BOMBS AT BIKINI 



Decontamination measures were initiated promptly 

 by Admiral T. A. Solberg. A number of different 

 methods were used in this newest of problems : remov- 

 ing radioactive materials from ships' decks, sides, 

 superstructures. Streams of water were played on the 

 ships; special chemicals were applied; strenuous 

 scrubbing was tried. The success of these methods 

 varied widely. 



Despite all efforts, radioactive contamination con- 

 tinued to be a major problem for many weeks. Some 

 of the ships, veritable radioactive stoves, were towed 

 to Kwajalein. Some contaminated ships were later 

 towed to Pearl Harbor and continental United States 

 to permit more convenient study of decontamination 

 methods and also to permit training personnel in radio- 

 logical safety and decontamination processes.* 



Even some of the support ships found that their 

 salt water lines and evaporators became contaminated 



* In late August of 1946, Captain G. M. Lyon, Safety Adviser, 

 was requested l)y the Task Force Commander to set up a Radio- 

 logical Safety School to train officers in all phases of radiological 

 safety. Commander D. L. Kauffman was placed in charge of the 

 School. First classes began on Septemher 9, 1946, and the stii- 

 dents included roughly 100 officers from Army Air Forces, Army 

 Ground Forces, Navy, Marine Corps, and the United States Public 

 Health Service. The training program, included a four-weeks aca- 

 demic course in Washington, D. C, followed by three months of 

 practical instruction in the field. The faculty of the school included 

 initially: Lt. Col. A. Roth of the Army Ground Forces, Lt. Col. 

 J. M. Talbot, of the Army Air Forces, Comdr. E. G. Williams, of 

 the United States Public Health Service, Dr. G. Dessauer of the 

 University of Rochester, Dr. R. J. Stephenson of Wooster College, 

 and Dr. M. L. Pool of Ohio State University. 



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