clothed by Kwajalein NAS.

The aircraft used in these evacuations also re-

quired considerable decontamination.

The RAF Canberras that were permitted to sample the CASTLE detonation
clouds were based and supported at Kwajalein NAS.

Kwajalein NAS support

also included supervision of the decontamination of the sampling aircraft.
Thirteen personnel from Kwajalein NAS, including one civilian, have exposures reported in the Consolidated List.

The exposures were not very large

(less than 0.500 R), with the exception of the civilian, who received al-~
most 3 R.

These exposures probably were accrued from decontamination and

evacuation operations.

VP-29 operational activities are summarized in

Table 68.

Task Unit 7.3.4 (Joint Task Force Flagship Unit)
The Estes, an amphibious force flagship with additional communications
equipment installed, served as the Flagship Element during CASTLE.

[t

provided command, control, and communications facilities for JTF 7 headquarters, as well as for TG 7.1 and 7.4 during CASTLE.

During Bikini

operations, the JTF Weather Central and Radiological Safety Office were
also located on board the Estes.

Originally, the Estes was to have been based at Enewetak between shots
at Bikini.

When the entire Bikini operation had to move afloat after shot

BRAVO on 1 March, the Estes remained at Bikini for most of the CASTLE series.

The ship was present for all Bikini shots, and returned to Enewetak

for shot NECTAR on 14 May.

Table 69 summarizes the ship's operational ac-

tivities for CASTLE shots.
The Estes was contaminated by radioactive fallout after BRAVO and
ROMEQ.

The peak intensity topside occurred about 2 hours after BRAVO,

when it was estimated at 0.400 R/hr

(see Table 21).

Fifteen of the crew

were given an MPE waiver; however, none of these individuals actually exceeded 3.9 R.
of 6.95 R)

Thirteen other crewmen did have excessive exposures

without a waiver of MPE.

These

353

(maximum

individuals were among a group

Select target paragraph3