Frank Discusses Operation Teapot nuclear tests

Dr. Frank Shelton, author of "Reflections of a Nuclear Weaponeer" and was interviewed for "Trinity and Beyond - the Atomic Bomb Movie," discusses the role of the Department of Defense in Operation Teapot, a series of nuclear tests, in 1955. Focusing on shots HA (High Altitude), ESS (Effects sub-surface) and MET (Military Effects Test) in this never before seen clip from "Trinity and Beyond."
This sequence was left on the cutting room floor while editing "Trinity and Beyond" in favor of a different Operation Teapot representation. Nevertheless, its worth its own clip.

[vxrdrummer]

The physics behind each shot are obviously incredible, but the Logistics behind each shot is also equally as impressive!

[Indrid__Cold]

Dr. Shelton is a perfect example of the kind of teacher that smart undergrad college students would seek out during their rare "office hours". Once you get an instructor like this talking, you would have the chance to obtain an entire semester's worth of content in a single afternoon. I taught my own kids to ALWAYS attend their best instructor's office hours. When unconstrained by the requirements of a specific curriculum, these instructors really offered up some of their best bonus material.

[djsmithknows]

Drones were used in Upshot Knothole in 1953 as well. Who were the drone pilots and what units were they assigned to ? How many pilots were trained in drone operations for these tests? The mother ships were T-33 twin seaters, so that one could pilot the Mother ship and the other could fly the drone.

[benhooft]

Another superb restoration. Well done Peter. 👏

[P-G-]

Thanks, fantastic interview... never seen before footage.

[EKMeV]

Fun to see the trails of the three MET shot drones in one view, with the lower 2 of the 3 jet aircraft scattering damage fragments.
Also: the tremendous speed of the MET mushroom rising behind the jet.

[HiAdrian]

Fascinating, great to get this interview and material.

[gregkrekelberg]

The music bed for this is very reminiscent of The Day The Earth Stool Still. It's not the instrumentation, but the overall mood of the music.

[Indrid__Cold]

The image of the nuclear cloud looming up behind the aircraft as its wings detatch and tumble helplessly away is truly terrifying!

[HiAdrian]

4:13 Are we looking at fan blades there? A heat-deformed _stack_ of them, or how does this "roll" like appearance come about?

5:18 I was mentally still in a ground context, making this look like a futuristic skyscraper in the distance. What a stunning design that would be, with the sloped base.

[vxrdrummer]

I've never managed to get hold of his book which is a real shame.

Does the entire interview still exist beyond the clips from Trinity and Beyond etc.?

[summitap]

Lower two aircraft jettison drop tanks on burst? Commanded or uncommanded?

[limabravo]

So about 1000 nukes detonated in nevada and 100 or so in the pacific. I get testing to ensure designs work etc... but anyone else get the feeling that the majority were done just because?