After World War II, the US government gained control of the Marshall Islands. One of those being the all too well known home of a childhood favorite.
The year was 1946, World War II was coming to an end and peace was being restored. But there was some bigger trouble brewing. The red army was determined to control the politics of all bordering countries. This gave way to Operation Cross Roads.
How I Learned to Love the Bomb
Able
Also know as, Gilda. It was decorated in Esquire magazine cut-outs of Rita Hayworth who was the star in the movie Gilda.
Baker
Otherwise commonly referred to as Helen of Bikini.
Charlie
Often forgotten for its untimely cancellation.
These were the names of the 3 bombs planned to be detonated in and around the Bikini Atoll area.
Able was much of a disappointment to the press observers, hoping for more catastrophic damage from these new-fangled nuclear bombs, especially after what had taken place in Nagasaki just a year before. A notable “survivor” of the Able test was the infamous Pig #311 who is said to have been found swimming in the lagoon after the explosion. However, it was later proven that our buddy Pig #311 was actually absent without leave and not around during the detonation.
Baker was a much different story, commonly referred to as “the world’s first nuclear disaster” by members of the Atomic Energy Commission. Being suspended 90 feet below the water’s surface beneath landing craft LSM-60 resulted in very unique photographs of this explosion. Baker was more damaging to the test area causing immense radioactive contamination to all nearby vessels. The LSM-60 that the bomb was beneath is said to have been completely vaporized by the explosion. The baker test was such an innovation that they needed to hold a conference in the following days to standardize new terminology for what they observed during this test.
Charlie was never conducted after the failure to clean up the area following the Baker test. It was too risky to send troops down to clean the Atoll properly for fear they would sue the Navy for later health issues that would come up due to the massive amounts of radiation.
Somebody Forgot Their Chores
The water that shot up from the explosion was known to be highly contaminated with radiation, and the water that fell back down onto the surrounding area would contaminate anything it touched. However, it was not expected how large a range the water would hit. Almost the entire test fleet was soaked in contaminated water.
The ships were cleaned in the traditional way with sailors wearing no protective clothing, scrubbing the decks. These sailors were removed due to the dangerous conditions but the contamination spread. Because these folks were so heavily coated in radioactive water, it spread into the shower stalls and laundry facilities.
What About the People, Man
Bikini Atoll was not an uninhabited stretch of land in the sea. 167 people lived on Bikini Atoll and were forcibly removed from their homes and brought to one of the other islands nearby.
They just wanted to go home. But their attempts were denied by the US government for health concerns. There was a total of 21 bombs detonated in and around Bikini Atoll.
Eventually, in 1974, there was an attempt to prepare Bikini Atoll for resettlement, but that was later abandoned in 1978 because the food supply was being contaminated with radioactivity.
During the preparation to return, the US tried to revitalize the island and planted hundreds of palms. They had military personnel plant the trees. In what could only have been completed by those in the military, the trees were planted in perfect grids and the island is forever donned in this weirdly perfect tree arrangement.
Pikinni, do you mean Bikini?
It’s no coincidence, the name “Bikini Atoll”, or should I say it’s no coincidence that the common two-piece women’s swimsuit is called a “Bikini”. Bikini’s were originally designed by a french automotive engineer, and given the name in reference to Bikini Atoll. There was a trend of femme-fatale names for nuclear weapons and this was epitomized through many cultures in language that far exceeds the time of nuclear war.
The germans originally named the Atoll, Bikini derived from the Marshallese name Pikinni.
Who Lives in a Pineapple Under the Sea
Sponge Bob Square Pants. That’s right people, the location of a highly destructive nuclear testing site was the inspiration for a TV show that would take the world by storm.
The frequently used clip of an underwater explosion is actually that of the Baker Test. You could also venture to guess that the bizarre talking sea creatures are a result of nuclear radiation.
The Marshall Islands
Today, the Marshall Islands continue to thrive. Well, all but Bikini Atoll. That one remains the source of contention and constant back and forth on whether or not it’s safe to visit. Regardless it does have a bustling high-end sport diving industry, with aircraft carrier Saratoga as its primary attraction.
The Marshall Islands are one of the least visited countries in the world, seeing less than 500 visitors annually, many of who are aboard large ships passing by.