Small Boy

Operation Sunbeam

July 14, 1962 · Nevada Test Site (NTS) · Surface · 1,65 kt

A nuclear device placed on or close to the earth's surface.

Mushroom cloud of Shot Small Boy, third nuclear detonation of Operation Sunbeam, near-surface burst at 3 metres, Frenchman Flat, Area 5, Nevada Test Site, 14 July 1962. DOD missile silo hardening test, 1.65 kt. Photographed at H+45 seconds, looking eastward.
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Defense Atomic Support Agency (DASA)

Printed in 1962

Silver gelatin print

8x10 in (20.3x25.4 cm)

Serial number, Stamp

Shot Small Boy was the third of four nuclear detonations of Operation Sunbeam, fired on 14 July 1962 as a near-surface burst at 3 metres above Frenchman Flat, Area 5, Nevada Test Site. It was a DOD-sponsored test of missile silo hardening principles, using a compact device of 38 centimetres diameter, 39 centimetres long, weighing just 29 kg — similar to devices fired in Operations Nougat and Storax. The shot produced 1.65 kilotons. Operation Sunbeam, also designated Operation Dominic II, was the continental phase of Operation Dominic I, consisting of four low-yield tactical nuclear weapon tests conducted at NTS between 7 and 17 July 1962. The final shot of the series, Little Feller I, fired on 17 July 1962, was the last atmospheric nuclear detonation ever conducted at the Nevada Test Site. This restricted print — stamped "FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY" and photographed 45 seconds after detonation looking eastward — was issued by Field Command Nuclear Test, Defense Atomic Support Agency (FCNT DASA), reference 760-1-HES-62.