Title: Original 1956 U.S. Army Signal Corps Photograph – Operation Redwing "Cherokee" Atomic Test – PSA Authenticated
Description:
This is a PSA-authenticated original Type 1 photograph taken by the U.S. Army Signal Corps, capturing the dramatic atmospheric detonation known as "Cherokee," part of Operation Redwing in 1956. The high-contrast black-and-white image is housed in a PSA slab and labeled as “Authentic”, bearing the unique certification number 856441825. The photograph itself measures approximately 8 x 10 inches and is marked in the lower left corner with the Army file number AE-56-SC-5499, consistent with archival Signal Corps documentation standards of the era.
This powerful image depicts the iconic mushroom cloud formation ascending above the Pacific Ocean following detonation, a haunting and visually striking emblem of Cold War-era nuclear testing. The cloud’s bright central column is flanked by atmospheric distortions and vapor trails, emphasizing the magnitude and intensity of the blast.
Historical Context:
Operation Redwing was a series of 17 nuclear tests conducted by the United States at Bikini and Enewetak Atolls in the Marshall Islands from May to July 1956. The tests were designed to advance the development of thermonuclear weapons and to assess the effects of various detonation techniques.
The "Cherokee" test, conducted on May 20, 1956, was particularly significant as it marked the first air-drop of a thermonuclear weapon by a U.S. strategic bomber—a B-52 Stratofortress. The device was dropped from an altitude of 55,000 feet and detonated at 4,350 feet above sea level with an estimated yield of 3.8 megatons. The photograph captures the detonation just after the bomb exploded in the atmosphere—visually stunning and symbolically weighty, marking a major shift in airborne nuclear delivery capabilities during the height of the Cold War.
This image is not merely documentation—it is Cold War history frozen in time, capturing both the scientific ambition and the existential danger that defined mid-20th-century geopolitics.
Authentication & Encapsulation:
This photograph has been authenticated and slabbed by PSA as an original Type 1 photograph, the most desirable classification, indicating it was developed from the original negative within approximately two years of the event. The PSA label notes:
"Original Photograph – Operation Redwing – U.S. Army Signal Corps – Cherokee – Type 1 – Authentic – 1956 – PSA #856441825"
The encapsulation ensures its preservation while affirming its originality and historical significance.
Closing Appeal:
This PSA-authenticated Operation Redwing "Cherokee" atomic test photograph is a profound and chilling artifact of the nuclear age. With its direct link to a pivotal moment in military and scientific history, this image is ideal for collectors of Cold War memorabilia, military history, and atomic ephemera. A rare and visually arresting reminder of the atomic era’s power, ambition, and cautionary legacy.
