Atom Bomb Dress Rehearsal Called "Swell" by Blandy

ABOARD THE U.S.S. MT. McKINLEY OFF BIKINI--Vice Adm. W.H.P. Blandy today pronounced the Queen Day rehearsal of the atomic bomb test a success despite a series of attending mishaps, and sent a fleet of small boats into Bikini Lagoon for a full-dress radiological safety exercise involving several hundred men.

Adm. Blandy, commander of joint Task Force One and director of Operations Crossroads, watched the army super-fortress "Dave's Dream" drop an explosive but non-atomic dummy bomb close to the center of the 75-ship target.

Blandy's first reaction was an informal "swell." Later he said, "I hope the real show set for July 1 will go as good as the rehearsal."