CHAPTER VI, SECTIONS 2 and 3
a study of contours and elevations on Sites
Elmer, Fred, and David was made jointly by
Project 50.1 personnel and H&N, and recommendations for sand-bagging and berming various installations were promulgated.
The recommendations were effectively
carried out by the Construction Division, and
only minor damage from high overpressures and
wave action was experienced.

Because it was mandatory to maintain a
camp at Site Oboe until the last event on Site
Tare, it was necessary to provide numerous
protective measures. A 6-foot-high earth berm
was constructed around the north and east
perimeters, followed by a building-re-inforcing

program which was completed in late May 1958;
provisions were made to maintain an exit at the

marine ramp for the movement of equipment

which could be closed and opened after each
event. Subsequent requirements made it necessary to provide further re-inforcing and dismantling of buildings and removing of equipment
from the camp. Panels were removed from buildings, banded, and stored, and other equipment
and facilities which remained on the site were
secured. After the last event at Site Tare these

panels were replaced, and all buildings were
given a protective coat of paint.
Thepossibility of radioactive contamination
resulting from the test events at Johnston Island
was very remote; however, precautionary measures were taken for the protection of foodstuffs,
dishes, and galley equipment. Also, all air intake
systems supplying the underground bunkers
and other manned stations were shut down prior
to missile launch time. All personnel remaining
ashore during events were issued full rad-safety
protective clothing and film badges in case of
a possible “one point’? detonation resulting from
missile malfunction.

Based on the prediction of thermal radiation and blast overpressures from the ORANGE
event, a complete camp clean-up program was
effected to preclude the possibility of fire destruction, and buildings were opened to the
fullest extent to allow pressure equalization.
The realized thermal radiation was much lower
than anticipated, which consequently precluded
the fire hazard. However, the resultant overpressures closely paralleled predictions, and
even though buildings were opened a few
window glass panes were broken.

SECTION 3
EVACUATION
The evacuation of personnel from all north-

ern Eniwetok sites to David, Elmer, and Fred

was effected for every event at that atoll. The
only exception was TG 7.1 personnel who were
required to remain on station at Site Bruce.
Personnel evacuations at both atolls were closely

coordinated with J-3, JTF-7, and J-3, TG 7.1.
In all cases, evacuations were planned to bring

about full-scale support to the Using agencies
and still afford maximum protection and safety
to all personnel.

The capability to conduct an emergency

post-shot evacuation of all personnel at both
atolls was maintained throughout the Operation.

Evacuation

Officers,

Muster

Officers,

Beach

Masters, and Transportation Control Agents
were issued special instructions to follow in the
event of an

emergency

evacuation

to ensure

orderly, safe, and expeditious departure of all
personnel.
Upon receipt of instructions for evacuation,

all TG 7.5 personnel were accounted for by pro-

cedures outlined in instructions from E-3. Nor-

mally, by D minus 5 Day all personnel excess
to operations were evacuated to main base
camps at Elmer and Nan, and by noon of D
minus 1 Day all nonessential personnel and

equipment had been evacuated in readiness for
Page 448

the event. Only authorized personnel were then
permitted to enter or remain in these areas. By
1630 hours of D minus 1 Dayall personnel were
accounted for by sight muster through the
Muster Officers, who reported any irregularities
to E-3. Rosters of personnel accountability were
maintained on an hourly basis, or more frequently if required.
At Bikini Atoll it was necessary to evacuate
all nonessential personnel to ships for the
SYCAMORE and POPLAR events; only those
personnel essential to test operations were permitted ashore, and well in advance of the shot,
musters were reported to ensure their presence
in either Station 70 or Building 204 on Nan.
During the SYCAMORE delay period, only
essential personnel were permitted to leave the
ships daily to perform duties necessary for support missions. In the planning stage it was determined to evacuate personnel from all sites
to Nan for all other events, but because of the

housing shortage it was necessary to evacuate
some personnel to ships for the FIR and NUT-

MEGevents. Subsequent to NUTMEG, JTF-7
approved the plan to occupy the Oboe camp

during events in the northern part of Bikini

Atoll and evacuate only for the three events at
Site Tare.

Select target paragraph3