- Title: PACIFIC OCEAN: FRANCE EXPLODES HYDROGEN BOMB.
- Date: 29th August 1968
- Summary: AIRCRAFT TAKES OFF; COUNTDOWN STARTS; DETONATION; OBSERVERS; MUSHROOM-SHAPED CLOUD 1. GV AIRCRAFT TAKES OFF 0.10 2. CU INT..OFFICIALS IN CONTROL ROOM 0.25 3. LV BOMB EXPLODES 0.42 4. SV MEN ON DECK WATCH EXPLOSIONS 0.46 5. LV MUSHROOM ON HORIZON (2 SHOTS) 1.04 Initials JP/VS/JB/BB Script is copyright Reuters Limited.
- Embargoed: 13th September 1968 13:00
- Keywords:
- Location: NEAR TAHITI, PACIFIC OCEAN
- Country: AT SEA
- Reuters ID: LVA1TNT2N1G5AQJHVE07KQNPLCAJ
- Story Text: FRANCE EXPLODED A HYDROGEN BOMB IN THE PACIFIC LAST SATURDAY (AUGUST 24) WHICH WAS 100 TIMES MORE POWERFUL THAN THE HIROSHIMA BLAST IN 1945. BUT OBSERVERS SAID THERE WAS ALMOST NO FALLOUT.
THE BOMB HAD A FORCE OF TWO MEGATONS WHICH IS EQUAL TO THE EXPLOSIVE POWER OF 2-MILLION TONS OF TNT. THE FALLOUT WAS SO SLIGHT THAT LESS THAN FOUR HOURS AFTER THE BLAST, THE SITE WAS VISITED BY THE FRENCH MINISTER OF SCIENCE, M. ROBERT GALLEY.
THE BOMB WAS CARRIED BY AIRCRAFT TO AN AREA 600 YARDS ABOVE THE FANGATAUFA ATOLL, WHERE IT WAS RELEASED IN A BALLOON. THE AREA WHERE THE DETONATION TOOK PLACE WAS ABOUT 750 MILES (1200 KMS) SOUTH TAHITI. THE EXPLOSIVE DEVICE WAS REPORTED TO BE ABOUT THE SIZE OF A SMALL CAR. M. GALLEY SAID THAT FRENCH SCIENTISTS WOULD NOW DEVOTE THEIR EFFORTS TO WHAT HE CALLED "THE MILITARISATION AND MINIATURISATION" OF THE DEVICE.
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