As an example of the thinking at the time, there's Walter Miller (e.g. Canticle for Liebowitz, and a story involving the invasion of Russia) and I think some other SF from the 50s, where the distinction was made between Abombs, ho hum, big bombs and Hbombs, the scary ueber-weapon. So, yes, Abombs WERE seen largely as 'big bombs' by a significant portion of the population of the time.
Can anyone provide evidence from that time that they were viewed as more than that?
Can anyone provide evidence from that time that they were viewed as more than that?