After returning to the U.S. our crew, still under Capt. Torrey as AC, was sent to Fairchild AFB in Spokane, Washington. Our crew was designated HO4CO of the 103rd Strat. Reconn. Sqdn, and, by order of Lt. Col. Edison Arnold, we were selected to be a standboard and lead crew. We needed replacements for Korea as the conflict was still going on. I was selected to instruct an aerial photography school. The planned program involved training a class of students from classroom through actual flight time. I received a letter of commendation from Co. S.E. Manzo, commanding officer.

[Editors note: I have a copy of this letter of commendation and, after reviewing it, am convinced it should be a part of this biographical record. To make it easier to read and quicker to load, I have retyped it from the original as authentically as possible. If you wish to review the letter, click here, and then use your back button to return to this page or click on the return label at the bottom of the letter.]

Crew HO4CO received orders to photograph an atomic blast series at Yucca Flats, Nevada. This was one of the most exciting experiences of my life. We could only make it up to 27,000 ft. as the engines were overheating.I still do not know if the blast was tethered {tower mounted} or an air drop. I observed what appeared to be a B-45 much higher than we were. The blast was spectacular, almost beyond description. We were quickly hit by the first shockwave, shortly thereafter another from the bounceback from the ground. Within minutes there was a massive boiling fireball that soon mushroomed on up past 50-60,000 ft. The destructive power was beyond belief, a sight I shall never forget.