PRIVACY ACT MATERIAL REMOVED
CHAPTER IV
CONSTRUCTION OF PERMANENT RUNWAYS ON BIIJIRI AND RUNIT ISLANDS
Just prior to Z Day construction of to pierced plank runways for
light planes was commenced on Biijiri and Runit Islands.
This would
give the garrison force, with its two liaison planes, frequent and
speedy access to the islands used in connection with the tests.
islands are:
Eniwetok.
These
Engebi, Aoman-Biijiri Rojoa, Aniyaanii, Parry and
The previously constructed soil cement and earth strips
on Biijiri and Runit respectively were found to be in poor condition
after the blasts; also the Runit strip heretofore used was considered
to be too close to the Zero tower.
The previously constructed pierced
plank runway on Aniyaani and the two coral strips on Engebi and
Eniwetok remained in excellent shape and gave promise to last from two
to five years without serious deterioration.
On i9 May the new
pierced plank strip on Runit was completed and put in operation while
initiation of the strip at Biijiri still awaited Rad-sate clearance, at
the time of the departure of the main forces 28 May 1948 on the PICKAWAY,
having been contaminated by the Runit blast.
Runit Island itself had
been declared free of contamination by the Rad-Sate representatives on
Z plus 2 days.
Pierced planking for the two strips nad just arrived
from Oahu aboard the USS Yancey and half of it unloaded and shipped
directly to Runit Island.
The pierced plank strip at Runit was constructed by Licut QF
and thirty (30) men from Co E, 532d Engineer Boat & Shore Regiment; on
the morning of 17 May with a bulldozer, mobile crane and a motorized
Section Vi-d
8
PRIVACY ACT MATERIAL REMOVED