Editing Fort Detrick (section)

====World War II and BW research (1943–45)====
{{main|United States biological weapons program}}
During World War II, Camp Detrick and the USBWL became the site of intensive [[biological warfare]] (BW) research using various [[pathogens]]. This research was originally overseen by pharmaceuticals executive [[George W. Merck]] and for many years was conducted by [[Ira Baldwin|Ira L. Baldwin]], professor of bacteriology at the University of Wisconsin. Baldwin became the first scientific director of the labs. He chose Detrick Field for the site of this exhaustive research effort because of its balance between remoteness of location and proximity to Washington, D.C. – as well as to [[Edgewood Arsenal]], the focal point of U.S. chemical warfare research. Buildings and other facilities left from the old airfield – including the large hangar – provided the nucleus of support needed for the startup. The {{convert|92|acre|ha}} of Detrick Field were also surrounded by extensive farmlands that could be procured if and when the BW effort was expanded.<ref>Covert, Norman M. (2000), [http://www.detrick.army.mil/cutting_edge/index.cfm?chapter=contents "A History of Fort Detrick, Maryland", 4th Edition: 2000.] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120121062629/http://www.detrick.army.mil/cutting_edge/index.cfm?chapter=contents |date=2012-01-21 }}</ref>

The Army's [[Chemical Corps|Chemical Warfare Service]] was given responsibility and oversight for the effort that one officer described as "cloaked in the deepest wartime secrecy, matched only by … the [[Manhattan Project]] for developing the Atomic Bomb".<ref>Clendenin, Lt. Col. Richard M. (1968), ''Science and Technology at Fort Detrick, 1943–1968''; [[Technical Information Division]]</ref> Three months after the start of construction, an additional $3 million was provided for five additional laboratories and a pilot plant. Lt. Col. Bacon was authorized 85 officers, 373 enlisted personnel, and 80 enlisted [[Women's Army Corps (United States Army)|Women's Army Auxiliary Corps]] (WAAC) members under two WAAC officers. At its peak strength in 1945, Camp Detrick had 240 officers and 1,530 enlisted personnel including WACs.<ref>Covert (2000), ''Op. cit.''</ref>

After the defeat of Japan, the researchers working at [[Unit 731]] were given immunity from prosecution. In return, director [[Shirō Ishii]] provided "8,000 slides of tissue from human and animal dissections" from the experiments, which were reportedly stored at Fort Detrick.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Dahl |first=Tracy |date=1983-05-26 |title=Japan's Germ Warriors |language=en-US |newspaper=Washington Post |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/archive/politics/1983/05/26/japans-germ-warriors/a0149d21-ba27-460e-a807-d3db942ba507/ |access-date=2022-05-15 |issn=0190-8286}}</ref>