with a total of seveh H-19 helicopters operated by TG 7.4 and dispatched by
TG 7.5. In January, regularly scheduled flights were initiated beginning at
Eninman Island and circuiting the atoll, alternating between clockwise and
counter-clockwise directions.

Stops were made at Enyu, Romurikku, and

Namu Islands where minimum-cost landing mate were provided. The number of flights began with 10 per day which was subsequently increased to 12
per day with the arrival of the TG 7.3 (Marine Corps Helicopter Squadron)

during the last week in January.

The TG 7.4 detachment continued to assist

in the airlift operations until phased out to_Eniwetok late in February.

The

flow of traffic hit a peak in February with arate of approximately 3000 passengers per week,

After BRAVO, all helicopter flights became special mis-

sions operating from the USS BAIROKO.

A TG 7.5 motor pool was established at all camp sitesand the maintenance of all vehicles was the responsibility of TG 7.5.
Available land transportation vehicles were allocated to the various sites

according to the actual needs of each site,

Permanent assignment of vehi-

cles from the pool was permitted for certain individuals where there was
need for such assignment. This arrangement applied to Bikini Atoll as well
as Eniwetok.
,

Bus service was initiated on 7 July 1953 with departure at 50 minute in-.
tervals from the Administration Building on Eninman to the airport terminal
on Airukiraru.

In June 1953 there were 112 light vehicles at the PPG, including jeeps,
pickups and personnel carriers, Additional pieces were received from July
through March 1954 which brought the total up to 154.
4.4 INTERATOLL

Air transportation between Eniwetok and Bikini Atolls during the initial
phase was on a non-scheduled basis by means of PBMs stationed at Kwajalein.
Upon completion of the Airukiraru - Airukiiji Islands airstrip, TG 7.4 provided regularly scheduled C-47 flights over the 189 nautical miles separating
the two atolls. The schedule began with two flights per week which was gradually increased to a frequency of from one to four flights per day. After
BRAVO, the PBM planes were used to provide limited interatoll transporta-

tion and the C-47 airlift revived whenever radiation levels and debris removal
permitted re-entry to the Bikini airstrip. From August 1953 through 9 May
1954, a total of 6428 C-47 flights were made between Eniwetok and Bikini

Atolls.

Interatoll water transportation was principally by means of TG 7.3 LSTs.

Early requirements were met with the services of one ship which was later
increased to two ships.

These ships alternately made round trips which av-

eraged six days each. Scheduling of ships was performed by TG 7.5 as were
all arrangements for loading and unloading. An LSD made two interatoll”

69

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