J. C. Penney Company and the Atomic Bomb (part 1)

Yesterday, I wrote a Facebook post about my family's connection to the A bomb tests conducted in the 1950s and 1960s at the Nevada Test Site. (My parents, grandparents, and great-grandparents were downwinders.)

Today my boss showed me a series of articles published in JCP Co.'s Pay Day discussing the involvement of the Penney company in the testing of the atom bomb. As a professional historian, I found it very interesting -- an aspect of the A Bomb testing I had never heard of before. With my boss's permission, I am going to share some of the articles.

"Director of Penney Laboratory Attends Nevada A Bomb Test" Pay Day April 1953

"C.W. Dorn, head of the Penney Company's scientific testing and research laboratory, was chosen to represent the National Retail Dry Goods association at the atom bomb test held March 17 near Las Vegas, Nev."

"At the NRDGA's request, Penney's, through its Las Vegas store and with Mr. Dorn's supervision, supplied clothing for more than 50 mannequins which participated in the experiment. The dummies, clothed in all types of winter and summer wear, were placed at varying distances from the explosion."

"The clothing will be displayed throughout the United States to illustrate the blast's effects on various textile fibers."


Uh, Mr. Dorn, I don't think you ought to attend the test . . .


"Research Head Reviews Atomic Blast Effects on Penney Clothing" Pay Day August 1953

"Charles Dorn, director of Penney's research laboratory and chairman of the Technical Committee, NRDGA, recently reviewed "Operation Doorstep," the atomic blast test conducted near Las Vegas on March 17, 1953, which included examination of the effects of heat radiation and flying debris on clothing, as well as homes, shelters and automobiles in the blast area."

"His article, Textiles in an Atomic Blast, appeared in the July 1953 issue of Stores, published by the National Retail Dry Goods Association."

"In 'Operation Doorstep' fifty mannequins were dressed from clothing in the stock of the J.C. Penney Company. They were placed in living quarters of the houses, outside, in indoor shelters and in cars to simulate everyday conditions. The nuclear device was exploded on top of a 300 foot tower and had an equivalent of 15,000 tons of TNT."

"Examining the clothing after the blast, [I do hope you wore gloves and a protective suit. Mr. Dorn!] Mr. Dorn found that textiles could be damaged by both flying debris and thermal radiation. [My, how very shocking! Who'd've thought?] Thermal radiation damaged unprotected textiles even at a distance of two miles from ground zero."

"He found that because dark colors absorb heat they caused more difficulty than light colors, which reflect light waves. Mr. Dorn also noted that thermoplastic textiles could cause severe burns through fusing as a result of the radiation."

"In his article he also recommended that when the opportunity permitted, a more scientific test should be made. Fabrics should be spread on frames at varying distances from ground zero, with proper instruments for recording the effects of the blast. The fabrics should include all textile fibers and a complete range of light to dark shades."


Uh, I hate to be the bearer of bad news, Mr. Dorn, but it doesn't really matter what kind of J C Penney clothing people are wearing when exposed to an atomic blast. They are all equally screwed.