were evacuated to sea by the USS Boxer. Bikini Recovery and Re-entry. Basic precepts of recovery — re-entry were established as follows: 1. Recovery missions did not depart until after the initial rad-safe damage survey had determined the radiation levels. 2. Two rad~-safe missions were flown concurrently - one to the northern islands and one to the southern islands. 3. Based on data radioed back by these survey parties, CTG 7.1 gave permission for recovery parties to proceed as he deemed appropriate. On the Sycamore shot the rad-safe surveys and film recovery parties of TU-2 and TU-5 were launched by helicopter from the Boxer. Since Enyu was cleared for re-entry before recoveries were completed, the helicopters returned to Enyu upon completion of the missions. Recovery operations for the other shots varied, depending on shot loca- tion and project participation. However, early recoveries were the same for all shots, being recovery of TU-2 film from Station 2200 on Reere and Station 2300 on Airukiraru, and recovery of TU-5 film from Chieerete and Bikini. No problems were encountered in making these recoveries during the first 2 to 3 hr after detonation. Re-entry at Bikini was divided into two general categories: re-entry to the atoll when the Task Force was afloat, and re-entry to the Airukiiji camp when possible after the shots fired from Eninnan. For re-entry to the atoll the ships entered the lagoon after a P2V aircraft had made a radio-' logical sweep of the area. As the ships entered, the rad-safe surveys were launched, and by the time the ships anchored Enyu was declared open to reentry. The Airukliji camp was re-entered by boat and aircraft from Enyu as the radiological situation permitted. Johnston Island Nose Cone Recovery. Generally, the nose cone re- covery operation was successful on both the Teak and Orange events. majority of test vehicles were recovered. ~ The The search plan utilized a P2V aircraft, the USS Lansing, the USS Safeguard, and the USS Belle Grove. The ships were stationed at an approxi- mate distance of 25 to 30 miles from Johnston Island and directed to the search area immediately after the detonation. The P2V was airborne from Johnston Island at about H+30 min. . . The following is a summary of recoveries for both events: Event Project Lost Teak 8.6 32.5 32.6 0 0 2 1 pod 2 rad-chem samplers 4 instrumented rockets 32.5 32.6 0 1 4 rad-chem samplers 6 instrumented rockets Orange 8.6 1 Recovered 0 pod Although the recoveries were generally successful, certain aspects of the operation can be improved upon. Principal problems were: (1) the difficulty in communications between the shore and search/recovery vessels; (2) the timely return of recovered nose cones from distant sea areas to Johnston Island; (3) insufficient coordination between the search vessels, the control ship, and the helicopters during the helicopter sweeps of the impact area, 99 AFWL/HO om q8