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* Mock A-Bom b Show At Delaware Track States National Guard to Stage Unusual Event During Armed Forces Day, May 18 STANTON, Del., May 10. — A mock atomic bomb explosion, part of war maneuver by units of the Delaware National Guard, will have its first public exhibition on Armed Forces Day, May 18, at Delaware Park, Stanton. "Operation Preparedness," involving blank ammunition, the sight and sound of the A-bomb without it danger, and anti-aircraft maneuvers will be staged as a combined guard training procedure and public display. Permission for this unusual event as an open show has been granted by the U. S. Continental Army Command. The A-bomb simulator, previously used exclusively for troop training, is now being assembled for Delaware Guard use at the Blue Grass Ordnance Center, Richmond, Ky. The safe but impressive "first" for Delaware will start about 1 p. m. on Saturday, May 18, following the mid-Wilmington Armed Forces Day parade. There is no admission charge and motorists are advised to use the Ogletown Road entrance to Delaware Park at Stanton. This is the third consecutive year in which officials of the Deleware Steeplechase and Race Association have co-operated with the Delaware National Guard in I providing the extensive facilities of the Stanton track. Racing Oval Will Be Target The parks racing oval will be the "target" for the mock atomic war maneuver, in which members of the Guards 198th AAA group will be central figures. Heavy tanks, infantrymen, all gun units, and sa-brejets from the Guards 142nd Fighter Interceptor Squadron, led by Maj". David F. McCallister, winner of last years national Ricks Trophy jet race, will provide air support. The public may witness the entire operation from the Delaware Park grandstand. A public address system will be used to describe the military tactics followed by the guardsmen on the track, and the audience will be able to hear the full orders issued for every phase of the maneuver. The authentic sound of the A-bomb, and I the 100-foot high mushroom column of | smoke produced by the simulator, will be i audible and visible for some 10 miles, lasting approximately five minutes. As now planned by tactical officers of the Guard unit, troops of the 198th will repre-j sent both the home defense force in the j "war" and "enemy" units dressed as agres-! sors. Teams of infantrymen and heavy , tanks will advance upon the "enemys" position at one end of the track oval, using a i pincher movement toward the opposing J groups location. The two advancing col-j umns, supported by g"uns, will then receive assistance from the squadrons aircraft, at j which point the "A-bomb" will be exploded by the simulator located in full view of the | audience. The air support and the "bomb" theo-i retically will wipe out the "enemy." At this point, the realistic evacuation of "casualties" on both sides will be staged by emergency disaster teams. • Maj. Gen. Joseph J. Scannell, adjutant i general of the guard, today described the I "Operation Preparedness" program as "a i rare opportunity for the public to witness a ! safe yet realistic military maneuver as it , would be carried out in case of actual at-i tack. "We are grateful to officials and staff of Delaware Park for their continuing co-operation in providing the fine facilities of the Stanton track for this combined train-j ing and educational maneuver. This impor-| tant Armed Forces Day demonstration has been granted the Delaware National Guard j by top army officials, and we are grateful I for the honor and opportunity. We hope all I Delawareans interested in home defense j will take advantage of the general invita-j tion to attend." Approval of the A-bomb simulators use, i in conjunction with the 198ths training j event under the command of Col. J. James Ashton, was given by Col. Kelvin H. Hunter, associate director, U. S. Continental Army Command, highest active Army echelon in the country.
