Editing Trinity (nuclear test) (section)

===Test site===
[[File:TrinitySiteISS008-E-5604.jpg|thumb|right|Trinity Site (red arrow) near [[Carrizozo Malpais]]]]
Safety and security required a remote, isolated and unpopulated area. The scientists also wanted a flat area to minimize secondary effects of the blast, and with little wind to spread [[Nuclear fallout|radioactive fallout]]. Eight candidate sites were considered: the [[Tularosa Basin|Tularosa Valley]]; the [[Jornada del Muerto Valley]]; the area southwest of [[Cuba, New Mexico]], and north of [[Thoreau, New Mexico|Thoreau]]; and the lava flats of the [[El Malpais National Monument]], all in New Mexico; the [[San Luis Valley]] near the [[Great Sand Dunes National Monument]] in Colorado; the [[Desert Training Center|Desert Training Area]] and [[San Nicolas Island]] in Southern California; and the sand bars of [[Padre Island]], Texas.{{sfn|Bainbridge|1976|p=3}}

The sites were surveyed by car and by air by Bainbridge, R. W. Henderson, Major W. A. Stevens and Major [[Peer de Silva]]. The site finally chosen, after consulting with [[Major General (United States)|Major General]] [[Uzal Ent]], the commander of the [[Second Air Force]] on September 7, 1944,{{sfn|Bainbridge|1976|p=3}} lay at the northern end of the [[Alamogordo Bombing Range]], in [[Socorro County, New Mexico|Socorro County]] near the towns of [[Carrizozo, New Mexico|Carrizozo]] and [[San Antonio, New Mexico|San Antonio]] ({{Coord|33|40.636|N|106|28.525|W|region:US-NM_type:landmark_scale:60000|display=inline}}).<ref name="wsmr">{{cite web |title=Trinity Site |publisher=White Sands Missile Range |url=http://www.wsmr.army.mil/pao/TrinitySite/trinst.htm |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070806045224/http://www.wsmr.army.mil/pao/TrinitySite/Trinst.htm |archive-date=August 6, 2007 |access-date=July 16, 2007 |quote=GPS Coordinates for obelisk (exact GZ) =&nbsp;N33.40.636 W106.28.525 }}</ref> The Alamogordo Bombing Range was renamed the White Sands Proving Ground on July 9, 1945, one week before the test.<ref>{{cite web |title=White Sands Missile Range Fact Sheet |publisher=NASA |url=https://www.nasa.gov/pdf/449089main_White_Sands_Missile_Range_Fact_Sheet.pdf |access-date=July 29, 2023 |archive-date=February 24, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170224060917/https://www.nasa.gov/pdf/449089main_White_Sands_Missile_Range_Fact_Sheet.pdf |url-status=live }}</ref> Despite the criterion that the site be isolated, nearly half a million people lived within {{convert|150|mi}} of the test site; soon after the Trinity test, the Manhattan Project's chief medical officer, Colonel [[Stafford L. Warren]], recommended that future tests be conducted at least 150 miles from populated areas.<ref name="NG">{{Cite news |date=September 21, 2021 |title=U.S. lawmakers move urgently to recognize survivors of the first atomic bomb test |publisher=National Geographic |url=https://www.nationalgeographic.com/history/article/lawmakers-move-urgently-to-recognize-survivors-of-the-first-atomic-bomb-test |access-date=August 2, 2023 |archive-date=July 21, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230721020808/https://www.nationalgeographic.com/history/article/lawmakers-move-urgently-to-recognize-survivors-of-the-first-atomic-bomb-test |url-status=dead }}</ref>

