BOMBS AT BIKINI 



Colonel C. H. Bonesteel 



Captain G. W. Anderson,' Jr. (Navy) 



Captain V. L. Pottle (Navy) 



Commodore (now Rear Admiral) W. S. Parsons 



The Snbcommittee met frequently during the next 

 six weeks, and thrashed out in full all the tests' prin- 

 cipal features. The most controversial issues were: 

 Who should command the prospective Joint Task 

 Force? Should the target vessels carry full loads of 

 fuel and ammunition? 



Some of the Subcommittee members suggested 

 that the Commander be chosen from Army officers 

 having close familiarity with the Manhattan Project. 

 Other members pointed out that the majority of the 

 operation would involve principally the Navy: naval 

 target vessels, naval supporting vessels, naval construc- 

 tion of shore facilities, inspecting and appraising dam- 

 age to naval vessels. The final decision was made by 

 the Joint Chiefs of Staff who designated Vice Admiral 

 W. H. P. Blandy. Admiral Blandy, an ordnance 

 specialist though a naval line officer, had been Chief 

 of the Bureau of Ordnance from 1941 to 1943. He had 

 commanded large Army and Navy forces of multiple 

 types in Pacific amphibious operations in 1944 and 

 1945. Since November, 1945, he had been Deputy Chief 

 of Naval Operations, Special Weapons, particularly 

 charged with developing atomic energy devices and 

 guided missiles. 



12 



