OPERATION HARDTACK
1.
The HICKORY device was detonated cn a barge off the west end of
Tare Island, Bikini Atoll, at 120°M, 29 June 1958.
RadSafe operations
were controlled through the Ss Benner, located in Bikini Lagoon.
The
yield was cpprorinatelyIM “he cloud rosa immediately an
the base was estimated at 12,000 feet.
2.
‘
The P2V afireraft (Wildroot #5) reported over Nan at 1230M, and
the cloud position |:ad moved outside the northwestern corner of that atoll.
Negative readings were obtained on the eastern side of the atoll, but soms
isolated hot rain showers were encountered in the vicinity west of ground
zero,
Maximum intensity in rain was recorded over Roger:
£00 mr/hr,
at 1305M.
3.
Ths RadSafs helicopters took off at 1305M, and re-entry hour was
declared at 1330M.
The highast readings were obtained west of Tare Islani
at 100 ar/hr at 1335M.
4-
The P2V was vectored on bearings of 260 degrees from Bikini
for 75 miles and north for 3C mies, 50 miles out, te confirm the western=
most extent of the fallout pattern.
Fallout was predicted along a bearing
of 290 degreas, but it is estima‘ed that the rosition yas more s-utherly:
265 degrees.
This is based upon P2V readings of 25 mr/hr made at ‘600M,
nae
be
due west of Bikini at 5,000 feet.
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