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_ Marshall tslands

1945 AUGUST 6 Japan: The U.S. drops

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a 13 kiloton atomic bomb on Hiroshima
city, killing appréximately 100,000
people. Three days later a second
atomic bomb is dropped on Nagasaki city,
killing approximately 70,000 people.

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and political leaders begin planning

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nuclear experiments for further development of nuclear weapons.
Two tests,
code named Operation CROSSROADS, are
planned to demonstrate the effects of
atomic explosions on naval vessels.
A
search is begun for an appropriate
testing site.

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NOVEMBER Washington: American military

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1947 DECEMBER Enewetak: The Navy
decides that Enewetak Atoli will be

used for a second series of nuclear experiments.

1946 JANUARY Washington: Navy offi-

1948 APRIL Enewetak: Operation SAND-

cials in Washington, D.C. announce that

STONE begins and includes three atomic

Bikini Atoll in the Marshall Islands

blasts ranging in strength from 18 tgs

other requirements for Operation CROSS5ROADS (4,500 miles away from the U.S.;
a small population of 167; a protected
anchorage; and under the control of the

Ray (April 15), Yoke (May 1) and Zebra
(May 15).
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fulfills all climatic, geographical and

49 kilotons, detonated from towers: X-

ooh.

U.S.).

1951

APRIL Enewetak: Operation

JULY Bikiri: Operation CROSSROADS be-

GREENHOUSE begins.

blasts, Abie (July 1), an air drop, and
Baker (July 25), an underwater test.

towers: Dog (April 8), Easy (April 21),
George (May 9) and Item (May 25). Easy

test is 47 kilotons; information on the
others remains classified. Approximately 3,200 military men participate
in this series.

These bombs sre about the size of the
atomic bors dropped on Nagasaki, Japan.
About 42,030 military men and scientists participate in this test series.
——

1947

This series in-

cludes four atomic tests exploded on

gins and includes two atomic bomb

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JULY The Marshall Islands, along with the Caroline and Mariana Islands,

formerly wder a League of Nations Mandate to the Japanese, become the United
Nations Trust Territory of the Pacific, administered by the United States.

1952 NOVEMBER Enewetak: Operation

"Ships remained in the lagoon
during cetonation and fallout periods ard were subjected to conSiderable fallout (during Operation Greenhouse)."

IVY begins.

Mike (November 1), estimated at 106.4

megatons (750 times greater than the
Hiroshima bomb). King (November i6) is
described as a “high yield" 500 kiloton

Studies of Participants in Nuclear Tests, National] Academy
of Sciences, September 1980.

500? 5qq Asses

It includes the first

thermonuclear (hydrogen) device test,

(continued on page 6)

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