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