April 1954, the Civil Defense Administration released color photos of the H-Bomb test



Following the color movie of the "Operation Ivy" H-bomb test, April 19th, 1954,  the Civil Defense Administration released color still photographs of the explosion. The one above shows the fireball passing through clouds formed by the eplxion's shock wave. As it rises over the shock cloud, expanding gases from the fireball cool and dreeze water vapor in the air, covering the mushroom with an icy shroud, the still turbulent stem continues to carry up debris from the atoll below.

On the image below a dark filter was used, fireball boils brightly.


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images and info provided by the LIFE Magazine / LIFE Magazine International / LIFE Magazine Atlantic ARCHIVE from the Zetu Harrys Collection