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willyd · 01-23-2009, 06:03 AM

Thanks for the historic information. This forum is a wealth of knowledge.

PeeWee · 01-23-2009, 07:24 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by azflycaster

I had no idea that an Airstream was used during atomic bomb testing. Do you have any idea what happened to the test trailer? I wonder if it was buried somewhere in the Nevada desert? I looked like it was a Safari.

PeeWee - Thanks for this mornings lesson...

Richard,

I have no idea what eventually happened to the trailer. If you notice it has the Caravan and WBCCI number 62. Before the test the trailer was owned by Darwin and Lucille Wright of Alhambra, CA. Without checking I believe they were part of the Jack Rabbits.

I also believe that it was not used by the Wrights after the test. However, I did have opportunity to use it and sleep in it at the Palm Springs Rally.

That's about all I know about the unit.

Pee Wee

**azflycaster** · 01-23-2009, 07:40 AM

I was thinking that because of the radiation

, the government often just buried many of the items used in these tests.

PeeWee - Would you care to make a guess as to how many Airstreams you have slept in over the years?

47WeeWind · 01-23-2009, 08:34 AM

The "radiant" Airstream is pictured on page 35 in Burkhart and Hunt's book "AIRSTREAM: The History of the Land Yacht".

Goin camping · 01-23-2009, 10:27 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by PeeWee

Richard,

However, I did have opportunity to use it and sleep in it at the Palm Springs Rally.

Pee Wee

That explains that glow around you at the Deadhorse II campfire.

P.S. I just ran a Gieger Counter over where you sat in our trailer...I'll PM you with the reading.

PeeWee · 01-23-2009, 10:40 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by azflycaster

I was thinking that because of the radiation

, the government often just buried many of the items used in these tests.

PeeWee - Would you care to make a guess as to how many Airstreams you have slept in over the years?

Richard,

13 that I can remember.

Pee Wee

Forrest · 01-23-2009, 11:10 AM

"Radiant" would seem to be an appropriate name! These attached articles report that someone suggested the name, "Marilyn Monroe."

PeeWee · 01-23-2009, 12:27 PM

For those that want to see a larger copy of the magazine coverage on the atomic trailer, you may go to the Sierra Neveda's Unit site and see it in a "PDF" file. This is courtesy of the Estate of Helen Byam Schwamborn.

http://sierranevadaairstreams.org/me...ail-r-news.pdf

Pee Wee

**azflycaster** · 01-23-2009, 01:40 PM

Reading the article posted by Forrest (Thanks!) it looks like Airstream sent these trailers to various dealers across the country to show how well they stood up to an atomic bomb. So much for me finding one of these old gals with a metal detector in the middle of the Nevada desert.

dogpound · 01-23-2009, 03:01 PM

Pee Wee;

That posting was great!!! I truly enjoy receiving the historical info about the A/S company and the travels you went on with Wally. Keep up the good work.

Bob
4CU/CAC
WBCCI # 10105
AIR 28478

Forrest · 01-23-2009, 03:42 PM

Richard,

Could this thread be combined with the one I started in 2005? It is at:
http://www.airforums.com/forums/f142...eam-17666.html ?

**azflycaster** · 01-23-2009, 04:14 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Forrest

Richard,

Could this thread be combined with the one I started in 2005? It is at:
http://www.airforums.com/forums/f142...eam-17666.html ?

Terrific idea, done...

Guido · 01-23-2009, 04:36 PM

So was this trailer ever located?

66Overlander · 01-26-2009, 06:24 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Forrest

To all,

I am hoping to find the Airstream used in the A-Bomb test conducted in May of 1955. The test Airstream appears to be an early 1954 California built 22' Safari. The year and model can be identified by the photos of it that show it with bee-hive marker lights mounted on the sides of the end panels (discontinued in early 1954), a 9 panel rear end cap (called a Dutchman or Whale Tail) used exclusively on California built Airstreams from 1954 to 1957, and three adjacent street side windows (used only on the Safari). After the test the Airstream was used for promotion purposes, and then, rumor has it, it was sold. If this Airstream still exists the current owner might not know if it is the one used in the bomb test, so if any of you know someone who owns a California built 1954 22' Safari could you give me their name and address?

Thank you,

Forrest McClure
VAC Librarian and Archive Historian

Forrest,
I just found this thread, but had seen photos of that trailer before. While the windows aren't quite the same as the Ohio built Safari's, I definitely thought that that trailer might have the Safari floor plan inside. Have you ever seen any interior photo's of that trailer?

Forrest · 01-26-2009, 07:20 PM

Joe,

No, I haven't ever seen any photos of the inside. Perhaps Dale can recall the layout. I think he mentioned sleeping in it, but he didn't say if it was before, during or after the blast. :-)