At the 1800 weather briefing, the predicted winds were less favorab] e;
nevertheless,

the decision to shoot was

view of the winds scheduled for 2400.

reaffirmed,

but with another re:

The USS Renshaw, acting as the a

controller between Enewetak and Bikini, was ordered repositioned from 1
planned 270° bearing, 90=nmi
erly 230° bearing 90-nmi

(167-km)

(167-km)

range from Bikini to a more south;

range from Bikini.

flight, designated "Wilson 2," was set up at 2200.
Bikini at H+2 at 10,000

feet

(3.05

km)

The cloud track
It would hold west 4 £

in a position to

intercept and T

of debris coming west toward Enewetak and Ujelang and then fly east aft

r

2 hours, searching a sector between 55° and 85° through ground zero to
find the cloud if it had not already appeared to the west

(Reference 8)

The midnight briefing indicated less favorable winds at 10,000- to
25,000-foot

(3.05—- to 7.52-km)

levels.

were headed for Rongelap to the east.

Winds at 20,000 feet

(6.10 km)

The predicted speed of these wing

s

was low enough to be of no concern, although it was recognized that bot
Bikini and Eneman islands would probably be contaminated
p. K-3).

(Reference 16,

The decision to shoot was reaffirmed, at least until the 0430

briefing.

A burst-day flight to search for transient shipping was add

at this time, to be centered on a 65° vector to a distance of 600 nmi

(1,110 km).
At 0430 "no significant changes" in the winds had occurred, except
Bikini where the Lower level winds were showing more "northerly and wes
erly components."

The JTF Radsafe Office recommended that the fleet so

tie area southeast of Bikini be moved outward from 30 to 50 nmi
km).

(56 to

This was ordered for smaller and slower units, but the larger ves

sels remained in their original areas to maintain good UHF communicatio
with the firing bunker on Eneu and to be in good position for prompt re
entry.

The USS Estes also had to be within range for its role as the m

$-

ter Raydist navigation system station in controlling experimental aircr Et
flights near the burst point.

202

Select target paragraph3