Woods Hole Oceanographic Institi^ion 



BOMBS AT BIKINI 



eluding repair, fueling, water, mail, provisions, recre- 

 ation, hospitalization, and evacuation. 



Lines of organization were pleasantly invisible at 

 Bikini. Officers and enlisted men, scientists, and ob- 

 servers, became a part of the tropical scene. 



Shrill pipes called the men early each morning. 

 Breakfasts were varied and substantial. Plans of the 

 day were posted. Climbing from their steel- walled liv- 

 ing quarters to the clean gray decks, the men gave first 

 attention to the weather. Fortunately, fair weather 

 and cooling breezes usually prevailed. Tuna and barra- 

 cuda could occasionally be seen circling the ship. 



The clutter of small boats flanking each ship came 

 to life. .Coxswains and their crews climbed out along 

 booms extending over the water; they descended by 

 rope ladders into the yawning boats bobbing up and 

 down on the waves. They warmed up the engines, re- 

 ceived megaphoned orders from the officer-of-the-deck, 

 cast off, and then picked up their loads of scientists, 

 technicians, and inspectors. 



By 9 :00 a.m. thousands of men had been deposited 

 on the target vessels. They installed apparatus, tested 

 it, and adjusted it. They put animals aboard, placed 

 them in their cages, filled their reservoirs of food and 

 water. They hoisted trucks, airplane sections, machine 

 guns and field artillery aboard and secured them to the 

 decks with steel cables running through eye-bolts. 

 Boxes of pyrotechnics, canned goods, and medical sup- 

 plies were taken aboard, made fast, and clearly labeled. 



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Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution 



