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Operation Crossroads: Bikini Atoll

 

Bikini Village After Tidal Wave Caused by the Bomb
Arthur Beaumont #13
Watercolor, 1946
Gift of the artist
88-169-M


The BAKER blast caused a tidal wave that tossed landing craft onto the beach. This picture shows the damage done to one of those craft near the Bikini village.

 

Remains of Bikini Village
Arthur Beaumont #12
Watercolor, 1946
Gift of the artist
88-169-L

 


The BAKER blast wave swept ashore and caused extensive damage to the village.

 

Japanese Battleship Nagato
Arthur Beaumont #5
Watercolor, 1946
Gift of the artist
88-169-E

 
The former Japanese battleship Nagato after the BAKER blast. Despised by the sailors at Bikini for its role as flagship of the Pearl Harbor attack force, mines had been strapped to her sides to facilitate her sinking. Both blasts damaged, but did not immediately sink the battleship, although BAKER caused the slow but continuous flooding that produced the list seen in this view.

 

The 32,000 Ton Japanese Battleship Nagato
Grant Powers #13
Watercolor, 1946
88-181-M

 

Nagato finally sank just before dawn five days after BAKER. She rests on the bottom near USS Saratoga (CV-3) and USS Arkansas (BB-33).

 

Cross Spikes Club
Arthur Beaumont #14
Watercolor, 1946
Gift of the artist
88-169-N


The Cross Spikes Club was an improvised bar, one of the only places where the men from Operation Crossroads could find entertainment during their June to September stay at Bikini.

 

Vice Admiral W. H. P. Blandy
Charles Bittinger #12A
Oil on canvas, 1946
Gift of the artist
95-129-L

 


A portrait of Vice Admiral W. H. P. Blandy, officer in charge of Operation Crossroads. The portrait was painted on his flagship, USS Mt. McKinley. On the horizon in the background are the ships of the target fleet, with the orange-painted Nevada in the middle.

 

Vice Admiral W. H. P. Blandy, USN
Charles Bittinger #12B
Oil on canvas board, 1946
Gift of the artist
95-129-M

 


A study for a portrait of Vice Admiral W. H. P. Blandy painted at Bikini.

 

King Juda of Bikini Island
Grant Powers #6
Watercolor, 1946
88-181-F

 

 

King Juda was the leader of the Bikini Islander's during their evacuation from the islands before test ABLE.

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01 August 2001