Flying into nuclear mushroom clouds (201)

Cold War Conversations

Squadron Leader John Robinson AFC (ret’d) was an RAF pilot who was tasked to fly into the mushroom clouds of nuclear bomb tests to capture samples at Operation Buffalo at Maralinga in 1956, and Operation Grapple, at Christmas Island in 1957.

He tells of his recruitment into RAF, initial training and his cloud sampling missions as well his experiences of watching the tests from as little as five miles away.

It is reckoned that over 22,000 British servicemen participated in the British and American nuclear tests and clean-ups between 1952-1965, along with scientists from the Atomic Weapons Research Establishment and civilians. The majority of men have passed away, and around a tenth of the men remain.

I was honoured that the British Nuclear Test Veterans Association (BNVTA) invited me to their annual reunion and enabled me to capture some of their veterans’ stories.

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I am delighted to welcome John Robinson to our Cold War conversation…

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0:00 Introduction and Squadron Leader John Robinson's Cold War journey

2:03 Sponsor: Cold War Conversations' Patron Support

4:13 John Robinson's early career and Cold War aircraft training

15:11 Special duties in Australia and encounter with atom bombs

28:30 The mission into the mushroom cloud and gathering radiation data

34:33 Life in Christmas Island and preparations for larger weapons

45:52 Post atom bomb missions and John's illness

48:19 John Robinson's radiation exposure and journey back home

52:04 High altitude sampling and ditching the aircraft plan

53:42 Closing remarks by Ian Sanders and appreciation for patrons

54:50 Cold War Conversations store reminder

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