NEVADA TEST SITE

The eighth full scale nuclear test of the current series was fired at 7:00 a.m. PDT today above Yucca Flat. It was known as "John" shot, and was an effects test of an air-to-air rocket with nuclear warhead conducted for the military services.

A modified MB-1 rocket was launched from an F-89 Scorpion, one of three in the formation and all from the Air Defense Command, Ent Air Force Base, Colorado Springs. It detonated at a point in space more than 15,000 feet above the northern portion of Yucca Flat. The warhead was of a weapon design by Los Alamos Scientific Laboratory. Its yield was well below nominal.

Six military observers were positioned on the ground directly below the aerial burst. They were: Colonel S.C. Bruce, Lieutenant Colonel F.P. Ball, Major J.S. Hughes, Major D. A. Luttrel, and Mr. L.C. Yamosopo.

The three F-89s operated from Indian Springs Air Force Base.

Following the shot, the Test Organization announced that it will have a weather evaluation meeting at 4:30 p.m. today to determine whether to go ahead with plans for firing the Owens shot at 6:60 a.m. PDT, Sarurday, July 20.

It was also announced that the readiness date for the Kepler shot, the next of those which will be open to news media, will be Tuesday, July 23, and that the pre-Kepler meeting with the press will be in Las Vegas at 10 a.m. Monday, July 22. The readiness date for the next following open shot, Shasta, is four days following detonation of Kepler.

Colonel H.E. Parsons, Deputy Test Manager for military matters, reported after the shot that the test was apparently fully successful, including accuracy in achieving detonation at the desired point in space and including the various effects experiments.