Johnston Atoll

Johnston Atoll is an island in the Pacific Ocean. It is a property of the United States. The military used the Island for many things including a re-fueling location for planes going overseas, a chemical weapons ammunition storage facility, and a test launch location for nuclear testing. It was inhabited by all forces of the US military and government contract workers.

The island is named after Captain James Johnston, who discovered it in 1807. The island was mined for guano until 1890. After that, it was used as an army base.

Johnston Atoll Media

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  Johnston Atoll is located between the Marshall Islands and the Hawaiian Islands.

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  Johnston Island has been significantly increased in size through coral dredging.

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  USS Tanager with members of the 1923 Tanager Expedition

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  USS Whippoorwill

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  Aerial approach to the former base on Johnston Island (top). The ship channel is visible as a darker blue area starting at left and continuing up around the right side of Johnston Island, with Sand Island on the near side (bottom).

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  Sand Island and former U.S. Coast Guard LORAN Station

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  Array of sounding rockets with instruments for making scientific measurements of high-altitude nuclear tests during liftoff preparations in the Scientific Row area on Johnston Island

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  Nuclear-armed Thor missile explodes and burns on the launch pad at Johnston Island during the failed "Bluegill Prime" nuclear test, July 25, 1962

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  Johnston Island Launch Emplacement One (LE1) after a Thor missile launch failure and explosion contaminated the island with Plutonium during the Operation "Bluegill Prime" nuclear test, July, 1962

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  Inspection of Thor rocket engine remains on Johnston Island after failure of "Bluegill Prime" nuclear test attempt, July 1962

Other websites

• Johnston Island Memories Site, the personal website of an AFRTS serviceman stationed there in 1975-6
• Coast Guard Medevac from Johnston Island Archived 2011-07-17 at the Wayback Machine, photo from December 2007 medevac operation
• JACADS - Johnston Atoll Chemical Agent Disposal System, history of nuclear testing, and JACADS Sarin and VX nerve agent disposal
• U.S. Fish & Wildlife Johnston Island National Wildlife Refuge Archived 2012-05-03 at the Wayback Machine Contains additional information on wildlife and clean-up efforts