CHAPTER I, SECTION 1
of considerable concern because of the always
present possibility that an employee may claim
damagesas a result of such overexposure.
CAMP OPERATIONS
Quarters, facilities and services were operated by Holmes & Narver to house, sustain and
support all personnel of Joint Task Force
SEVEN, except those who lived on site Fred

and in Naval vessels. To accomplish this, tem-

porary camps at Tare, Charlie, Fox, Nan and
Ursula were provided and the permanent camp
at Elmer was expanded. Each camp contained

all necessary facilities for housing, messing, PX
store, barber shop, refreshment bars, mail,

laundry and utilities.
ed),

The total peak population (H&N support-

including all sites and all groups, was

reached on 28 February, 1954, with a total of
3398. The breakdownof this figure is as follows:
Holmes & Narver (Permanent)....1804
Holmes & Narver (TDY).............. 11
Insurance Representative ..............
1

Task Group 7.1.000.0000000000 ee. 1010
Task Group 7.2......000.0.00.00: ee 244
Task Group 7.320.000.0000. 88
Task Group 7.4...00.000000.000.... vecteeee 88
Task Group 7.5.0000..00000.cc eee. 19
JTF SEVEN wee 133
Total

3398

Furnishing water transportation for men,

materials and equipment between the various
sites of each Atoll was a considerable task. This
was accomplished by operation of landing craft,

water taxis, DUKWs, barges and tugs by the
Holmes & Narver boat pool, augmented during

the operational phase by craft from a U.S. Navy
boat pool. Transportation between Atolls was

supplied by Task Group 7.3 by means of regular LST trips with occasional trips of an LSD

or other types of vessels.

Air transportation between Atolls was pro-

vided in the initial phase by means of PBMs
which were made available on a non-scheduled
basis. On 30 January 1953, a C-47 made the
first landing on the Peter-Oboe airstrip, shown

in plan drawing,

thereafter

this

Figure 2-47, Chapter II, and

type

of

plane

was regularly

scheduled. At the start, the schedules provided

for two flights per week, but this frequency was
increased as the need arose and eventually
reached four flights per day. Intra-atoll air

transportation at Bikini was provided by heli-

copters solely, thus eliminating the need for

building airstrips at the various sites. The service provided by these craft proved of material
assistance because of the helicopter’s ability to
land small working parties at isolated locations.
Intra-atoll air transportation at Eniwetok was
provided by small liaison planes of the L-13

class and by helicopters. Due to a shortage of

pilots, this service was considerably curtailed
during the months of June, July and August of
1953, necessitating additional water taxi service.

MAINTENANCE
The problem of preservation and mainten-

ance of the facilities and structures was inten-

sified by the rapid corrosion and deterioration
of substantially all ferrous materials due to the

tropical atmosphere and salt spray prevalent
at both Atolls. Frequent chipping or sandblasting and painting of metal surfaces was necessary

except on aluminum buildings, which were comparatively maintenancefree.

Continuous preventative maintenance pro-

grams were established. Operating periods of
equipment were recorded and overhaul was
placed on a scheduled basis. Due to the distance
of the Jobsite from the source of supply, it was
essential that an adequate supply of spare parts
be maintained at all times.

SUPPORT SERVICES
In accordance with Job IV of the Contract,
support was provided to the Scientific agencies
in assisting them in instrumentation and related
work. This work was controlled by the initiation
by the User of a Job IV work order, which required approval of the AEC Resident Engineer

before the work could be undertaken. As of 1

June 1954, a total of 1479 Job IV work orders

had been
CASTLE.

executed

during

OPERATION

Support Services - Job IV Subsidiary
Accounts include a detailed account of support

services rendered to the various Using Agencies

and Task Groups. These included five JFT
SEVEN Task Groups and 11 Task Units, together with 9 Scientific Programs and 52
Scientific Projects applicable thereto.
ROLL-UP and TEST OPERATIONS
Prior to the first detonation, the Charlie
camp was completely rolled up and the camp
at Fox was reduced to a size to support 75 men

for 10 days. After the Bravo event, roll-up of
the Tare and Nan camps proceeded under adverse working conditions. (Refer to Chapter

VII, Section 2). Roll-up of the Scientific Sta-

tions not needed for test purposes proceeded
as a parallel operation with the roll-up of all
other facilities. With the cancellation of the

Echo event, the roll-up of the camp on Ursula
was accomplished. All equipment, materials and

supplies not intended for post-test use were

scheduled to be preserved,
made ready for future use.

mothballed,

and

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