As part of a diving trip to Bikini Atoll about 5 years ago I was lucky enough to get a trip ashore with a couple of the crew to look for some compressor belts at the old airport on the island.
Home in the 40s and 50s to the US atomic tests. The islanders of this central Pacific paradise were "temporarily" relocated around to some of the other islands around the Pacific. In the late 60s an attempt was made to resettle a number of families back on Bikini but unfortunately by the 70s it was found that the long term radiation still present from the 23 tests carried out made this impossible for long term occupation so the locals were moved yet again, that in itself is a long and sad story. Anyway back to mine.
The island was now home to a small group rangers, who police the atoll to prevent illegal fishing and diving. They only stay on the island for a few months because of the radiation and all food must be shipped in as anything grown there is to contaminated to eat, but amazing things do still grow.
I have always had a fascination for abandoned places, they are a window in to the past and the stories they can tell, the things people leave behind. Left as it was in the late 70s the airport has be scavenged by the rangers of odds and ends over the years but is still pretty much intact from the runway to the stores and out buildings as you can see.
1970s all mod cons.
Not sure if it will pass an MOT
I know I left it somewhere here.
Well equipped machine shop.
Still waiting for passengers after almost 50 years.
