3.7
3.7.1
ON-SITE OPERATIONS
General
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Although Parry Island was the main base of operations for TG 7.1,
the command and staff sections, task units, programs, and projects provided
enough qualified personnel at Bikini to conduct operations there on a virtually autonomous basis, except for over-all guidance and decisions on policy
matters and schedules from headquarters. The two-atoll firing capability,
which was well tested during this operation, required such a system.
The capability of operating from afloat at Bikini was fairly well tested
by numerous evacuations. Although none of them lasted longer than overnight, the muster and personnel accounting systems, communications, firing
system, transportation, and Rad-Safe procedures proved satisfactory; they
should have enabled us to complete the operation from afloat if it had been
necessary.
The weakest link in the chain was intership communications,
which are discussed in Section 3.13.2.
On several occasions Enyu was the only island at Bikini which did not
receive fallout.
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Of course such good luckcannot be counted on in the future, j”
and the afloat capability must again be provided whenever large shots are
planned at Bikini.
As the operation progressed, experience improved, participation de-
creased, and flexibility reached the point where a potential -1 status could
be maintained for days on end, and a real —1 day could be announced as
late a H-9 hours. Such flexibility proved invaluable under the rapidly changing weather conditions which prevailed during most of the shot schedule.
3.7.2
Test Facilities
Criteria for the design and construction of test facilities and estimates
of labor and equipment support required by TG 7.1 were collected from the
various Task Unit Commanders, program directors, and project officers by
the J-6 Section, Conflicts were resolved, locations assigned, completion
dates established, and our total requirement passed to TG 7.5 for execution.
In addition to the foregoing basic responsibility, J-6 also prepared the work
orders necessary for the actual support of the various projects; operated a
machine shop for the convenience of the experimenters; furnished a representative at each of the LASL zero areas to coordinate the activities of the
various projects in these congested areas; and assigned tent, trailer, and
laboratory space as required.
J-6 was composed of 13 men representing DOD, UCRL, and LASL,
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