3.8.2 King Shot
All islands of the atoll, other than Eniwetok and Parry, were evacuated for King Shot.
Compared to the Mike Shot evacuation this posed a simple problem, but the method of solution
was somewhat similar. Again a chronological check list was prepared to schedule all intraatoll transportation of personnel and equipment, this time for the 3'4-day period prior to the
shot. The list was not issued, however, but was used as a work sheet for the construction of
Operational Directive K-3 which was issued in its stead~—a combined airlift and boat
schedule.
Evacuation of all northern islands other than Runit was completed the afternoon of M-1
day, and a partial safety sweep was made by helicopter. Runit was evacuated the evening of
K-1 day except for two H&N powerhouse personnel who remained on duty all night. A muster
was conducted the evening of K~1 day. On the morning of King Day the powerhouse was
“puttoned up,” a final check of selected instrumentation was made, and thefinal safety sweep
was conducted. Evacuation was completed by 0830, at which time the drop aircraft entered the
area,
Although the atoll was not completely evacuated for King Shot, the potential for such an
evacuation was maintained as insurance against the eventuality of hazardous postshot fall-out
on Parry and Eniwetok Islands. No such fall-out occurred; hence the potential was not utilized. The postponement of King Day did not alter the above procedures.
3.9
OPERATIONS AFLOAT
Headquarters, TG 132.1 established a Command Postafloat on the USS Estes at 1700 M-1
day. Firing control equipment (for detonation of the Mike device by remote control) and communication facilities (for adequate control of other elements of the Task Group aboard other
vessels) were installed on board this ship.
By 2230 M1 day the evacuation of Eniwetok Atoll was completed except for the Firing
Party on the shot island and a small detail on Parry. The Firing Party, after completing their
instrumentation and Firing Party check-out lists, departed the shot island at 0100 via AVR and
returned to the USS Estes, which was moored off Parry Island. The USS Estes then proceeded
to sea and maneuvered so as to be at a position 30 miles, bearing 135° true, from the shot island at zero hour. The firing control room on board the USS Estes consisted of two television
monitor scopes for observing the positions of timing signals, Go-No-Go indicators and the
monitor dials of various important systemsof the device itself, and a control panel located between the two monitor scopes to permit the use of three radio links for control of the timing
signals, sequence timer, and the emergency stop. In the appropriate sequence the controls
were activated to detonate the Mike device at 0715, 1 November 1952.
The Gunnery and Landing Force Office was used as the Command Post by CTG 132.1
afloat, This space was equipped with the necessary communication and monitoring facilities to
provide for the control of other elements of the Task Group.
The Command Post returned to Parry Island at 0800 M+2 days.
3.10
SAMPLE RETURN
The return of radioactive samples to various laboratories within the Zone of the Interior
(ZI) was accomplished with specifically assigned MATSaircraft. These aircraft were desig-
nated by the word “Easy” preceded bythe flight number. Numbers one through four were for
Mike Shot, and numbersfive through eight were for King Shot. For each pair of such flights an
extra plane was assigned for emergency backup purposes. Although no emergencies arose, two
of the backup planes were utilized for additional sample return—one for Mike Shot which bore
the designation Four Easy Extra and one for King Shot which bore the designation Eight Easy
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