ˌɑːpɚɹˈeɪʃən kɹˈɔsɹoʊdz bɪɡˈæn wɪððə fˈɜːst blˈæst tˈɛst ˈeɪbəl, ɐn ˈɛɹ bˈɜːst ˌɔn wˈʌn dʒuːlˈaɪ; sækˈɑːwə wʌz fˈɪld wɪð kˈeɪdʒᵻz kəntˈeɪnɪŋ vˈɛɹiəs ˈænɪməlz təbi tˈɛstᵻd fɔːɹ ɹˌeɪdɪˈeɪʃən ɪfˈɛkts.
Operation Crossroads began with the first blast (Test Able), an air burst on 1 July; Sakawa was filled with cages containing various animals to be tested for radiation effects.