countered and advising the senior memberof the party as to potential hazard. Each recoveryteam member was supplied with a pocket-size integrating dosimeter, a film badge, and appropriate protective clothing by TU 7. Recovery-party size was dictated by both the type of work
to be done and the principle of keeping each party as small as possible, in order that personnel
would not be subjected to radiation exposures without necessity.
The type of transportation utilized by a particular recovery party was dictated by the location of the material to be recovered, the radiological-safety situation at that location, and
the priority of the experiment. The major portion of the required airlift was accomplished
with TG 132.3 helicopters operating from the USS Rendova flight deck on Mike, M+1, and M+2
days and from the Parry airstrip thereafter.
The order in which recovery operations were accomplished was fixed by a combination of
radiological-safety conditions and experiment priorities, the latter being designated by the
Scientific Deputy of TG 132.1.
For Mike Shot recovery the responsibility for scheduling of required intra-atoll transportation was delegated to TU 7. Such an arrangement was seen to be faulty after the reestablishment of this Headquarters on Parry Island, however, since continuing recovery requirements and the necessity for King Shot preparation implied two separate offices (TU 7 and J-3
Section, this Headquarters) scheduling intra-atoll airlift for a single dispatcher. This situation
was rectified for King Shot, and Operational Directive K-4 was used as a guide by the air and

boat dispatchers.

The detailed recovery plans of the two shots were prepared by TU 7 in coordination with
W. E. Ogle’s office and the J-3 Section, including the appropriate priority classification of ex-

perimental projects.‘

Generally speaking, the recovery operations were successful and were conducted as
t
planned. The extensive contamination and destruction resulting from Mike Shot caused delays;
these, however, were unavoidable, and the problem of dual scheduling was not posed by recovery itself.

3.12
3. 12.1

POSTSHOT RE-ENTRY
Mike Shot

Shortly after the detonation of the Mike device the Task Force vessels moved
n
to an area
south of Eniwetok Atoll and awaited the results of the radiological surveys on which the reentry plan was to be based. The radiological-safety surveys were accomplished by personnel
of TU 7 with the support of the Navy helicopters from the USS Rendova.
At approximately H+10 min an aerial-survey helicopter took off from the USS Rendova to
go directly to Parry Island. This helicopter then flew over the center of each island in the
chain in the direction of the shot island at an altitude of 25 ft and at a ground speed of about 10
mph. While flying over each island, readings were taken with a T1B survey meter. It was
planned to make a survey of the entire atoll, but this helicopter became contaminated while
going through a rain squall, and the survey had to be completed later.
At H+40 min the TG 132.4 emergency re-entry party and radiological-safety monitors
went ashore to reopen the airstrip facilities on Eniwetok Island. At H+45 min the H&N utilities
crew and a radiological monitor were taken to Parry Island.
Commencing at approximately H+2 hr the TG 132.1 Scientific Deputy and a radiologicalsafety monitor accomplished a damage and radiological survey of the entire atoll by means of
helicopter. At H+4 hr water samples were taken at the anchorage off Parry and Eniwetok Islands. Extensive ground surveys of Parry and Eniwetok Islands were accomplished early on

M+1 day.

36

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