"Johnston Atoll" a Johnston Atoll Travel Page by Ekahau

Johnston Island – This Vter went to Johnston a long time ago I as an USAF flight surgeon and epidemiologist studying Agent Orange health effects (Project Ranch hand). Johnston atoll at the time was a chemical warfare agents disposal area where the Military ran a “Chemical Demilitarization facility” known as the Johnston Atoll Chemical Agent Disposal System. From July through Nov of 1962 Johnston was used to detonate 5 high altitude nuclear devices, Bluegill, Chama, Kingfish, and Starfish I &II as part of the atomic bombs test program. In fact Starfish Starfish 1 was the most powerful space based explosion or at least it is listed as such in the Guinness book of world record.

In the late 1990s they started to prepare to close the military facility this was completed in mid 2005 and the Air force base and the airfield were deactivated.

When I was there the Island had a population of about 1200 to 1300 people about 300 hundred military and a thousand US defense department contractors on the island.

Johnston as AFB

Johnston nice photo essay as it is being turned back to wildlife refuge

Johnston as the new national wildlife refuge

It glows in the Dark – this photo is public domain From the US Dept of Energy

U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service
Pacific/Remote Islands National Wildlife Refuge Complex
300 Ala Moana Boulevard

Room 5-231, Box 50167
Honolulu, Hawai`i 96850
(808) 792-9550
(808) 792-9586 fax

Entry to the refuge is by Special Use Permit only.