1.6 SIGNIFICANT EVENTS Several times in the past, criticism has been directed at what was considered to be an unnecessary lag in the reduction of the labor force as an operational period advanced. Such criticism can usually be traced to sources only distantly familiar with the peculiar demands of a test operation. To substantiate this view, a summary description of the BRAVO fall-out effects and their impact upon the Contractor's organization has been included in this report. For a more comprehensive coverage of the incident, reference is made to the report of Holmes & Narver, Inc. for Operation CASTLE. On 1 March 1954, at 0645 hours, BRAVO was fired upon an artificial island between Namu and Bokonejien Islands at Bikini Atoll. The decision to fire was based on a predicted surface radex that showed no fall-out on inhabited islands that was significant from a health hazard standpoint. Therefore, on the basis of information available immediately prior to BRAVO, no significant fall-out was expected on inhabited areas and, consequently, it was not considered necessary to evacuate natives from neighboring atolls. How- ever, an emergency plan for such an evacuation was prepared prior to the detonation and put into effect after the detonation. At Rongerik Atoll a detachment of 28 USAF weather personnel were evacuated by aircraft. Evacuation was completed by 1800 hours on 2 March, The highest dosage received was one film badge at 98 roentgens (R) which represented three people living in a tent. Four badges representing the re- mainder of personnel living in metal barracks read 40 R, 40 R, 44 R and 52 R. The ground station at Rongerik began reading about 100 milliroentgens (MR) at 1400 hours on ] March, At Rongelap Atoll, 65 natives were evacuated by ship. Evacuation was completed by 1000 hours on 3 March. The average total dose was computed to have been approximately 100 R. The surface readings at Rongelap at 1830 hours on 2 March were reported as 1.4 R per hour average. An addi- tional 17 natives visiting the neighboring Alinginae Atoll were also evacuated at this time. Their dosage was computed to have been approximately 74 R. At Utirik Atoll, 154 natives were evacuated by ship. Evacuation was com- pleted by 1245 hours on 4 March, The average total dose was computed to have been approximately 17 R. The surface readings at Utirik at 1345 hours on 3 March were reported as 160 MR per hour. Evacuation proceedings were completed within 78 hours after the BRAVO detonation and all of the native evacuees were taken to Kwajalein and placed under the care and supervision of COMNAVSTAKWAJALEIN, The Rongelap natives were subsequently transferred to Majuro Atoll where it is anticipated they will remain for approximately one year before returning to Rongelap. Temporary living facilities, costing about $50,000., were constructed at Majuro Atoll by Holmes & Narver forces for the accommodation of the displaced natives as shown in Figures 5, 6 and 7, Return of the Utirik natives