[58th Bombardment Wing Material – Operation Crossroads]

Reflecting on the Atomic Age immediately after World War II.

This incredible collection of newsletters and booklets was compiled by members of the 58th Bombardment Operational Training Wing (Heavy) throughout 1946. During the war, the unit was responsible for training the first aircrews for the B-29 Superfortress, the most expensive and complex weapon of its age. The wing’s four bomb groups flew combat and reconnaissance missions across the Pacific Theater, notably contributing to the destruction of the Japanese homeland.

In the months following V-J Day, much of the wing returned to the United States and was ultimately demobilized, but numerous elements remained in the Marshall Islands to participate in Operation Crossroads, the 1946 testing of two atomic bombs. It was in that capacity that these various publications were issued.

The collection includes five editions of ‘The Atomic Blast’, the 58th Bomb Wing Newsletter. These offer a fascinating window into the contemporary attitudes of the pilots, mechanics, and support personnel. Articles touch on a variety of topics like women, sports, unit achievements, and more. A cartoon on the front page of Vol. 1 No. 3 perhaps best personifies the question of the hour, showing the World at the Crossroads.

Also included are five booklets showcasing various contributing elements of the 58th Bombardment Wing – Headquarters (2 copies), the Air Service Unit, the Air Photo Unit, and the A.A.F. Drone Unit. Each commemorative volume contains numerous photographs, unit rosters, and scenes of life during Operation Crossroads.