A HISTORICAL PERSPECTIVE 



10 MILES 



Fig. 2 Islands of Enewetak Atoll with Marshallese names shown on the lagoon side and English 

 code names on the ocean side. 



weapon tests. Enewetak, Medren, and Japtan Islands 

 housed the command, administrative, logistic, and techni- 

 cal support facilities, and the islets in the northern and 

 eastern portions of the atoll served as test areas. Table 1 

 lists the detonations at Enewetak, and Fig. 3 illustrates the 

 test locations on the atoll. 



The nuclear testing program required the mobilization 

 of a vast assemblage of scientists, technicians, and support 

 personnel and the establishment of laboratories, shops, and 

 living quarters, in addition to port facilities and an air ter- 

 minal to connect with a supply system extending through 

 Hawaii to mainland bases as far as 8000 miles away. Test 



operations over more than a decade were conducted by a 

 series of Joint Task Forces (JTFs), consisting of Army, 

 Navy, Air Force, and AEC elements, in a coordinated 

 operational command. The commander was a senior mili- 

 tary officer of flag rank and had as his deputy a senior 

 AEC scientist. 



The test detonations were grouped in series which, 

 typically, lasted several months. During the times between 

 series — usually a year or more — the support apparatus 

 continued to function. This availability of logistic and 

 administrative support made it feasible to consider the 

 establishment of a laboratory facility. The AEC interest in 



