A Test in History: Nuclear Fallout at Bikini Atoll

The Baker explosion contaminated the lagoon and all ships in the targeted area. In the first six days following the detonation, radiation levels were at their highest. Still, 4,900 men were allowed to board target ships. The sailors attempted to remove radioactivity by scrubbing with soap and water, and even lye. The only thing that worked was sandblasting to the bare metal.

Test Charlie

The third in the series, Charlie, was set to test effects on unmoored ships and would have been detonated deep beneath the surface. It was, however, deemed unnecessary following the success of the Able and Baker tests. The test was later performed in 1955 as Operation Wigwam.

The People of Bikini

Prior to Operation Crossroads, the 167 residents of Bikini were relocated to the uninhabited Rongenik Atoll. By January 1947, it was reported that the displaced Bikini residents were suffering from malnutrition and faced starvation. As a result, in March 1948 they were again relocated. Eventually they settled on yet another uninhabited island in November of that same year.

An atoll is a ring- shaped coral reef and small island, such as Bikini, that encloses a lagoon and is surrounded by open sea.

The island of Kili was less than satisfactory in providing the former residents of Bikini with a sustainable lifestyle. One-third the size of Bikini, and lacking a lagoon or a protected harbor, the native culture was unable to practice lagoon fishing and became dependent upon food shipments. As a result, four thousand descendants are today living on various islands and in foreign countries. They had been stripped of their native culture.

Note the size of Kili in the lower right of the map in comparison to the Bikini Atoll at the top and center of the map.

Bikini Today

When one hears the word bikini today, a skimpy swimsuit comes to mind. Pop culture dictates that “like the bomb, the bikini is small and devastating” and that “atom bombs reduce everybody to primitive costume.”

The sad truth is that while Bikini residents wanted to return to their native home, the U.S. rendered that impossible. Through continued nuclear testing from 1954 through 1958 an additional twenty-one nuclear bombs were detonated at Bikini. Fallout from the last of these tests caused radiation injuries to the Bikini natives who had continued living on Rongelap Atoll. To this day, Bikini remains uninhabitable. While the fish are plentiful in the lagoon, they are not safe for consumption. If Operation Crossroads was a test, it’s a test in history at which we failed miserably.

Photos courtesy of Wikimedia Commons