The only structures in the vicinity were the [[McDonald Ranch House]] and its ancillary buildings, about {{convert|2|mi}} to the southeast.{{sfn|Hoddeson|Henriksen|Meade|Westfall|1993|p=311}} Like the rest of the Alamogordo Bombing Range, it had been acquired by the government in 1942. The [[patented land]] had been [[eminent domain|condemned]] and [[grazing rights]] suspended.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.wsmr.army.mil/PAO/Trinity/Pages/TrinitySiteHistoryAcopyofthebrochuregiventositevisitors.aspx |title=Trinity Site History: A copy of the brochure given to site visitors |publisher=[[White Sands Missile Range]], [[United States Army]] |access-date=September 11, 2014 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140831125557/http://www.wsmr.army.mil/PAO/Trinity/Pages/TrinitySiteHistoryAcopyofthebrochuregiventositevisitors.aspx |archive-date=August 31, 2014 }}</ref><ref name="McDonald">{{cite web |url=http://www.nmfarmandranchmuseum.org/oralhistory/detail.php?interview=207 |publisher=New Mexico Farm & Ranch Heritage Museum |title=McDonald, David G |access-date=September 11, 2014 |archive-date=September 11, 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140911005509/http://www.nmfarmandranchmuseum.org/oralhistory/detail.php?interview=207 |url-status=live }}</ref> Scientists used this as a laboratory for testing bomb components.{{sfn|Hoddeson|Henriksen|Meade|Westfall|1993|p=311}} Bainbridge and Davalos drew up plans for a base camp with accommodation and facilities for 160 personnel, along with the technical infrastructure to support the test. A construction firm from [[Lubbock, Texas]], built the barracks, officers' quarters, mess hall and other basic facilities.{{sfn|Jones|1985|p=478}} The requirements expanded and by July 1945 250 people worked at the Trinity test site. On the weekend of the test, there were 425 present.{{sfn|Bainbridge|1975|p=40}}
[[File:Trinity basecamp.jpg|thumb|left|The Trinity test base camp]]

Lieutenant Bush's twelve-man [[Military Police Corps (United States)|MP]] unit arrived at the site from Los Alamos on December 30, 1944. This unit established initial security checkpoints and horse patrols. The distances around the site proved too great for the horses, so they were repurposed for [[polo]] playing, and the MPs resorted to using jeeps and trucks for transportation.{{sfn|Bainbridge|1976|p=3}}<ref name="Building a test site">{{cite web |url=http://www.atomicarchive.com/History/trinity/building.shtml |title=Building a test site |publisher=atomicarchive.com |access-date=August 23, 2014 |archive-date=July 2, 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140702220339/http://www.atomicarchive.com/History/trinity/building.shtml |url-status=live }}</ref> Maintenance of morale among men working long hours under harsh conditions along with dangerous reptiles and insects was a challenge. Bush strove to improve the food and accommodation and to provide organized games and nightly movies.{{sfn|Jones|1985|p=481}}

Throughout 1945, other personnel arrived at the Trinity Site to help prepare for the bomb test. They tried to use water out of the ranch wells, but found the water so [[alkaline]], it was not drinkable. They were forced to use [[U.S. Navy]] [[saltwater soap]] and hauled drinking water in from the firehouse in Socorro. Gasoline and diesel were purchased from the [[Standard Oil]] plant there.<ref name="Building a test site"/> Freshwater was trucked in, {{convert|700|gal}} per load, from {{convert|40|mi}} away.<ref name="wellerstein20150716">{{Cite magazine |last=Wellerstein |first=Alex |date=2015-07-16 |title=The Light of Trinity, the World's First Nuclear Bomb |url=https://www.newyorker.com/tech/annals-of-technology/the-first-light-of-the-trinity-atomic-test |access-date=2024-11-22 |magazine=The New Yorker |language=en-US |issn=0028-792X}}</ref> Military and civilian construction personnel built warehouses, workshops, a magazine and commissary. The [[siding (rail)|railroad siding]] at Pope, New Mexico, was upgraded by adding an unloading platform. Roads were built, and {{convert|200|mi}} of telephone wire were strung. Electricity was supplied by portable generators.{{sfn|Jones|1985|p=480}}{{sfn|Bainbridge|1975|p=41}} [[Bomb shelter]]s to protect test observers were the most expensive to construct.{{r|wellerstein20150716}}

Due to its proximity to the bombing range, the base camp was accidentally bombed twice in May. When the lead plane on a practice night raid accidentally knocked out the generator or otherwise doused the lights illuminating their target, they went in search of the lights, and since they had not been informed of the presence of the Trinity base camp, and it was lit, they bombed it instead. The accidental bombing damaged the stables and the carpentry shop, and a small fire resulted.{{sfn|Bainbridge|1975|p=42}}