DEPARTMENT OF THE NAVY
OFFICE OF THE CHIEF OF NAVAL OPERATIONS
WASHINGTON. D.C. 20350
1% REPLY REFER TS
B December 1980
wet
.
MEMORANDUM FOR THE RECORD
Subj:
1.
Test
410417
Radioactive Fallout on Navy Bases in the mMaersnall Islands
Radioactive
YOKE,
rain
Operation
fell
on
SANDSTONE.
Kwajalein
The
rain
Atoll
as
a
commenced
at
result
1800
May 1946.
The rain-out continued until 0400 on 3 May 1948.
Maximum activity observed was 6 to 10 mr/hr.
Among the
cilities and units at Kwajalein at the time were:
Navel
Station
Kwajalein
DET,
VPAM=-2
(DMS-37).
Harbor at
2.
of
Ship
Kwajalein,
Security
DET,
VPHL-8,
NS
Detail,
VRU-3
In addition, USS
0900 on 3 May 1948.
Racioactive
Test ROMEO,
March 1954
Kwajalein
In
DET,
VR-8&
(DMS-37)
of
2
The
fa-
NAS Kwajalein,
Service
Crafr,
DET
USS
Construction
DAVISON
on
Battalion
and
entered
NS
1509
QUICK
Kwajalein
fallout occurred on Eniwetok Atoll as a result
Operation CASTLE.
At approximately 1230 on 29
(54 hours after ROMEO)
intensity levels began to riSe.
By that evening, readings averaged 5 mr/hr, with a 15 mr/hr
maximum on windward surfaces.
At that time, no permanent naval
bases were located at Eniwetok (the Naval Station at Eniwetok was
Closed
Boat
Unit
is
on
23
June
1947).
However,
Pool Detachment, a Detachment
were at Eniwetok on 29 March.
currently
Eniwetok
considered
Lagoon
USS NICHOLAS
USS TAWAKONI
unit]
1315
a
a
Naval
Shore
non=-participant,
on
Detachment,
a
of VC-3 and possibly a MATS
In addition, LST-1146, which
29 March.
Also,
was
Task
anchored
Force
in
ships
(DDE-449), USS CURTISS
(AV-4), USS SIOUX (ATF-75),
(ATF-114), USS GEORGE EASTMAN (YAG~-39), USS LST-762,
and USS PC-1546 all entered or were already anchored
Lagoon on 29 March.
in Eniwetok
3.
Radioactive intensities also roSe on Kwajalein as a result
of ROMEO.
On 31 March 1954, radioactivity levels were recorded
at 9 mr/hr maximums on the windward side of tree trunks, 1 to 3
mr/hr average on beaches, and 1 to 4 mr/hr average on the windward side of buildings.
The average Kwajalein background prior
to 31 March was 0.05 mr/hr.
In addition, aircraft on training
flights in the local area recorded concentrations of 2U mr/hr
on engines.
As a precautionary measure, water catch basins were
examined
and samples of the first
taken for analysis.
no activity except
number
run-off of the next
Of the five Samples collected,
for the one graken from open
rain were
all indicated
storage tank
10 which read 4.85 X 1074 microcuries per milliliter.
Kwajalein
naval
units
at
the
time
included
Kwajalein
Station, Kwajalein MATS Unit, CHB~-4 Kwajalein, and VP-29.
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