Compiled By Ewa Historian John Bond
Phase One of NAS Barbers Point support of atomic bomb development – some aspects still classified
A little known fact is that the Atomic Energy Commission (AEC) leased land at NAS Barbers Point for supporting atomic bombs testing. Operation Crossroads - on Pacific Islands in 1946 was a highly publicized Navy sponsored atomic bomb demonstration; however this led to all later early Pacific bomb tests to be run by the atomic Energy Commission (AEC.)
The atomic bombs tests brought back a lot of contaminated material to Hawaii and to places like Treasure Island, San Francisco which have been dealing with this legacy for a very long time. Many aspects of NAS Barbers Point Site 95 bomb testing operations remains classified even today.
NAS Barbers Point was part of the MANHATTAN ENGINEER DISTRICT (1945-1946) which grew out of the original Top Secret Manhattan Project that produced two atomic bombs during WW-II. The Barbers Point naval airbase was called “Site 95.”
March 1999 Historical Radiological and Survey Plan NAS Barbers Point
This survey done as part of the Base Realignment and Closure process (BRAC) to turn the Site 95 site over to the State Department of Hawaiian Homelands (DHHL) to scan for remaining radioactive materials that may still be remaining from the bomb testing operations by the Navy and AEC.
Historic Note: The director of the Manhattan Atomic Bomb project, General Leslie Groves, was stationed at Schofield Barracks in Hawaii in the early 1920’s and earned a commendation for his work there, constructing a trail from Kahuku to Pupukea.
Area 95 in 1967 after it had been turned over to the Navy for special weapons storage. The very high double fencing indicates nuclear weapons storage. Buildings at left are 278 and 1682.
1965 photo shows circular “hot pad’ alongside runway 29 for special weapons and road going to high security storage area which after base closure became Kalaeloa Hawaiian Heritage Park. Ironically the Hawaiian cultural park had to be closed because large amounts of toxic soil was allowed to be brought in and dumped for use as land fill. This caused numerous illegal dumping citations and expensive remediation measures.
NAS Barbers Point Area 95 in 1980’s. The AEC leased site was turned over to the Navy in 1977.
The history of atomic weapons development and deployment at NAS Barbers Point was in three phases:
Phase One : – 1946 –Operation Crossroads Navy sponsored Pacific Bomb tests
Phase Two: Atomic Energy Commission acquires NASBP property leases for major 1960’s bomb tests – such as Operation Dominic, and many others.
Phase Three: Navy begins massive deployment of nuclear weapons on carrier aircraft, ASW patrol aircraft with large numbers stored on Barbers base, West Loch, Waikele and Lualualei
The Manhattan District was a major nationwide operation to develop atomic weapons. NAS Barbers Point was not listed because most of its operations are still classified.
Nuclear bomb testing took place all over the central Pacific islands and other bomb tests were run by France near Tahiti and by the United Kingdom near Australia.
The Manhattan Project later became absorbed by the AEC – Atomic Energy Commission
NAS Barbers Point supported all major Pacific bomb tests
https://www.osti.gov/opennet/manhattan-project-history/Events/1945-present/med_45-46.htm
With the end of the Second World War, American policymakers anticipated that the Manhattan Project’s infrastructure would be turned over to and managed by a largely civilian commission. General Leslie Groves initially thought this would happen soon after the ending of hostilities. His strategy for interim management of the complex was thus one of "hold the line," where he sought to maintain the essential soundness of the physical plant and the personnel that ran it, complete ongoing construction, and promote efficiency and economy.
Lieutenant General Leslie Richard Groves Jr. (17 August 1896 – 13 July 1970) was a United States Army Corps of Engineers officer who oversaw the construction of the Pentagon and directed the Manhattan Project, a top secret research project that developed the atomic bomb during World War II. After the war, Groves remained in charge of the Manhattan Project until responsibility for nuclear weapons production was handed over to the United States Atomic Energy Commission in 1947. In November 1922, Groves received his first overseas posting, as a company commander with the 3rd Engineers at the Schofield Barracks in Hawaii. He earned a commendation for his work there, constructing a trail from Kahuku to Pupukea.
Manhattan Project
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Manhattan_Project
Two Fat Man-type detonations were conducted at Bikini Atoll in July 1946 as part of Operation Crossroads to investigate the effect of nuclear weapons on warships. Able was detonated on 1 July 1946. The more spectacular Baker was detonated underwater on 25 July 1946.
Following a domestic debate over the permanent management of the nuclear program, the United States Atomic Energy Commission (AEC) was created by the Atomic Energy Act of 1946 to take over the functions and assets of the Manhattan Project. It established civilian control over atomic development, and separated the development, production and control of atomic weapons from the military. Military aspects were taken over by the Armed Forces Special Weapons Project (AFSWP).Although the Manhattan Project ceased to exist on 31 December 1946, the Manhattan District was not abolished until 15 August 1947.
Pacific Proving Grounds
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pacific_Proving_Grounds
The Pacific Proving Grounds was the name given by the United States government to a number of sites in the Marshall Islands and a few other sites in the Pacific Ocean at which it conducted nuclear testing between 1946 and 1962. The U.S. tested a nuclear weapon (codenamed Able) on Bikini Atoll on June 30, 1946. This was followed by Baker on July 24, 1946.
The United States conducted 105 atmospheric and underwater (i.e., not underground) nuclear tests in the Pacific, many of which were of extremely high yield. While the Marshall Islands testing composed 14% of all U.S. tests, it composed nearly 80% of the total yields of those detonated by the U.S., with an estimated total yield of around 210 megatons, with the largest being the 15 Mt Castle Bravo shot of 1954 which spread considerable nuclear fallout on many of the islands, including several which were inhabited, and some that had not been evacuated.
Many of the islands which were part of the Pacific Proving Grounds are still contaminated from the nuclear fallout, and many of those who were living on the islands at the time of testing have suffered from an increased incidence of various health problems. Through the Radiation Exposure Compensation Act of 1990, at least $759 million has been paid to Marshall Islanders as compensation for their exposure to U.S. nuclear testing. Following the Castle Bravo accident, the U.S. paid $15.3 million to Japan.
Operation Crossroads (1946) The "Baker" shot of Operation Crossroads
in 1946 was an underwater shot.
The first use of the Pacific Proving Grounds was during Operation Crossroads, the first nuclear testing done after the atomic bombing of Hiroshima and Nagasaki. Two fission bombs, both with a yield of 21 kilotons, were tested at Bikini Atoll. "Able" was detonated at an altitude of 520 ft. on July 1, 1946, and "Baker" was detonated at a depth of 90 ft. underwater on July 25. Both tests used a flotilla of obsolete vessels from World War II with the intent of learning the effects of nuclear weapons on naval fleets. The "Baker" shot created a large condensation cloud and spread much more radioactive water onto the ships than was expected; many of the surviving ships became too "hot" to be used or decontaminated and eventually had to be sunk.
The bomb drops in Operation Crossroads was from “Dave’s Dream”
a B-29 based in the Marianas Islands
Atomic Energy Commission
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_States_Atomic_Energy_Commission
The United States Atomic Energy Commission, commonly known as the AEC, was an agency of the United States government established after World War II by U.S. Congress to foster and control the peacetime development of atomic science and technology.[4] President Harry S. Truman signed the McMahon/Atomic Energy Act on August 1, 1946, transferring the control of atomic energy from military to civilian hands, effective on January 1, 1947.[5] This shift gave the members of the AEC complete control of the plants, laboratories, equipment, and personnel assembled during the war to produce the atomic bomb.
