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DISCUSSION OF CFP-SITS FaLLOUT
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Fallout off-site followed the pattem immediately established at
and adjacent to the proving ground where the cloud in gmesal moved
east north easterly with prevailing winds. Task force ships southeast
of KAN received the first fallout, being om the southern edge of the
main strip of contamination. Fallout on the ships ranged from ine
tensities of 1500 milliroentgens per hour on the BATROKD which was
closest to the center of the fallout path to a few milliroestgens per
bour on vessels farther south.
Fallout began at Rongerik Atoll at 1348 hours, 1 March as show
by a self-recording radiation detection station placed there by the
KYOO AEC and operated by personnel of the Air Teather Station. This
instrument went off scale at 100 mr per hour at 1418 hre 1 Larch.
Based upon query from air weather personnel a monitor was dispatched
with the supply PBK on the mming of 2 March. A ground reading of
2000 mr/hr was obtained at 1115 by the mnitor who evacuated 8 of the
personnel on his own initiation and recommended evacuation of the re-
mainder as s00n as possible based upon the high radiation levels.
This
was concurred in and the remaining 20 were evacuated by Fa! at 1645,
2 March, Calculations estimating the dose received indicated that personnel evacuated at 1115 would have received 85 r agd the recainder
95 r. This was in fair agreerent with readings of film badges on per
sonnel, Maximum film badge reading was 98r representing 3 men, 52r
for 1, air for 1, 40r for 9.
EDs.
Average dose for all personnel, 54, roeat-
Inasmuch as the data from Rongerik is the only data showing exact
time the fallout occurred at any location east of the proving ground
and adjacent to populated islands affected by substantial radiation,
its importance is such that calenlation of dosages received by native
populations are based upon it for time of fallout in those locations.
4 detailed analysis of this data is therefore appended in the medical
tab.
Survey of Rongelap was made by Pattern ABLE of Security Patrol
Squadron (Patron 29) with NYOO Scintameters aboard on 2 March and found
an estimated reading of 6750 mr/hr. (Later calibration for aerial survey
equipment revised this to 1350). Based on this and its proxizity to
Eongerik it was decided thet it would probabiy be necessary to evacuate
the atoll.
Consequently, the PHILIP, DDE 498, was dispatched to reach
Rongelap on the moming of 3 Marck.
In the neantine a Pat was seat to
ground survey the atoll and at 1830 hours, 2 Lareh, their ground survey
showed @ reading of 1400 miliiroentgens per hour. Celeriation of awsage
to 3 Maren incicated about 110 roentgens 80 the order to evacuate was
given. The destroyer PHILIP evacuatec the natives by 0935 to 1025,
3 March. Calculation of the total dose indicated that 130 roentgens were
received. Detailed calculations are appenced in the medical tab. A total
of 65 natives were recoved, 16 natives (the old anc sickest) by FSU and
_ 49 by DDE,
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