Atomic Thunder
Page 42
Long Range Weapons Establishment (LRWE) 75
Lowe, Peter 103–106
Macaulay, Bert 184–185, 188, 195
MacCallum, Mungo 262–263
MacDougall, Walter
on Aboriginal social dislocation 179–180, 187, 189
compassion for Indigenous people 178–179, 189
as Native Patrol Officer 80, 178–183, 184, 185–188, 191
opposition to Giles weather station 170–171, 184
Madigan, Michele 198
major trials
defined 315–316g
list of sites and dates 312
see also Operation Antler; Operation Buffalo; Operation Hurricane; Operation Mosaic; Operation Totem
Malone, Paul 32, 273
Manhattan Project
British physicists’ role 34–35, 45
development of the atomic bomb 2, 8, 34–35, 45–46
role of secrecy 46–47
Maralinga (musical composition) 310
Maralinga (Nunn) 310
Maralinga (play) 310
Maralinga (Walker) 306
Maralinga Board of Management 97
Maralinga Consultative Group 272, 283
Maralinga Experimental Programme 118–119, 133, 165, 167
Maralinga guinea pigs 102–106
Maralinga My Love (Johnston) 310
Maralinga rehabilitation see clean-up activities
Maralinga Rehabilitation Technical Advisory Committee (MARTAC) 229, 282, 301–302, 307
Maralinga site
location xvi, 11–12
management 97
naming 1–2, 93
number of personnel at 97–98
search for and development of 92–93, 96
see also clean-up activities; plutonium residues at Maralinga
Maralinga tests
Australian scientists’ participation in 96
demands for full inquiry 264, 270
formal UK–Australia agreement (1956) 4–5, 93–96, 227, 292
observers’ access to 215, 216–217, 222
responsibility for radiological safety 97–98
violation of agreed firing conditions 100–102
see also Kittens trials; Operation Antler; Operation Buffalo; plutonium residues at Maralinga; radioactive contamination; Rats trials; Tims trials; Vixen A trials; Vixen B trials
Maralinga Tjarutja Land Rights Act 1984 174
Maralinga Tjarutja people 14, 174, 176, 272, 283
Maralinga Tours 199, 306
Marcoo test site 100, 103, 192, 234, 238
Marla Bore 174, 271
Marqueur, Rudi 192
Marston, Hedley 7, 151–153
MARTAC (Maralinga Rehabilitation Technical Advisory Committee) 229, 281, 282, 301–302, 307
Martell, Hugh 157–158, 173
Martin, Leslie
as chair of AWTSC 88, 141, 152, 155–156, 158–159, 169, 277
as Defence Scientific Adviser 77, 94, 141, 147–149
National Radiation Advisory Committee and 161
Matthewman, Albert 154
Maud Committee 35, 41–45, 53, 54, 56, 60
Mayes, Kym 289
Mazel, Odette 175, 176
McBride, PA 68, 146, 210, 213–214
McCadden, GE 220
McClellan, Peter 73, 117, 129, 133, 230, 240, 243
McClelland, James 31, 66, 136, 143–144, 162, 164, 171, 271–272
McClelland Royal Commission see Royal Commission into British Nuclear Tests in Australia
McGowan, Peter 301
McLean, JT 116
McMahon Act 50, 53, 58, 62, 90, 135
McRae, Isabelle 308
measles epidemic 194, 198
media management
by Beale 72–73, 87–89, 107, 108–109, 112
alleged preferential treatment for British media 215–216, 217
public relations aspects 107, 213, 216, 219–220
of Vixen B trials 116–117, 124–125
see also D-notice system
media reporting
overview 8–9, 14–15, 17–18, 125, 248–249
of British deceit 288–289, 291–294
of Mosaic G2 fallout 88–89
of New Scientist story 289, 293–294
of radioactive contamination 248–249, 250, 251–254, 256–263, 265–266
of sampling babies’ bones 302–303
of Vixen B trials 124–126, 225
see also D-notice system; Anderson, Ian; Toohey, Brian; names of specific newspapers
Meitner, Lise 36, 38, 41
Memorandum of Arrangements (1956) 93–94, 227, 292
