Nuclear Test Medal
Ecce Homo! Loquitur...
Thread Starter
Nuclear Test Medal
How many survive to receive them?
Nuclear Test Medals will be dispatched from today, in recognition of the significant contribution of veterans and civilian staff to the UK’s nuclear deterrent testing programme.
Defence Secretary @grantshapps shares his thoughts on this progress.
Nuclear Test Medals will be dispatched from today, in recognition of the significant contribution of veterans and civilian staff to the UK’s nuclear deterrent testing programme.
Defence Secretary @grantshapps shares his thoughts on this progress.
Avoid imitations
Join Date: Nov 2000
Location: Wandering the FIR and cyberspace often at highly unsociable times
Posts: 14,576
Received 426 Likes
on
225 Posts
Everyone alive at the time has participated in testing the long term effects of fallout in some way or other, knowingly or not.
The following users liked this post:
The following 5 users liked this post by Dan Gerous:
Join Date: Oct 2001
Location: Longitude Zero
Posts: 44
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
I have conducted a certain amount of research on this subject in order to find out what my father was doing on Christmas Island during Operation grapple Y that launched a weapon code named Dickens just 1.5 miles south of the Island in April 1958.
He died of multiple myelomas in 1985. Luckily, I was sired before his visit there. For an example of the impact upon just one man and his successors, see:The Damned: Chapter 3 - Operation Grapple
Pedro
He died of multiple myelomas in 1985. Luckily, I was sired before his visit there. For an example of the impact upon just one man and his successors, see:The Damned: Chapter 3 - Operation Grapple
Pedro
Join Date: Oct 2023
Location: Chipping Sodbury
Posts: 6
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Christmas Island Tests/ 543 Sqdn 1968-1974
What about 543 Sqdn medals. I have been fighting for 543 for months. Our Squadron was tasked with monitoring various air tests carried out but different countries (China, France, USA, and others). Our task was to be detached to a country within reach of the bomb blasts. We had Victor M2 bombers to carry out the task. A long story to cut short.
My detachment was to Lima civilian airport in Peru for 3 months. During this time we had a number of sorties flown. Special scoops fitted to the aircraft and monitoring equipment to find the cloud. The weather chaps plotted the area to fly the aircraft to and then fly directly through the radio active cloud and bring the samples back to Lima. We then had handlers to off load the samples, all dressed in the proper gear. Ground crew had no protective clothing at all. The aircraft were highly radio active. Some of us had to wipe the aircraft down with kim wipes to get rid of some of the radio active material. we wore film badges which were changed every month. We found out later that tha film badges only show Gamma radiation and not Alpha or Beta. Alpha and Beta are the real killers. The aircraft were covered in radio active dust as you would expect after flying through the radio active cloud. We had quite a number of catches and were told it was the most best results they had got so far. This was the last sortie that 543 carried out as all tests were then carried out underground by all countries.
Forward to 2002 when i found i had Non Hodkins Lymphoma on the spleen plus a damaged Thyroid. Claimed from MOD, thrown out. Went to Tribunal with a Group Captain and a professor in radio active material and 'A' and 'H' bomb fallout. After much searching we found many ex 543 chaps who had either died of various cancers or had cancer. We won two Tribunals, mine and one other, a crew chief who had voice box removed due to cancer. We wanted to get others to claim but the families of those that had died didn't want all the heart break all over again which we respected. since then, a number of chaps have claimed so and been paid so maybe the tribunals we won paid off.
I now want to see 543 Sqdn personnel awarded medals as Christmas Island have been. At least it will show we have been recognised. Also we were used as Guinea Pigs as Christmas Island chaps were. At least the families will have something to show for it.
Christmas Island are now taking the MOD to court to try and get them to apologise for the fact they were used as Guinea Pigs. This is being carried out as a 'Crowd Funded Case'. This means it needs funding from as many people who can donate. We have always supported Christmas Island and support this case as well. If you know any ex 543 chaps, please pass on my 'e' mail address
If you require information my 'e' mail is '[email protected]}
Colin Duncan RAF (ret'd)
Chief Tech QSAVNB
My detachment was to Lima civilian airport in Peru for 3 months. During this time we had a number of sorties flown. Special scoops fitted to the aircraft and monitoring equipment to find the cloud. The weather chaps plotted the area to fly the aircraft to and then fly directly through the radio active cloud and bring the samples back to Lima. We then had handlers to off load the samples, all dressed in the proper gear. Ground crew had no protective clothing at all. The aircraft were highly radio active. Some of us had to wipe the aircraft down with kim wipes to get rid of some of the radio active material. we wore film badges which were changed every month. We found out later that tha film badges only show Gamma radiation and not Alpha or Beta. Alpha and Beta are the real killers. The aircraft were covered in radio active dust as you would expect after flying through the radio active cloud. We had quite a number of catches and were told it was the most best results they had got so far. This was the last sortie that 543 carried out as all tests were then carried out underground by all countries.
Forward to 2002 when i found i had Non Hodkins Lymphoma on the spleen plus a damaged Thyroid. Claimed from MOD, thrown out. Went to Tribunal with a Group Captain and a professor in radio active material and 'A' and 'H' bomb fallout. After much searching we found many ex 543 chaps who had either died of various cancers or had cancer. We won two Tribunals, mine and one other, a crew chief who had voice box removed due to cancer. We wanted to get others to claim but the families of those that had died didn't want all the heart break all over again which we respected. since then, a number of chaps have claimed so and been paid so maybe the tribunals we won paid off.
I now want to see 543 Sqdn personnel awarded medals as Christmas Island have been. At least it will show we have been recognised. Also we were used as Guinea Pigs as Christmas Island chaps were. At least the families will have something to show for it.
