20 January 1983
Fact
Sheet
AOR4Y &
CAA
Defense Nuclear Agency
Public Affairs Office
Washington, D.C. 20305
Operation REDWING
REDWING was a 17-detonation nuclear weapon test series (see table) held at the Atomic
Energy Commission's (AEC) Pacific Proving Ground (PPG) in spring and summer 1956. The PPG
consisted principally of Enewetak* and Bikini atolls in the northwestern Marshall Islands
in the Central Pacific Ocean.
REDWING test events, 19564
Assigned
Name
Date
Location
(local time)
LACROSSE
CHEROKEE
Enewetak; surface on Runit Island
Bikini; airdrop near Nam Island
5 May
21 May
YUMA
ERIE
SEMINOLE
FLATHEAD
BLACKFOOT
KICKAPOO
Enewetak; tower on Aomon Island
Enewetak; tower on Runit Island
Enewetak; surface on Boken Island
Bikini; barge of Iroij Island
Enewetak; tower on Runit Island
Enewetak; tower on Aomon Island
28
31
6
12
12
14
May
May
June
June
June
June
22
26
3
9
11
21
June
June
July
July
July
July
ZUNI
OSAGE
INCA
DAKOTA
MOHAWK
AP ACHE
NAVAJO
TEWA
HURON
Bikini; surface on Eneman Island
28 May
Enewetak; airdrop over Runit Island
Enewetak; tower on Lujor Island
Bikini; barge off Iroij Island
Enewetak; tower on Eleleron Island
Enewetak; barge off Dridrilbwij Island
Bikini; barge off lroij Island
Bikini; barge over Nam Island reef
Enewetak; barge off Dridrilbwij Island
16 June
-
22 July
4yjields not announced except: LACROSSE (40 KT), CHEROKEE (“several MT"),
ZUNI (3.5 MT), SEMINOLE (13.7 KT), TEWA (5 MT). One kiloton equals the
approximate energy release of the explosion of one thousand tons of TNT;
one megaton equals the approximate energy release of the explosion of one
million tons of TNT.
*The spelling of Marshall Island place names has changed in recent years in
order to more accurately render the sounds of the Marshall Island names using
English spelling.
ENCLOSURE (9)