page 182 



BAKER BURST. The Baker Day explosion burst 

 through the calm, blue water of deserted Bikini La- 

 qoon at 0835 on July 25, Bikini local time and 

 date. Wind was from the south, and of low ve- 

 locity; cloud coverage was very slight. Evacuation 

 of the support fleet and of all personnel from the 



Lagoon was well underway by dusk of the preced- 

 ing day; it was completed when the last remaining 

 technicians quitted the Lagoon nearly two hours 

 before the 0835 "Mike Hour." During the hour 

 before the detonation shipboard observers selected 

 vantage points on the uppermost decks. 



