Atomic Bomb Test Site Cover

The USS Prinz Eugene was used as one of the ships at the Atomic Bomb test at Bikini Atoll. This cover was sent from a sailor who manned the ship and left it just prior to the test.







This last image is cropped from the NARA file photo so it would fit the size requirements of this forum.

Very Cool!

That's a neat cover. I find it very interesting that it would have the ship name in German (cruiser) as well on the front. Granted, this is post-war, but the German seems very out of place. Maybe that's a cachet?

For some additional information about this test, and the background of the development of the atomic bomb, Ken Lawrence just published a two part article in Linn's Stamp News.

Postal History and postal historians of the atomic bomb, Part I

which appears in the Sept 19, 2016 issue, page 18, and Part 2 in the Oct 17, 2016 issue, page 18.

He illustrates a number of covers from the war years to and from individuals involved in the development of the atomic bomb, and one from this particular test.

Mike

This would be from operation crossroads.

The Eugen was seized from Germany by the Brits after the war, and they in turn gave it to the US Navy. It was part of the post war atomic bomb development testing at Bikini Atoll but it survived. The Navy towed it to Kwajalein Atoll and was accidentally sunk there in December, 1946.