Z2sland
ESS Christ mas tes
that the advantages and
indica
1961
mid-December
Correspondence in ee
n
testing
disadvantages of either having islands based and fix shot location
from
versus having an open sea shot location with measurements being done
either fixed or mobil sites as possible is well under way.
BM
A TWX from
Al Graves to DMA on 14 December seems to indicate that LASL was fully
position
behind having available an island such as Christmas for fixing the
of the diagnosticsas well as the device detonation location.
trip
Here is a copy dated EZ December 1961 of Bill Ogle's Christmas Island
r.
report to Gen. Betts. The visit was made from 5 December to I! Decembe
A TWX on 17Dec. from Mr. Reeves of ALO to Gen. Betts seems to be addressing
the need for information by the beginning of work on Dec. 18 by a man named
Anderson of DMA and Reeves is stating there is no time to call a planning
board meeting to arrive at the information requested prior to that time but
he presents the information as ALO is able to come up with it in this TWX.
Apparently, based on the current LRL and LASL underground test schedules,
ALO was asked to come up with detailed cost and schedule figures and to
discuss and perhaps address various alternative methods of saving money and
improving schedules, etc. The TWX goes into a great deal of detail on the
advisability of hiring extra crews at the NTS,of working extra shifts, of
changing the number of hours per work week, of shutting down rigs for weekends, etc.
On 17 Dec. Bill Ogle sent a report on a summary of his visit to Christmas
Island to Gen. Betts which is enclosed here and I believe we have a copy of
at LASL, the number being JO-541, I will quote herethe conclusion of this
report. "While Christmas Island is not developed to the extent that is
Eniwetok-Bikini, it could be made into an emminently satisfactory site
for atmospheric tests. The main point that strikes the observer immediately
is that there is so much space,all flat. Air fields, parking ramps, etc.
can be as large as necessary.
Buildings need not be crowded together,
scientific stations can be properly placed.
There is no serious fallout hazard.
The weather is good. The site
seems to be ideal for balloon sites and air drops.
It is more difficult for
barge shots because of deep anchorage.
us how to do even this properly.
But experience would probably teach
While there are many problems, it. appears that the most serious ones
that arise in considering a quick operation have to do with the technical
facilities, in particular those concerned with Alpha.
For longer ranged
planning the main problem‘is clearly that of docking facilities for large
ships.
Therefore, from an operational and technical point of view, Christmas
Island is to be highly recommended.
point elsewhere."
Politically of course, the finger may