J. C. Penney Company and the Atomic Bomb (part 2)

Here are some more articles from the J. C. Penney publication Pay Day:

"Laboratory Associates at Atomic Bomb Tests," April 1955

"Charles W. Dorn, Laboratory head, and James Fynn, assistant, were invited to attend the recent Atomic Test Program of the Federal Civil Defense Administration's Operation 'Q' as project consultants on textiles."

"'The Penney Company clothed 75 mannikins [sic] for the operation. Fifty were placed in houses and trailer homes while the remaining 25 were placed in the open at various distances from the point of explosion' Mr. Dorn explained. Two years ago the Company furnished clothing for mannikins [sic] used in similar tests."

"Help in Exposing Fabrics"

"Mr. Dorn and Mr. Fynn also cooperated with the American Association of Textile Chemists and Colorists, an organization in which they are both active members, in exposing over 300 fabric samples to atomic radiation. The samples were composed of various textile fibers ranging in color from black through the intermediate shades to white."

"Known as 'open shot tests,' their purpose was to test certain effects of an atomic blast on an imaginary civilian population and installations. Between 1500 and 2,000 persons in industry participated."


"FCDA Honors Lab Heads and Company," August-September 1955

"The Federal Civilian Defense Administration recently presented to Penney's a public service award certificate for its contribution to the National Defense through participation in the Civil Defense Atomic Test program at the Nevada test site last spring."

"The Company contributed fabrics and clothing for a test conducted by the American Association of Textile Chemists and Colorists during Operation Cue, the atomic explosion set off May 5. Over 300 combinations of various fabrics were exposed at varying distances from ground zero, the point of explosion, to judge the effects of the intense radiation generated in a nuclear reaction on textile fibers. Mannikins [sic] clothed by the Penney Company were also exposed both indoors and outdoors."

"Individual Awards Given"

"C.W. Dorn, head of the Central Office laboratory, and P. J. Fynn, his assistant, spent nearly a month on the test site to prepare and set up the experiments. In appreciation of their participation in the test, they were awarded individual certificates from the Federal Civilian Administration and the Atomic Energy Commission."

[I hope they used the certificates as toilet paper!]

"Operation Cue occurred near the end of a series of 'shots' or atomic explosions designated as Operation Teapot. A part of the AEC research program on nuclear explosion devices, Operation Cue was conducted by the FCDA as an industry participation program in an attempt to work out some of the problems of protecting life and property in the event of atomic attack. Private industry was encouraged to experiment by exposing standard and special installations of material with the purpose of determining the effects of an atomic explosion."

"All material used in the test was shipped to Lowell, Mass., headquarters of the AATCC, for photographing and study. Mr. Dorn recently visited Lowell to examine the fabrics. Results of the textile experiments were given in a technical paper presented at the annual convention of the AATCC in Atlantic City in September."

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.