RADIOLOGICAL CLEANUP OF ENEWETAK ATOLL

late December 1948 following the relocation of the dri-Enewetak t

Ujelang Atoll. The construction work was performed by U.S. Army

elements of the JTF.76 Because of the lack of ground facilities on the atoll,

the Task Force was quartered on and operated from U.S. Navy vessels.

Three nuclear devices were detonated in this operation. Each was placeg

on a 200-foot-high tower on one of three separate islands. The first shot,

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code named X-ray, was conducted on Enjebi on |4 April 1948, with a yield
of 37 KT. The next test, Yoke, took place on Aomon on 30 April, with a
yield of 49 KT. The last, Zebra, was carried out on Runit on |4 May, witha
yield of 18 KT. Details of devices tested and of test results remain classified

at this writing. ??

CONSTRUCTION ACTIVITIES
Operation Sandstone established a pattern that was to be followed in

other test series. That pattern was: a rehabilitation phase in which existing
facilities were readied to support the upcoming operation; a construction

phase devoted to providing support and scientific requirements; an

execution phase for actual testing, and a roll-up phase during which the
atoll was made secure and preserved for further use. Figures 1-38 through
1-41 show construction activities on various test and test support
installations. The activities shown occurred at various times in the test
program.
The construction and development work on Enewetak Atoll in support
of Operation Sandstone was carried out by U.S. Army construction units
with civilian contractor assistance. The construction phase consisted of:
a. Developing Enewetak Island as the administrative and logistic base
for all atoll operations.
b. Developing Medren as the scientific and technical control and
coordinating center for all atoll operations.
c. Developing construction camps on islands either on or near the
islands on which tests were to be conducted.
d. Constructing the scientific and technical facilities on the test islands.
As time went on, Army construction units had smaller and smaller
roles, while those of civilian contractors continued to grow. The AEC
decided in mid-1949 to carry out major construction projects on the atoll
with the view of providing an adequate support base ashore, with more
adequate housing and technical facilities. A survey had previously been
made by Holmes & Narver, Inc. to determine the existing conditions and
the additional facilities required. The results were submitted on 7 January
1949, and a design and construction contract was signed in June of that
year.
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