The Atomic Armada - The Forgotten Wrecks of Bikini Atoll

A project in Port Orchard, WA by Adrian Smith
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In 1946 the US detonated a 23 kiloton atomic bomb at Bikini Atoll. Historic vessels sunk are deteriorating rapidly and need documenting
Backers: 153
Average Pledge Per Backer: $133

Funded: $20,327 of $27,000
Dates: Mar 13th -> Apr 12th (30 days)
Project By: Adrian Smith
Tags:
documentaryhistoric +Suggest

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$20,327

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Last Updated: April 12 @ 13:45 -0400 GMT

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Latest News

Out last day!

April 11th - via: kickstarter.com
We only have 21 hours left to reach our funding goal for the Atomic Armada documentary project on Kickstarter. If you haven't pledged yet please help us out! If we don't meet our goal it won't cost you a thing! Thank you to all those people who have... (Read More)

Our last day!

April 11th - via: kickstarter.com
This post is for backers only. Please visit Kickstarter.com and log in to read. (Read More)

Time's running out!

April 10th - via: kickstarter.com
We're only 44 hours from our funding deadline! Please help us by pledging. Thank you!  (Read More)

Chief Culver Interview Excerpt

April 9th - via: kickstarter.com
Here's 60 seconds of the two-hour interview we did yesterday morning with Chief Orion Culver, stationed on the USS Saratoga (CV-3) from 1941 until she was sunk at Bikini in 1946. This is raw video, simply edited for length. The complete interview... (Read More)

What a great interview!

April 8th - via: kickstarter.com
We just finished a great interview with 90-year old retired Navy Chief Orion Culver. Chief Culver joined the Saratoga in mid-1941 and was with her until she was sunk at Bikini in 1946! We're currently editing the interview. Please help us make the... (Read More)

Only a few days left!

April 7th - via: kickstarter.com
Tomorrow's the day! We'll be interviewing a 90-year old veteran of the USS Saratoga in the morning, and we'll post video as soon as we can! There are only a few days left to sponsor the Atomic Armada project. If we don't reach our funding goal the... (Read More)

Another interview scheduled!

April 6th - via: kickstarter.com
We got a call back from the 90-year old USS Saratoga (CV-3) veteran yesterday, and we've arranged to interview him this coming week! We'll post excerpts as soon as we can after the interview. Please help us reach our funding goal for the Atomic... (Read More)

We're in the paper again! And only six days to go!

April 5th - via: kickstarter.com
We're in the paper again! Only six days to go!The North Kitsap Herald ran a story on the project in today's paper. I've included a picture of it below.We only have six days left to fund the Atomic Armada - the Forgotten Wrecks of Bikini Atoll! Please... (Read More)

Lagerstedt Interview excerpt

April 4th - via: kickstarter.com
Phil Lagerstedt joined the Navy in 1944 at the age of 17. He served aboard the USS Belleau Wood (CVL-24) until the war's end, and subsequently crewed the USS Pennsylvania (BB-38) from Bremerton, WA to Bikini Atoll, where he witnessed the Bikini... (Read More)

Watch for an interview excerpt later today!

April 4th - via: kickstarter.com
We're currently editing the 2-hour interview we did yesterday with an 86-year old veteran who was present at Bikini for the bomb test! We'll be posting an excerpt later today. Stay tuned! If you haven't pledged yet please consider it. Time's running... (Read More)

A Veteran's Interview

April 3rd - via: kickstarter.com
Of the roughly 42,000 men who were present at the Baker blast at Bikini Atoll only a few are still with us. We are privileged to have located one of these men living in Port Orchard, and will be interviewing him this morning. Selected clips from this... (Read More)

Did You Know?

April 2nd - via: kickstarter.com
Did you know? The sail of the USS Balao (SS-285), the class lead vessel of the Balao class submarine, is a memorial at the Navy Yard Navy Museum in Washington, DC. The Apogon (SS-308) and Pilotfish (SS-386), both sunk at Blkini Atoll in the Baker... (Read More)

Did You Know?

March 31st - via: kickstarter.com
As recently as 1989 the US Navy considered salvaging the Prinz Eugen for scrap metal. The request was rejected for fear of contaminating the world's metal supply with radioactive scrap metal. Please consider sponsoring our Atomic Armada Kickstarter... (Read More)

Did You Know?

March 30th - via: kickstarter.com
While the Navy began immediate salvage operations on as many US vessels as possible after the Baker blast, the HIJMS Nagato was allowed to sink over a period of 4 days. She was not reboarded and no pumping efforts were undertaken. The time of her... (Read More)

Did You Know?

March 29th - via: kickstarter.com
Did you know? One short film sequence of the Baker blast shows a dark space in the water column. Debate still goes on as to whether this was: A) Smoke B) A hollow in the water column C) The USS Arkansas, lifted out of the water by the blast. Please... (Read More)

15 days to go

March 28th - via: kickstarter.com
Today marks the halfway point in the Atomic Armada Kickstarter documentary project. We're just under 50% in our funding, and we deeply appreciate those people who have showed their faith in us by sponsoring the project. You're the ones who make this... (Read More)

Did You Know?

March 27th - via: kickstarter.com
The fleet assembled at Bikini Atoll for the Baker bomb test was at the time the 4th or 5th largest navy in the world! Please help us reach our Kickstarter documentary funding goal, and please tell everyone you know about the project! Thank you.  (Read More)

Did You Know?

March 26th - via: kickstarter.com
75 press representatives from 11 nations including the Soviet Union watched the Bikini bomb blast. Thank you for supporting the Atomic Armada project! Remember to tell everyone you know about the project - the more people who know the greater the... (Read More)

Did You Know?

March 25th - via: kickstarter.com
The public outcry in 1946 at the idea of sinking a number of ships at Bikini Atoll that (in the public mind) were still useful prompted the Navy to calculate the value of the sunken vessels as scrap metal. Their total? $3.7 million US. The cost of a... (Read More)

We're in the news!

March 24th - via: kickstarter.com
Thanks to Athena and Nick for bringing the project to the editor's attention!http://www.kitsapsun.com/news/2013/mar/23/underwater-fleet-at-bikini-atoll-inspires-port/#axzz2ON7IuOmmPlease consider sponsoring us. Thanks!  (Read More)

Did You Know?

March 24th - via: kickstarter.com
The official reason for the Crossroads bomb tests was to see if Navy vessels could survive an atomic attack. Unfortunately almost all of the vessels that survived the Baker blast were too contaminated to be of further use and had to be scuttled.... (Read More)

Crowdfund a documentary about Bikini Atoll's wrecks and tales of bicycles in space

March 17th - via: io9.com
The ships sunk by an atomic blast at Bikini Atoll are the subject of a documentary—and you can give it a helping hand. Also check out a Lovecraft-inspired marionette show and an anthology of science fiction stories about bicycles. (Read More)

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