Editing Johnston Atoll (section)

===Biological warfare test site 1965–1968===
{{See also|Project SHAD|Project 112|Deseret Test Center}}
The atoll was subject to large-scale bioweapons testing over four years starting in 1965. The American strategic tests of bioweapons were as expensive and elaborate as the tests of the first hydrogen bombs at [[Eniwetok Atoll]]. They involved enough ships to have made the world's fifth-largest independent navy. One experiment involved several barges with hundreds of [[rhesus monkeys]]. It is estimated that one jet with bioweapon spray "would probably be more efficient at causing human deaths than a ten-megaton hydrogen bomb."<ref name="rpbio">{{cite magazine |last1=Preston |first1=Richard |title=The Bioeweaponeers |pages=52–65 |magazine=The New Yorker |date=March 9, 1998}}</ref>

In the lead-up to biological warfare testing in the Pacific under [[Project 112]] and [[Project SHAD]], a new virus was discovered during the Pacific Ocean Biological Survey Program by teams from the Smithsonian's Division of Birds aboard a [[United States Army]] [[tugboat]] involved in the program. Initially, the effort's name was the Pacific Ocean Ornithological Project; however, it was changed once someone noted the natural acronym "POOP".<ref name="Regis2000">{{cite book|author=Ed Regis|title=The Biology of Doom: America's Secret Germ Warfare Project|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=8HWQ1uzybFwC&pg=PA41|date=October 1, 2000|publisher=Henry Holt and Company|isbn=978-0-8050-5765-2|page=188|access-date=November 7, 2015|archive-date=September 29, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230929044505/https://books.google.com/books?id=8HWQ1uzybFwC&pg=PA41|url-status=live}}</ref> First isolated in 1964 the [[tick]]-borne virus was discovered in ''Ornithodoros capensis'' ticks, found in a nest of [[common noddy]] (''Anous stolidus'') at Sand Island, Johnston Atoll. It was designated [[Johnston Atoll virus|Johnston Atoll Virus]] and is related to influenza.<ref>{{cite web|title=Johnston Atoll Virus|url=http://influenza-news.blogspot.com/2014/01/johnston-atoll-virus.html|access-date=April 24, 2014|archive-date=April 24, 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140424172911/http://influenza-news.blogspot.com/2014/01/johnston-atoll-virus.html|url-status=live}}</ref>

In February, March, and April 1965, Johnston Atoll was used to launch biological attacks against U.S. Army and Navy vessels {{convert|100|mi}} south-west of Johnston island in vulnerability, defense, and decontamination tests conducted by the [[Deseret Test Center]] during Project SHAD under Project 112. Test DTC 64-4 (Deseret Test Center) was initially called "RED BEVA" (Biological EVAluation), though the name was later changed to "Shady Grove", likely for operational security reasons. The biological agents released during this test included ''[[Francisella tularensis]]'' (formerly called ''Pasteurella tularensis'') (Agent UL), the causative agent of [[tularemia]]; ''[[Coxiella burnetii]]'' (Agent OU), the causative agent of [[Q fever]]; and ''[[Bacillus globigii]]'' (Agent BG).<ref name="Shady">{{Cite web |url=http://mcm.fhpr.osd.mil/Libraries/CBexposuresDocs/shady_grove_revised.sflb.ashx |title=Deseret Test Center, Project SHAD, Shady Grove revised fact sheet |access-date=December 24, 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131225185512/http://mcm.fhpr.osd.mil/Libraries/CBexposuresDocs/shady_grove_revised.sflb.ashx |archive-date=December 25, 2013 |url-status=dead }}</ref> During Project SHAD, ''Bacillus globigii'' was used to simulate biological warfare agents (such as [[anthrax]]), because it was then considered a contaminant with little health consequence to humans; however, it is now considered a human pathogen.<ref name=napshad>{{Cite report |author=The National Academies |author2=The Center for Research Information, Inc. |date=2004 |title=Health Effects of Project Shad Biological Agent: Bacillus globigii, (Bacillus licheniformis), (Bacillus subtilis var. niger), (Bacillus atrophaeus) |url=http://www.iom.edu/~/media/Files/Report%20Files/2007/Long-Term-Health-Effects-of-Participation-in-Project-SHAD-Shipboard-Hazard-and-Defense/BACILLUSGLOBIGII.pdf |publisher=Prepared for the National Academies |docket=Contract No. IOM-2794-04-001 |access-date=January 14, 2014 }}{{dead link|date=January 2018 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref> Ships equipped with the E-2 multi-head disseminator and [[Douglas A-4|A-4C aircraft]] equipped with Aero 14B spray tanks released live pathogenic agents in nine aerial and four surface trials in phase B of the test series from February 12 to March 15, 1965, and in four aerial trials in phase D of the test series from March 22 to April 3, 1965.<ref name="Shady"/>

According to Project SHAD veteran Jack Alderson, who commanded the Army tugs, area three at Johnston Atoll was located at the most downwind part of the island and consisted of a collapsible [[Nissen hut]] for weapons preparation and some communications.<ref name=alderson>[http://www.iom.edu/~/media/Files/Activity%20Files/Veterans/SHADII/Alderson%20Comments%20for%20Presentation.pdf Notes for Project SHAD presentation by Jack Alderson given to Institute of Medicine on April 19, 2012 for SHAD II study] {{dead link|date=November 2017 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref>