HISTORICAL BACKGROUND
The REDWING series was held primarily to test high-yield thermonuclear devices that
could not be tested in Nevada.
The development and testing of these devices, which
generate their explosive power through the fusion or joining of hydrogen atoms, began in
1950 and had advanced to the stage that one of these was dropped from a B-52 bomber in
REDWING.
This test drop, although of some scientific interest, was probably more a
demonstration to the world of the deliverability of these weapons than an experiment. The
drop was witnessed by a group of U.S. newsmen, the first such group invited to view a
Pacific nuclear test since 1946.
The

devices

were

tested

at

the PPG

designated Joint Task Force 7 (JTF 7).
populated by military personnel,

by

a

joint military

and civilian

organization

This was a military organization in form, but was

Federal

civilian employees,

and contractor personnel

of

the Department of Defense (DOD) and the AEC.
The commander of this force was the
appointed representative of the AEC and reported also to the Joint Chiefs of Staff (JCS)
and the Commander in.Chief, Pacific (CINCPAC). The peak DOD numerical strength of REDWING

was approximately as follows:

Uniformed military
DOD civil service

DOD contractors
Total DOD personnel

9,710
600

140
10,450

In addition, several thousand men from the AEC and its contractors,
Government agencies, and some foreign observers were present.
Numerous
detonations.
test

few

from other

technical experiments were carried out in conjunction with each of the 17
These experiments measured the yield and efficiency of the devices and

attempted to gauge the military effects of the explosions.
this

a

operation

as

individuals

whose

duty

DOD personnel participated in

stations

were

at

the

AEC

design

laboratories, as units performing separate experiments, and as units performing various
Support roles.

The REDWING operations placed most of the Navy support group at Bikini,

where its ships provided living space for personnel who were evacuated from the islands
before each test.
An
were;

extensive

radiological

safety

(radsafe}

program was instituted whose objectives

|].

Maintenance of personnel radiation exposure at the lowest
possible
level
consistent with
medical
knowledge
of
radiation effects and the importance of the test series.

2.

Avoidance of inadvertent contamination of populated islands
or transient shipping.

The program established an organization to provide radsafe expertise and services to the
separate components of the task force who were responsible for personnel safety within
their commands.

Personnel

were trained in radiological

safety,

and standards governing

maximum permissible exposures (MPE) were established. The MPE was set at 3.9 R for the
series. Film badges were provided for all of the participating personnel. Persons likely
to be exposed to radiation were often provided with additional badges for more complete
recording of exposure. An extensive weather forecasting group was established in order to
predict wind directions and areas of potential fallout.
Personnel were evacuated from
danger areas

before each detonation, and reentry to radioactive areas was restricted to

the personne! required to retrieve important data.
TEST OPERATIONS AND EXPOSURES
the

Tests were conducted at both Enewetak Atoll] and Bikini Atoll some 190 nmi (352 km) to
east of Enewetak.
The Marshall Islanders were evacuated from Bikini in 1946 and

Enewetak

in

1948.

Enewetak

served

as

a

base

of

operations

and

the

place

where

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