Menzies, Robert
acceptance of Attlee’s request 3–4, 6, 64, 67–68
on AWTSC membership 146–147
concern for Indigenous people’s safety 172
national security issues and 202–204
implementation of D-notice system by 209, 213, 217
on safety for Mosaic tests 153
signs formal agreement with UK (1956) 93–95
MEP (Maralinga Experimental Programme) 118–119, 133, 165, 167
Mildura, HMAS 68
Military Application of Uranium Detonation (MAUD) Committee see Maud Committee
Milliken, Robert 123, 143, 144, 149, 246
Milpuddie family 192–193, 196
minor trials
Australian government’s lack of information about 31, 228
as breach of moratorium on nuclear weapons testing 121, 126, 129, 132–135, 240, 250–251, 254, 268
defined 316g
Indigenous people’s safety 195
Kittens 82–83, 94, 118
list of sites and dates 312
lack of media attention 125, 225
Rats 118
secrecy 116–117, 119, 124–125, 151
significance 116–118
Tims 118, 120, 255–256
Vixen A 127–128
see also Vixen B trials
Mintabie 197
Monte Bello Islands
clean-up operation 245–246
as prohibited area 69
selection and preparation of site 64–65, 68–70
Monte Bello tests
radioactive clouds 70, 87–89,112
secrecy surrounding 64–65, 68
see also Operation Hurricane; Operation Mosaic
moratorium on nuclear weapons testing
effect on major trials 112, 126, 225
informal UK/US/USSR agreement (1958) 126, 269
minor trials as breach of 121, 125–126, 129, 132–135, 240, 250–251, 254, 268
Moroney, John
analysis of Roller Coaster data 277–281, 283
anger at British deceit 279, 283–284, 287
as AWSTC secretary 16, 67, 151, 194, 228, 233–234, 235–237, 239
as source for New Scientist story 278, 281–282, 286–287
on Vixen tests 121, 129, 136, 146
Mosaic G1 and G2: 85–88, 109–110
Mount Lindsay 227
mushroom clouds 98–99
Nagasaki 2, 8, 35, 48–49, 57, 59, 299, 307
Narvik, HMS 71, 155, 156–157
National Radiation Advisory Committee (NRAC) 161
National Times 31, 265–266
Native Patrol Officers 178, 184
New Journalist 269
New Scientist story
Anderson’s investigative reporting 275–277, 284–287, 295–296
impact on compensation negotiations 287–289, 290–291, 294–295
media discussion of 289, 293–294
Moroney’s contribution to 278, 281–282, 286–287
Newman, Kevin 253, 266
News 253–254
Newton, John 142
Ngapartji Ngapartji (play) 310
Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT) 30, 256
nuclear colonialism 3–5, 9–10, 171, 276, 300–301
nuclear espionage see spies and espionage
nuclear fission 36–38, 43, 54, 9, 157, 314g
nuclear physics research 5–6, 7, 22–23, 34, 36–40
nuclear tests in Australia
agreement on contamination responsibility (1968) 16, 26, 244, 276, 281–282, 292
Australia’s duplicity 293, 300–301, 310
ending of 121, 227
Memorandum of Agreement (1956) 4–5, 93–94, 227, 292
see also names of specific tests (e.g. Operation Buffalo)
nuclear veterans 17–18, 118, 137, 250, 268–269, 272, 289, 303–306, 310 see also Owen, George; Tooke, Thomas
nuclear weapons research
Britain 34–35, 39–44, 53–56, 58–60, 299–300, 307–308
United States 35–36, 44–48
US collaboration with Britain 49–50, 62, 135
Nunn, Judy 310
Nunn May, Alan 50–52, 57
O’Brien, Richard 198
O’Connor, Frank 94, 97, 107, 221, 222
Oliphant, Marcus (Mark) 5–6, 7, 39, 41, 141–142
Ooldea 175–176, 182–83
Operation Antler
Australian concerns 111
AWTSC and use of cobalt-60: 161–163
bomb firings 98, 111–112
radioactive contamination 192
removal of Aboriginal people from test site 191–192
Operation Brumby 229, 233–237, 239, 281–282, 291, 293, 316g
