Convair Supervisory Newsletter, Number 85, March 25, 1953 Page: 1 of 2
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on YCI -FORT WOR NO. 85
S U P E R V '1 S 0 R Y
NEWSLETTER
ISSUED WEEKLY TO ALL SUPERVISORY PERSONNEL
25 March 1953
C. E. Doering, Civil Defense Coordinator for Convair's Fort Worth Division, returned last
Thursday night from Nevada, where he witnessed the atomic bomb blast at Yucca Flats as an
observer on invitation of the Air Force.
Doering reported that he was stationed approximately five miles from Ground Zero. Some of
his comments are of interest. "Before the bomb exploded the temperature was about 30 de-
grees. Even though I had on two pairs of khaki trousers, a wool shirt, coat, and a top
coat, I was chilled. After the explosion the area around me became as warm as a spring
day from the heat of the blast".
Convair' s observer said he wore black glasses through which daylight could not pass. Even
automobile headlights could not be seen. "But the light from the explosion was so intense,
that I was temporarily blinded", he reported. "About 5 seconds after the blast, we were
allowed to remove our glasses. A large ball of fire had formed and it contained red,
yellow, green, purple and many other colors of flame. It is impossible to find words to
describe the feeling one gets when one sees such a sight as I witnessed," Doering said.
Later, he witnessed the devastation of the "Doomtown" houses erected near the blast.
Doering came away from the Yucca Flats convinced that the major objective of Convair's
Civil Defense Program should be to plan an orderly evacuation of all plant personnel when
and if an air raid warning is received.
Speaking of Civil Defense, equipment recently received at this Division was demonstrated
to press photographers and TV cameramen by Doering and members of the Civil Defense Staff
Monday morning. Among equipment demonstrated was a "handy talky", portable radio, dyna-
mike, portable amplifier, several Geiger counter devises to be used in determining degree
of radiation, and helmets and armbands. Charts showing the effects of various sizes of
atomic explosions were also on display.
With receipt of the above mentioned equipment, we are now in a position to step up the
Convair Civil Defense Program. Training classes are being organized and before long, it
is hoped that one out of every sixteen employees will have received instruction in what
should be done in case of an air raid alert. This training is of utmost importance as it
could mean the saving of the lives of thousands of our employees should there be a real
emergency.
Convair will be represented in a large window display being prepared this week at the Texas
Electric Service Company in celebration of Texas Industrial Week, April 1-7. A scale model
of the B-36 and photographic murals of the plant will be included.
We are saying "goodbye" this week to Colonel Guy Stallings and Major Paul Oliver, Air Force
Officers, who have spent the past year here at Convair with us. Ithile here they spent some
time in almost all of our departments learning our systems and procedures so that the Air
Force will have a better understanding of manufacturers' problems in producing military
aircraft.
st C. Esenwein
Vion Manager
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Esenwein, August C. Convair Supervisory Newsletter, Number 85, March 25, 1953, periodical, March 25, 1953; Fort Worth, Texas. (https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth1148827/m1/1/: accessed July 9, 2024), University of North Texas Libraries, The Portal to Texas History, https://texashistory.unt.edu.; crediting Lockheed Martin Aeronautics Company, Fort Worth.