Bikini Atoll - 1956 | Movietone Moment | 20 May 2022

On this day in 1956, the first hydrogen bomb dropped from an aircraft over Bikini Atoll in the South Pacific. Here is a British Movietone report featuring highlights from the first explosion. Zero hour approaches at Bikini Atoll in the Pacific as final preparations are made for the first explosion, by a Western Power, of an airborne hydrogen bomb. Aerial shot of Bikini Atoll. Radar weather stations etc. Aerial shot control ship. SCU Skiffs launched. B52 Bomber crew briefed on the ground. SCU B52 air to air shots of same. Various shots of the target with lights and reflectors. High shot peeling off to drop the bomb. High angle shots target and clouds of smoke etc. (Explosion). Expanding bomb. Disclaimer: British Movietone is an historical collection. Any views and expressions within either the video or metadata of the collection are reproduced for historical accuracy and do not represent the opinions or editorial policies of the Associated Press. You can license this footage for commercial use through AP