AINSWORTH
CURTISS
NICHOLAS
BAIROKO
EPPERSON
SIOUX
BELLE GROVE
ESTES
At shot time, all except the NICHOLAS were in assigned areas southeast of Bikini
Atoll.
They remained there until around midday, when they reentered the lagoon as
planned.
The NICHOLAS, which waspatrolling approximately midway between Bikini
and Enewetak at shot time, proceeded to Bikini during the afternoon and anchoredin
the lagoon at 1915 hours.
Five other TG 7.3 ships were either at or enroute to Enewetak at shot time.
These were:
APACHE
LST-762
LST-551
PHILIP
RENSHAW
”
The APACHE, enroute to Enewetak from Bikini, was about 25-30 miles east of
Enewetak at shot time.
The other ships were all anchored/beached at Enewetak or
?
Parry Islands.
The GYPSY, having completed salvage operations at Ailinglapalap Atoll on
1 April, returned to Kwajalein where it was anchored when Shot KOON was detonated.
On 9 April, the GYPSY departed Kwajalein enroute to Pear] Harbor. This ship did not
return to the PPG during Operation CASTLE.
Fallout from Shot KOON moved generally to the north of Bikini (as predicted)
and noneof the ships operating in the vicinity of Bikini, Enewetak, or Kwajalein Atolls
received significant fallout following this test.
2.1.4 Shot UNION
Shot UNION was detonated at Bikini Atoll at 0605 hours, 26 April 1954. Seven of
task group ships of interest were operating in the Bikini area. These were:
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