a.
<i ~—- -s we
Tae
During 1953, UCRL organized, staffed, and established L-Division at Livermore, Calif.
Relations between the L-Division Group and Headquarters, TG 7.1, were very close during this
period. For most of the time UCRL had a liaison representative in residence at Los Alamos,
and visits were constantly exchanged between members of the two organizations. In order to
support UCRL overseas and to train personnel for future overseas tests, L-Division integrated
personnel into the TG 7.1 J-1, J-3, and J-6 Staff Sections and filled billets in those sections
overseas,
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Since the principal function of the Task Force and most of the Task Groups was to support
the scientific effort, most of the over-all planning depended on the plans of TG 7.1. Therefore
command relations differed somewhat from the normal military pattern. Figure 3.2 shows the
JTF SEVEN organization and some of the major commandrelations involved, and Table 3.1
shows the key personnel of TG 7.1. CITF SEVEN coordinated the activities of TG 7.1 and 7.5
through his Scientific Director, in accordance with existing AEC-CITF policy agreements.
Relations with the Task Force and with the other Task Groups were cordial, and the cooperation
and support received from them were excellent.
3.3.
ADVISORY GROUP
As shown in the organization chart, the Advisory Group consisted of experts in various
fields who advised the Task Group Commander ccd members of the Task Group on technical
problems, IASL2-Division repre ‘cntatives were particularly active at the test site and at
LesAlamos
a
TT
_
VLASLHeaithDivision
representatives, in addition to their advisory funciions, actually served in the Rad-Safe Task
Unit and performed special functions in connection with accidental fall-out on inhabited islands
and conducted studies tc improve fall-out predictions. T. N. White of H-Division took part in
several surveys of contaminated islands and was in charge of one of the surveys.
3.4
PLANNING AND TRAINING
3.4.1
Programs, Concepts, and Schedules
The firstgeneralstatementofconcept for Oneration Castle was issued by CTG 132.1in
June 1952.)
Atthat
-
‘time, Castle was tentatively scheduied for September - October 1953. Bikini was being considered for the thermonuclear shot and Eniwetok for the fission shots.
Holmes and Narver (H&N) made a cursory reconnaissance of Bikini in September 1952
and started an extensive survey the following month, In November 1952, late in the Ivy operation, construction at Bikini started. At about the same {ime a cunsiderabie amount of preliminary Castle planning, including a rough outline of su; port requirements, went on between
TG 132.1, JTF 132, and representatives of the AEC. At this lime the AEC decided to establish an AEC Base Facilities Task Group for Castle.
By February 1953 it had been decided that Feb. 15, 1954, was the earliest possible date
for the first Castle detonation. A tentative schedule shown in Table 3.2 was given limited dis-
tribution at that time. It included four Los Alames weapons and devices and two UCRL devices.
Of these, four were to be detonated at Bikini and two at Fnivetok; three were to be ground
shots, two barge shots, and one barge or ground. Except for Ramrod (UCRL) all shots were
predicted to be in the megaton range. The idea of barges as shot sites was conceived in order
to reduce contamination, to make better use of the limited amount of real estate available, and
to speed up the tests by scheduling assembly operations at a proposed barye slip at Eniwetok
and moving each barge into positicn about five days before detonation, This made it possible to
plen on using the same concrete bunkers for several =huts and the same vero point, if necessary or desirable, regardless of the high radiation levels to be expected un the i-iands in the
28
I
we
ome
vicinity of the preceding shot.