RAMs ay ut 1 agpelees “3 ed = ng ‘© ni or = CHAPTER 2 OPERATIONS iJ 2 Preliminary estimates of the extent and intensity of fall-out expected from Mike shot varied by as much as an order of magnitude. Since no one estimate could be assigned a high degree of confidence, plans were based on the maximum prediction. Lg ei ee z as = st 2: Providing instrumentation for extensive areas, many of which were over open water, pre- sented a difficult logistic problem. Since it was not practical to locate stations at great dis- tances over 360°, a forecast was made of the most probable wind pattern expected at shot time, and this was used as a basis for laying out the collecting station array. Atoll island stations, anchored lagoon stations, distant island stations, and an array of free-floating sea stations oriented in the quadrant having the highest probability of receiving fall-out were used. An examination of the geographical location of Eniwetok Atoll, and in particular Elugelab Island, on which the shot occurred, shows that the number of land masses available for fallout studies was extremely limited (Fig. 2.1). Beyond Eniwetok Atoll, the following were the only logistically acceptable locations for these studies: Guam, about 1000 miles to the west; Wake, about 600 miles to the northeast; Bikini, about 190 miles to the east; Kwajalein and Majuro, to the southeast about 300 and 600 miles, respectively; Kusaie, about 400 miles to the south; and Ujelang and Ponape, to the southwest about 150 and 300 miles. 4 2.1 LAND STATIONS Stations were established on the following islands of Eniwetok Atoll: Bogallua (Alice), Engebi (Janet), Yeiri (Nancy), Piiraai (Wilma), Runit (Yvonne), Aniyaanii (Bruce), Parry (Elmer), and Eniwetok (Fred). Stations were also located on Bikini, Kwajalein, Majuro, Ponape, and Kusaie (Fig. 2.2). A detailed description of equipment used at each of these points is given in Chap. 3. Emplacements for the land stations on Eniwetok Atoll were constructed by Holmes and Narver from specifications furnished by project personnel. Stations outside the Atoll required no special installations. On Majuro, Ponape, and Kusaie, task force weather units assumed responsibility for the operation of the stations. Since the equipment on Bikini and Kwajalein was more extensive, these stations were operated by project personnel. A station on Wake had been planned, but it was abandoned because of typhoon damage. No station was planned for Guam since it was assumedthat the possibility of fall-out there was very remote. The island of Ujelang to the southwest is the nearest island to Eniwetok, Although it was not possible to locate a station there, one was installed aboard a Navy LST which was V. standing off the island to evacuate island personnel if such action was necessary. Transportation of equipment and personnel to each of the islands was made by periodically scheduled PBM aircraft. 11