The change with time of the direction of interest is illustrated by
the vectors shown in Figure 53, which shows the patterns flown by VP-29
P2V aircraft based at the Kwajalein Naval Air Station in searching for
transient shipping on D-2 and D-1, and the special added flight on D-Day
itself.
PREPARATIONS
The general plan for Bikini operations
(including BRAVO) was to with~
draw work and scientific parties to the fleet units in the lagoon so the
ships could clear the lagoon and assume their night steaming stations
s
t
t
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southeast of the atoll before dark on the evening before the predawn shot.
In preparing for BRAVO, the firing party, a small group from the AEC
weapon design laboratories, proceeded to the location of the emplaced device and started the arming process.
This consisted of mechanically alter
ing the device to create a circuit capable of carrying the firing signal
to the device.
This circuit was still not complete, however, as a similar
gap existed in the firing bunker at Station 70 on Eneu.
After work at the
device was completed, the firing party and the military police detailed to
guard the device withdrew to Eneu.
The fleet cleared the lagoon before
the arming process was completed, thus ensuring that task force personnel
{except for the firing party) were never in the atoll while the device
could be detonated.
The firing party was left on Eneu in the firing bunker and the small
boat or helicopter crew and military police that had provided transportation and protection rejoined the fleet.
Final links in the firing circuit
were then closed, and the device was ready for detonation.
DOD ACTIVITIES
The DOD-sponsored experiments for BRAVO included 29 projects in TU 13
of TG 7.1.
@®
TU 13 projects were:
Program 1, Blast and Shock; Projects 1.la-1l.ld,
l.2a-b, 1.3, 1.4, 1.6
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