CHAPTER XII
ENIWETOK AND PARRY ISLANDS
The principal island of Eniwetok Atoll is Fniwetok Island,
which is also the largest of the.group.
Because of its size and
geographical location most of the structures were installed on
Iniwetok itself after the atoll was captured during the last war.
The island is covered with barracks, warehouses and shops except the
area where the present airfield, taxiways and parking areas exist.
The existing buildings and installations were found in poor
condition by the advance echelons of TG 7.2 which arrived during the
latter part of November 1947.
This group consisted of sixteen Navy
utilities personnel and two civilians - both of the U. S. Amy's
Mechanical Advisor Service, working out of USARPAC - who arrived by
plane on 20 and 21 November. An attempt was made to rehabilitate,
or salvage, some of the existing installations and deadlined equipment left on Eniwetok.
One small distillation unit was put into
operation and one large 100 KW diesel generator was running spasmodically
when the first troops arrived on 29 November.
The rapid deterioration
of equipment exposed to the salt air and heat dimmed any hopes, which
might. have been held, that a great amount of equipment might be placed
in immediate operation upon landing.
On 29 December, at a staff meeting held in ISCOM Headquarters,
Section VIb
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