers; *Christmas Tree Rig*. 2021
https://boatmanuals.tpub.com/TB-55-1900-232-10/TB-55-1900-232-100047.htm
48. Personal communications with Tim and Caren Gallaudet. June 2025
49.Cruickshank, Geoffrey P.; *The Bluegill "Booster in Fireball" Theory: A Flawed
Argument Nuked By Basic Physics*. Published online May 30, 2025.
https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/bluegill-booster-fireball-theory-flawed-argument-
geoff-cruickshank-5wujc/
50. Art Wanted.com; *Artist Bio of David Noble Whitecrow*. 2012.
https://www.artwanted.com/qrowbrush/bio/
51. Hein, Simeon; *New Crystal Mind: About Me*. 2024
https://simeonhein.com/about/
52. Hein, Simeon; *US Navy Witness to Gigantic, Cylindrical UFO with Humanoids During
Pacific Nuclear Weapons Tests*. December 2018.
https://youtu.be/e7rrrGExwHg?si=3KkJSCBRuNdImMW8
53. Hansen, Chuck.; *Swords of Armageddon*, Chukelea Publications, 2007
ISBN 978-0-9791915-1-0. Vol. IV, Page 1585
54. Hein, Simeon; *US Navy Witness to Gigantic, Cylindrical UFO with Humanoids During
Pacific Nuclear Weapons Tests*. December 2018.
https://youtu.be/e7rrrGExwHg?si=y8KPA7GCdXbxB1Dm&t=5243
55. United States Navy; *NH 64600-KN Insignia: USS ABNAKI (ATF-96)*. Naval History and
Heritage Command. 1967
https://www.history.navy.mil/our-collections/photography/numerical-list-of-
images/nhhc-series/nh-series/NH-64000/NH-64600-KN.html
56. Adams, F.D.; *OPERATION DOMINIC, FISH BOWL SERIES
Project Officer's Report—Project 8A.3 Close-In Thermal and X-ray Vulnerability
Measurements—Shots Blue Gill and King Fish*. Flight Dynamics Laboratory - Wright-
Patterson AFB, OH. September 1, 1985.
https://apps.dtic.mil/sti/pdfs/ADA995482.pdf Page119
48

57. Defense Nuclear Agency; _Operation Dominic 1962: United States Atmospheric Nuclear Weapons Tests Nuclear Test Personnel Review_. March1983 https://www.osti.gov/opennet/servlets/purl/16389215.pdf Page 263
58. _Ibid._, Page 267
59. _Ibid._, Page 265

49

Record anomalies of the Diver involved in Bluegill Triple Prime recovery
G.P. Cruickshank, R.G. Hume, C. Gallaudet and T. Gallaudet

[Figure: A black and white image of a man in diving gear sitting on a boat deck. He is holding a diving helmet. In the background, there is another boat and a rocket launching with smoke billowing from its base.]

1

The Diver's Leave Record jumps from 10 November 1962 to 30 June 1963. Possible hospital inpatient during this time because of psychological injuries suffered, with leave back dated to 27 October to provide cover for the specially classified salvage mission:

+192
+39
+14½
+24

[Figure: handwritten notes and dates over a table row]
`1 AUG 62` `15 AUG 62` `15` `A`
`27 OCT 62` `10 NOV 62` `15` `A`
`30 JUN 63` `30` `44½` `USNAS, NAVY #115`

Performance Record has "GMM" as the command - a reference to inpatient status?

`16 NOV 61`
`16 MAY 62`
`17 NOV 1`
`16 MAY 63`
[Figure: partially obscured text on a document, including "USS ORLEANS PARISH (MCS-6)" and "GMM"]

The period between 10 November 1962 – 1 July 1963 is listed in the "Time Not Served" section, with the addition of "**PEBD Adjustment**" typed into the Leave Record at Commanding Officer's direction. Why was his Pay Entry Base Date (PEBD) re-established on 1 July 1963 – was it the date he was released from hospital?

`28 OCT 60: PAY ENTRY BASE DATE ESTABLISHED AS 24 FEB 53`
`USS ORLEANS PARISH`
`MCS-6`
**TIME NOT SERVED (Inclusive Dates) AND PEBD ADJUSTMENTS**

| FROM | TO | NO. DAYS | CAUSE | SHIP OR STATION | SIGNATURE |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| | | | `1 JULY 63` | | |
| | | | `No further entries on this page` | | |
| | | | `W. T. LONG, LT, USN, PERS OFF.` | | |
| | | | `By Direction of the C.O.` | | |

`NAVE (LAST)`
`(FIRST)`
`(MIDDLE)`
`8`
`LEAVE RECORD` `NAVPERS-600 (REV. 1-59)`

2

A new leave account record is re-established 1 July 1963 upon re-entry of new PEBD:

LEAVE RECORD
OFFI EN STED
S-4
1.
LEAVE ACCOUNT
| A | LEAVE TAKEN B | C NO. DAYS | D DATE DAY MO YR | E NO. NO. DAYS DAYS | F | SHIP OR STATION G
| FROM- DAY MO YR | TO-
| CREDIT ESTABLISHED OR BROUGHT FORWARD | 1 JUL 63 443 | USNAS, NAVY #115
| 31 MAY 64 29 JUN 64 | 30 | | | USS RECOVERY (ARS43)

The Diver was awarded Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal for Participating in the Cuban Missile Crisis, 1962.
[Figure: handwritten forms with checkboxes and information filled in by hand, describing instructions, special escort details, race and religion, as well as awards like GCM, ACM, ADSM, Armed Forces Exped MDL for Cuba, NAVUNITCOM, NOSM WITH ASIAN EUR CLASP, and CHSM]

A specific set of criteria applies here – it was only authorized for those with service in the Cuban quarantine, 24 October through 31 December 1962. The Diver went on leave 27 October 1962, and it was listed on his leave record that the period from this date until 1 July 1963 was "Time Not Served".

How then was the Diver eligible for this award? There is a clue here:

Personnel must be bona fide members of a unit engaged in an operation, or meet one or more of the following criteria:

* Serve not less than 30 consecutive days in the area of operations;
* Engage in direct support of the operation for 30 consecutive days or 60 nonconsecutive days, provided support involves entering the area of operations;
* Participate as a regularly-assigned member of an aircraft flying into, out of, within, or over the area in support of military operations;
* Be recommended, by CNO or the commander of a unified or specified command, for award of the medal for duty of particular value to the operation although the criteria above may not have been fulfilled.

The Diver's bravery during the initial dive on the object shot down and the subsequent psychosis he endured ultimately resulted in his hospitalisation until 30 June 1963. It is proposed that for his extraordinary experience, he received this award as his actions on duty added value by assisting the resolution of the Cuban Missile Crisis with the Soviet Union through President Kennedy's intent to brief Premier Khrushchev of the incident.

3

[Figure: A black and white image. On the right, a smiling man's face is visible, looking slightly upward. On the left, a miniature diver in a full diving suit is suspended by ropes, appearing to be lowered into water. In the foreground, partially obscuring the man's chest, is a circular badge that reads "USS ABNAKI" around the top curve. Inside the circle, a hand graphic points to text that says "AID THE FLEET" on the left and a list of services on the right: "TOWING", "SAINVAGE", "FIREFIGHTING", "DIVING". Below these, the number "96" is prominently displayed.]

Dedicated to memory of the brave sailor
who took the first dive on the downed
object and who recovered from the extreme
psychological stress it induced to get back
into the water 18 months later.
1934-1976