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CHAPTER 1!, SECTION 1

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NARRATIVE SUMMARY
BACKGROUND.
Operation REDWING marks the fourth
consecutive test series in which Holmes & Narver, Inc. has participated as the Architect-Engineer-Construction-Management Contractor for
the Pacific Proving Ground under contract with
the U.S. Atomic Energy Commission, during

the past eight years. The original criteria esta-

blished for the guidance of the Contractor in the

fall of 1948 covered the development of certain
facilities at Eniwetok Atoll, limited in scope
and degree of permanence to two Test Operations. From this beginning, subsequent assignments advanced to extensive programs involving

the engineering, design, construction, maintenance, and operation of a semi-permanent base;
and the engineering and construction of scien-

tific test facilities required to serve four Test

Operations - GREENHOUSE, IVY, CASTLE,
and REDWING.
The recognition of Eniwetok Atoll as a
semi-permanent base in 1952 focused attention
on the desirability of a Master Plan for long
range improvement of the

Proving

Ground.

Accordingly, the Manager, Eniwetok Field Office, SFOO, later designated Deputy Director,
Test Division, Albuquerque Operations Office,

requested the Contractor to prepare engineering
design studies and cost estimates for a program
to meet the then known requirements. This plan
wasfirst submitted in October 1952. With each
succeeding Test Operation, other requirements
developed, and the plan was revised after CASTLE, and now again upon completion of REDWING. Many of the facilities that were proposed have been provided, thus enabling longterm operation of the Proving Ground.
Completion Reports for the GREENHOUSE, IVY, and CASTLE Operations were
furnished the Atomic Energy Commission fol-

lowing each Test Operation. This report con-

tinues the account of Holmes & Narver’s participation in the Pacific Proving Ground activities and covers the REDWING Operation.
INTERIM PERIOD OPERATIONS.
Prior to the first detonation of the CAS-

TLE Operation, the Deputy Director, Test Di-

vision, Albuquerque Operations Office (AEC
Contract Administrator) requested that studies

be made for the establishment of a temporary
camp at Nan to serve as an advance base of

operations for the next Test Operation in the

same manner as the camp on Tare was then
serving for CASTLE. Holmes & Narver wasre-

quested to consider two alternatives; a complete

new camp in a location best suited to future

development of the island site, or a camp which
utilized existing facilities. Surveys were con-

ducted, camp layouts prepared and, in anticipation of future construction, structural designs

of modular expendable frame buildings that
could be used as standard designs were made.
The camp layouts and the standard plans for
the mess hall and utilities provided for expansion from a 250-man to a 500-man camp and

then to a 1000-man camp.

As the end of Fiscal Year 1954 approached,

the Contractor was furnished a list of basic
assumptions for a scientific program for Operation MILLRACE/REDWING, which was to
be used in preparing a budget forecast for Fiscal
Year 1955. This provided budget criteria for
two barge shots in the MILLRACE Operation
and two barge shots and three ground shots
for REDWING. MILLRACEwas later deleted
from the program and REDWING underwent
many changes. The budget forecast included
additional major base camp facilities consisting
of eleven barracks for Fred, a deep water pier
at Elmer, and a second submarine power cable
between Elmer and Fred.

The last detonation of CASTLE took place
on 14 May 1954, after which the Contractor
continued, until September 1954, a planned program for placing the Proving Ground in a standby condition. During that period particular emphasis was placed on decontamination activities,
and on the rehabilitation of equipment. By
September 1954, manpower for CASTLE had

been reduced from the peak of 2300 men to
approximately 700 men. This was the minimum
practicable number in view of the existing work
load and the anticipated early release of construction for the Nan camp. This force was engaged in completing the Fred airfield improvements program- authorized in July 1954-and
in miscellaneous construction and upkeep.
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