Christmas Island are now taking the MOD to court to try and get them to apologise for the fact they were used as Guinea Pigs. This is being carried out as a 'Crowd Funded Case'. This means it needs funding from as many people who can donate. We have always supported Christmas Island and support this case as well. If you know any ex 543 chaps, please pass on my 'e' mail address
If you require information my 'e' mail is '[email protected]}
Colin Duncan RAF (ret'd)
Chief Tech QSAVNB
I have conducted a certain amount of research on this subject in order to find out what my father was doing on Christmas Island during Operation grapple Y that launched a weapon code named Dickens just 1.5 miles south of the Island in April 1958.
He died of multiple myelomas in 1985. Luckily, I was sired before his visit there. For an example of the impact upon just one man and his successors, see:The Damned: Chapter 3 - Operation Grapple
Pedro
He died of multiple myelomas in 1985. Luckily, I was sired before his visit there. For an example of the impact upon just one man and his successors, see:The Damned: Chapter 3 - Operation Grapple
Pedro
The dose received by the pilot mentioned, Eric Denson, far exceeds what my employer regards as a safe annual dose, let alone for a single exposure, and I am legally regarded as a Radiation Worker.
And that’s just for Gamma. Start breathing in contaminated dust or ingesting contaminated food or water and all bets are off as to the total dose received during their deployment.
Guinea pigs indeed.
Join Date: Oct 2023
Location: Chipping Sodbury
Posts: 6
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Christmas Island Tests/ 543 Sqdn 1968-1974
You may have further information on others i have not found.
Join Date: Oct 2023
Location: Chipping Sodbury
Posts: 6
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Christmas Island and 543 Squadron
543 Squadron, Nuclear Tests.
Apparently a medal has been released for all those who were part of the British Nuclear Tests from 1952 to 1967. This is not an Armed Forces medal, it is a commemorative medal and can be claimed by any civilian in any country that was part of the Nuclear Tests that were carried out at Christmas Island and other countries. This can be claimed by civilians or Armed Forces of any of these countries if they were participants.
My Question is why no military medal cast For the Christmas Island personnel as recognition of the service they carried out for our country. They have yet again got to go to court to just get recognition for being used as guinea pigs Many have died from radiation and dust poisoning or suffered from the affect of it The court case is 'Crowd Funded' so have a look on the internet and please subscribe to assist them.
On top of all this, the Prime Minister refused to include 543 Squadron in the medals list. 543 Squadron chased fallout from various 'H' bomb tests from about 1968 to 1974. The aircraft were highly radioactive with Alpha, Beta and Gamma dust. We had no protective clothing and many of my friends have died from various cancers and children have suffered from leukaemia. We operated from various countries, my detachment was in Peru in 1974, I also have had cancer but survived.
I am now fighting for medals for our Squadron, we deserve it. This is a shortened part of a very long story. Its a drop in the ocean cost wise for a medal to be cast in recognition of the services these people have rendered.
Apparently a medal has been released for all those who were part of the British Nuclear Tests from 1952 to 1967. This is not an Armed Forces medal, it is a commemorative medal and can be claimed by any civilian in any country that was part of the Nuclear Tests that were carried out at Christmas Island and other countries. This can be claimed by civilians or Armed Forces of any of these countries if they were participants.
My Question is why no military medal cast For the Christmas Island personnel as recognition of the service they carried out for our country. They have yet again got to go to court to just get recognition for being used as guinea pigs Many have died from radiation and dust poisoning or suffered from the affect of it The court case is 'Crowd Funded' so have a look on the internet and please subscribe to assist them.
On top of all this, the Prime Minister refused to include 543 Squadron in the medals list. 543 Squadron chased fallout from various 'H' bomb tests from about 1968 to 1974. The aircraft were highly radioactive with Alpha, Beta and Gamma dust. We had no protective clothing and many of my friends have died from various cancers and children have suffered from leukaemia. We operated from various countries, my detachment was in Peru in 1974, I also have had cancer but survived.
I am now fighting for medals for our Squadron, we deserve it. This is a shortened part of a very long story. Its a drop in the ocean cost wise for a medal to be cast in recognition of the services these people have rendered.
Hello Colin,
My late father-in-law, George Stratford, served on 543 Sqn at Wyton, retiring in 1967. He spoke very little of his time on 543, but I wonder what he got up to on it. He was an AEO and I believe his captain was Flt Lt Pete Clark. George was a W/Op on Wellingtons and Lancs during WW2 being awarded the DFC as a Warrant Officer. After a break from the RAF, following demob in 1945, he rejoined the RAF as a Signaller on Shackletons. Following commissioning as an officer, he joined the V Force on Valiants, then Victors 1 and 2. He had a tankard which commemorated his achievement of being the first to reach 1000 hours on Victors, I believe.
My late father-in-law, George Stratford, served on 543 Sqn at Wyton, retiring in 1967. He spoke very little of his time on 543, but I wonder what he got up to on it. He was an AEO and I believe his captain was Flt Lt Pete Clark. George was a W/Op on Wellingtons and Lancs during WW2 being awarded the DFC as a Warrant Officer. After a break from the RAF, following demob in 1945, he rejoined the RAF as a Signaller on Shackletons. Following commissioning as an officer, he joined the V Force on Valiants, then Victors 1 and 2. He had a tankard which commemorated his achievement of being the first to reach 1000 hours on Victors, I believe.
Hmm...having been involved in air sampling on another aircraft type, would I qualify for a medal due to having been exposed to significant radiation hazard?
After all, solar radiation from the sun on Cocoa Beach, Waikiki Beach and at Diego Garcia could be pretty fierce at times!
After all, solar radiation from the sun on Cocoa Beach, Waikiki Beach and at Diego Garcia could be pretty fierce at times!
