Nuclear Museum Logo
Nuclear Museum Logo

National Museum of Nuclear Science & History

William Stewart was an engineer in the Special Engineering Detachment at Los Alamos, New Mexico. Specifically, Stewart worked in “Project Trinity” under the leadership of George Kistiakowsky and Kenneth Bainbridge. Stewart helped set up the Trinity test of the plutonium implosion weapon and witnessed the first atomic explosion in history on July 16, 1945.

He was discharged in March of 1946 and hired as a civilian (via the University of California, Berekley) to go to the Bikini Atoll for work with Operation Crossroads, the first series of postwar atomic tests.

William R. Stewart’s Timeline
1944 Mar 20th Arrived in Lamy, New Mexico before being sent to Los Alamos.

1944 Assigned to Explosives Division under the leadership of George Kistiakowsky and Kenneth Bainbridge

1945 Jul Helped set up the Trinity test and witnessed first atomic detonation on July 16 in Alamogordo, New Mexico

1946 Mar Discharged from military and from Manhattan Project. However, Stewart stayed continued to work on the development of atomic weapons and participated in Operation Crossroads, the first series of postwar atomic tests.

Related Profiles

H.C. Sittig

Hanford, WA

Frederick J. Olivi

Nagasaki Mission

Frederick J. Olivi served as a member of the 393rd Bombardment Squadron of the 509th Composite Group.

J. P. Hogan

Oak Ridge, TN

J. P. Hogan worked for Hanley & Company.

Clarence D. Hawkins

Oak Ridge, TN