Operation Buffalo 98
Buffalo tests 1–4: 98–102
D-notice system and 222–223
disquiet over 108–109
Indoctrinee Force and 102–106
observed by parliamentarians 251
violation of firing conditions 100–102
Operation Capelin 245–246
Operation Clean-Up 227–228
Operation Cool Off 245
Operation Epicure 3, 64–65
Operation Hercules 136–137, 229–233, 316g
Operation Hurricane
Beale kept in dark about 72
D-notice system and 213–218, 220–221
detonation and target response 70–72
inadequate safety controls 153–154
Indigenous people’s safety 172
limited Australian involvement 96, 147–149
Operation Lighthouse 112
Operation Mosaic
contamination at Monte Bello 246
D-notice system and 222–223
G1 and G2 detonations 85–90
impact on public opinion 109–110
Indigenous people’s safety 173
radioactive cloud 87–89
safety monitoring by AWTSC 88, 154–160
Operation RADSUR 233–237, 282, 316g
Operation Totem
‘black mist’ phenomenon 196–199
D-notice system and 221–222
financial aspects 83–84
first and second tests 78–82
inadequate safety controls 80–81, 153–154
limited Australian input 78
search for a site 74–79
Operation Volcano 111
Ophel, TR 140–141, 144
Oppenheimer, J Robert 46, 48
Owen, George 240–243
Parkinson, Alan 119, 301–302
Partial Test Ban Treaty (PTBT) 121, 126, 227
Pearce, Noah
present at Hurricane and Totem tests 15, 229
RADSUR procedures and 233–236
report on contamination (see Pearce Report)
role in clean-up operations 228–232, 239–240, 244–245
testimony before Royal Commission 117, 133, 136–137, 165, 230–231, 239–240, 244
visits to Maralinga 19, 233
role in Vixen trials 117, 133, 136–137, 165
Pearce Report
existence of plutonium noted by 16, 238–239, 254–255, 263
faulty measurements and methodology 16, 26–28, 231–232, 280–281, 294
impact on 1968
agreement on contamination responsibility 16, 26, 229, 244, 282, 292
impact on clean-up activities 15–17, 19, 25, 26, 29, 228–230, 234–235, 237–239, 244
public availability 15, 16, 250, 263, 265, 267–268
Peierls, Rudolf 39, 41–42, 56–57
Penney, William
appointed head of HER 59, 307
Buffalo trials 98–104, 107
designs British nuclear bomb 307–308
as head of AWRE 12, 54, 56, 58–60, 62–63, 81, 93
leads British tests in Australia 12, 15, 70–71
Manhattan Project and 46–47
Marston’s gamma ray data and 153
revelation about minor trial contamination 259
as Royal Commission witness 271–272
unaware of ‘black mist’ 197
Petrov spy affair 204
Pilgrim, Roy 120, 133, 134, 136, 165, 233
Pincher, Chapman 58, 80, 107, 206–207, 269
plausible denial of culpability 136
plumes of plutonium oxide 26, 316g
plutonium (Pu), characteristics 24–25, 317g
plutonium-239
dangerous characteristics 24–25, 130–131, 307
use in Vixen B tests 121
plutonium residues at Maralinga
Britain’s denial of responsibility 291–292
British deceit concerning 282–283, 289, 290, 292–293
burial of 16, 26, 120–121, 129, 228, 232, 238–239, 243, 254–256, 259–260, 264, 280–281, 282
discovery of fragments and plumes 23–26, 29–30
media revelation of extent 251–254, 256–263, 265–266, 289, 293–294
noted in Pearce Report 16, 238–239, 254–255, 263
presence of a buried ’discrete mass’ 255–256, 259–260, 262, 264
repatriation to the UK of 121, 137, 255–256, 259, 267, 292
terrorist threat posed by 255, 257–262
see also New Scientist story
Plym, HMS 70–71, 245–246
Polaris missiles 308
polonium 118, 237
Pom Pom incident 192–193
press agencies 219–221
‘Press Reactions to Atomic Trials’ (briefing paper) 109
