Tit
Radiological Safety During Operation IVY
The first area on Kwajalein for decontamination of aircraft was on
the parking ramps,

This was near an engine run-up area and was considered

unsuitable becanse engines might spread contamination over a wide area,
the asphalt paving could absorb contamination, and drainage was not

suitable conducting off washing solutions,

Dr. Plank and the Rad-Safe

officers of Task Group 132.4 recommended that another area be found for
contaminated aircraft.

They recommended a site and estimated cost of

building the necessary facilitieswas $76,900. In April 1952, Joint Task
25 The parking area for contaminated
Force approved the construction, ”
aircraft was on the old Japaneseparking area across the runway from the
control tower on Kwa jalein,7°

Here Air Force personnel removed the

particulate samples from the F~8)G samplers under the direction of Dr.
Plank,

The gas samples were removed from the AFOAT-l aircraft by people

from the Army Chemical Center.-!

The Rad-Safe crews took care of film

badges worn by the sampler pilots and by personnel working in the area,
No sampling pilot on Operation IVY exceeded the radiation limit of 3.9
roentgens 28

Roll-Up Of Operation IVY
As the operation terminated, some suggested the sampler F-8) aircraft
be flown to the United States tut this plan was dropped,

Personnel towed

the aircraft to the beach, lifted them onto the barge, towed to the side

of the aircraft carrier, USS Rendova, and lifted each aboard with the
ship's crane,

One of the aircraft sustained very minor damage when it

76

SWEH~2-003);

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