Engineer to make a reconnaissance of the atoll and a small survey party departed Eniwetok via LST on 15 September 1952 for this pur~ pose, They were joined three days later by other F&N representa- tives as well as a small number of AEC and JIF 132 personnel. As a result of this initial survey, it was decided that the southern islands fran Eniirikku to Airukiiji were best suited for base operations and Eninman Island was determined to be the most desirable campsite, Shortly after this initial reconnaissance, H&N established Bikini construction requirements and the first echelon of thirtynine H&N employees landed there on 2 October 1952. In the mean- time, AEC approval for use of Bikini had been formally stated and by the first of November ashore facilities had been completed. ‘There had occurred a gradual augmentation of personnel, bringing the total population to 200. Thus, the Bikini construction phase for CASTLE was begun well before the conclusion of IVY and construction of a base camp, a pier and dredged channel, a 4,500-foot air~ Strip, and a causeway were underway. Many other requirements had to be satisfied before Bikini could be considered ready for the full-time construction progran, however. Rehabilitation of the buoyage system; establishment of a local transportation system between tne two atolls; coordination of supply movements; and consideration of security regulations were all problems to be resolved by the various groups at work on CASTLE planning.