press reporting see media reporting
Prime Minister’s Department 94, 148, 166, 168, 223, 227
Pritchard, Neil 167
prohibited areas
Maralinga 179
Monte Bello 69, 89
Woomera 74, 177
Project Sunshine 303
public disquiet 159
public opinion 109–111
Pugwash Conference 107
Quebec Agreement 45–46
RAAF see Royal Australian Air Force radioactive clouds
Monte Bello tests 70, 88–89, 112
Operation Buffalo 99–102, 112
radioactive contamination
agreement releasing UK from responsibility 16, 19, 26, 244, 276, 282, 291–292
AIRAC-9 report 19, 270
babies’ bones and 302–303
ARL survey 13–18, 20–30
AWRE’s redefinition 155–156
from buried plutonium 255–256, 259–260, 262, 264
Cabinet submission on 255
George Owen and 240–243
of Indigenous people 172–173, 192–193, 197–198, 283, 292
media reports 248–249, 250, 251–254, 256–263, 265–266
parliamentary questions 249–251, 254, 267
political acceptability 116–117, 135
Radiation Survey 233–237, 282, 316g
TAG investigations 283
Toohey’s disclosures 256–258, 260–263
in USSR 246
Vixen trials 116–117, 121–123, 129, 238–239, 278, 281, 282
see also clean-up activities; nuclear veterans; Pearce Report; plutonium residues at Maralinga
radioactivity 317g
RADSUR (Radiation Survey) 233–237, 282, 316g
RAF see Royal Air Force
Rats trials 118
Red Beard nuclear weapon 100–101, 104–105, 119
remediation plan (1990s) 301–302
Richardson, JF 243
Rickard, Doug 162–163
Rivett, David 207
Roach, WT 197
Roller Coaster tests and data 32, 117, 119, 277–280, 284–285
Roosevelt, Franklin 35, 39, 45, 49
Rosenberg, Julius and Ethel 50
Royal Air Force (RAF), deployment of aircraft 12, 74, 82, 86
Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF)
construction role 95, 216
deployment of aircraft 81–82, 86
see also Hudson, Avon; Tooke, Thomas
Royal Australian Navy
deployment of ships 64, 67, 70
public relations role 214, 216
Royal Commission into British Nuclear Tests in Australia
on Aboriginal people’s safety 171, 173
appointment, members and sittings 271
on ‘black mist’ allegations 196–199
on compensation for nuclear victims 305
condemnation of minor trials 117–118, 132, 164–165
criticism of AWTSC 150–151
endorsement of Kerr Report 270
interrogation of Pearce 117, 133, 136–137, 230–231, 239–240, 244
interrogation of Penney 271–272
interrogation of Titterton 132–133, 138, 140, 143–144
recommendations 272
terms of reference 31
Walsh’s regrets 271
see also McClellan, Peter; McClelland, James
Royal, Simon 293–294
Rutherford, Ernest 6, 23
safety controls
Hurricane and Totem trials 80–81, 153–154
Roller Coaster experiments 117
responsibility for radiological safety 97–98
Vixen trials 127–130, 137–138
see also ARPANSA; AWTSC
Salisbury, Marquess of 134
Seager, Drake 102
Seamen’s Union 155
secrecy
British atomic research 42
British deceit over plutonium residues 117, 131–133, 282–283, 289, 290, 292–293
consequences 310–311
Manhattan Project 46–47
Maralinga trials 110
media compliance with 201, 209–210, 225, 269
Monte Bello tests 64–65, 68
Vixen B trials 97, 116–117, 119, 124–125, 151
see also D-notice system; spies and espionage
Secrets in the Sand (BBC documentary) 295
Shedden, Frederick 64, 65, 95, 147, 208, 211, 215–216, 218–219
Sheehan, EL 221
Sinclair, Ian 260–261
Skipper, JH 102
Smith, Frank 192
Snowden, Edward 311
Soviet Union see USSR
spies and espionage 50–52, 56–58, 204
Stanton, John 20
Stevens, Donald 141
stochastic effect 131, 317g
Strassmann, Fritz 36