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International observers arrive and inspect the Operation Blowdown test site. Instrumentation and photographic equipment to monitor the effects of the explosion are secured in place.
Curator’s notes
Special observers from Australia, Great Britain, the US, Canada and New Zealand were present at Operation Blowdown from Tuesday 16 July through to Friday 19 July 1963. On the Tuesday they inspected the area in detail as monitoring and photographic equipment was being installed. Some 17,000 trees in the area had been catalogued, with individual species tested to establish mechanical strength. Four lanes of instrumentation were placed at right angles, intersecting at the site of the tower. A 60 metre wide lane was cleared of all vegetation except for a few large trees at varying distances from Ground Zero. Military structures, equipment and simulated troops were placed to replicate operational conditions. On Wednesday, while final test site preparations were completed, the observers took part in meetings and discussions.
