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With this action, Joint Task Force Seven was relieved of further responsibility for
Post-Sandstone requirements. One project remained to be done; T.G. 7.2 was charged with
providing the necessary living accommodations for the garrison. This was accomplished
concurrently with the Task Group’s normal roll-up responsibilities. In addition, the Army
Task Group performed the following tasks in placing the technical installations of the proving ground in a standby status:
1. Accomplished the destruction of certain test structures and contaminated materials
which might provide information or samples of value to an intruder.
2. Completed surveys of the three’ crater areas to determine the location of the materials which previously filled the craters.
3. Coated all gamma stations with a’ protective covering of asphalt and sand to prevent deterioration
of the structures.
4. Greased and cosmolined all metal parts of the gamma stations and timing stations.
5. Removed and stored
and storage batteries.
certain
6. Disposed of by dumping
compressors and condensers.
7. Bulldozed
cer~in
equipment
into deep water
extraneous materials
such as winches,
contaminated
generators,
equipment,
spare cable,
such as motors,
in the vicinity of the blast hut into the
lagoon.
8. Removed and disfigured blast footings and moved test structures of the Bureau of.
Yards and Docks to new positions to prevent possible disclosure of information.
9. Cleaned up or moved all miscellaneous items that might expose restricted data.
In the accomplishment of the roll-up the Task Force required considerable shipping.
Approximately 35,000 measurement tons of cargo were landed at Eniwetok and about
24,000 tons of this amount required return to the United States or Oahu. Of the approximate y 20,000 measurement tons landed at K wajalein, about 8,000 tons required return.
Return shipments commenced on 15 March. By 1 May some 9,000 measurement tons
were loaded out of Eniwetok and about 1,000 tons out fo Kwajalein. The remainder of the
out-shipments were phased out during the month of May and the first half of June with the
last shipment from Eniwetok scheduled on 15 June and from Kwajalein on 12 June .
Personnel were moved both by air and water. From Eniwetok, 5,263 persons were returned by unit surface vessel, 356 by military aircraft and 1,925 by surface vessel. The
Air Task Group moved approximately 602 by unit aircraft. In addition, 357 persons were
returned from Kwajalein by air and 648 by surf ace craft.
Return of personnel was commenced in April when part of the 18th Engineer Company
departed, having completed its assigned tasks on Engebi. The policy of returning personnel as they became available was followed throughout the roll-up period.
The major ships of the Task Force departed Eniwetok Lagoon on 20 May, West Longitude Time. Headquarters of the Task Force had moved to Fort Shafter two days earlier.
General Hull returned to Oahu on 18 May with selected members of the stiff to complete his report on the Operation for submission to the Joint Chiefs of Staff. Deactivation
during the latter part of June was scheduled and so recommended ta the Joint Chiefs of
staff.
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