IX
blast.

All strings except the first one, netrest the xero point,

were recover«cd by 3 May, ani the two ships were released fron the

task group,

IKCLALMERs early departure was desirable because she

was due in the Pur cast to relisve a ship saheduled for rotation,
She sailed from Bikini 4 Hay for Guam,

At CNPHIBPAG'a request ehe

was diverted from a stop at Quam, but for three days followed the
ori ginal routing assigned at the request of CIG 723 to keep clear of
radioactive fallout from YAHEES.

SHEA departed Bikini the afternoon

of 3 Moy with her first scheduled ctop at Kwajalein for fuel. while ~
there she «as assigned briefly to a. SAR missioa, joining the suc-

ceaful search for mother slasing British aircraft on § Kay, ad
them procesded on to her base at Pearl Harbor.

|

LST 1157, the third

ship in this task elesent, remained behind to assist in the rollup.
.

Se

PC 1545 completed her participation 1a Operation CASTLE

st Rongerik itol1 on § Hay, with YARESE the lest shot in which she
took part.

Commoncing wlth the third ehot, FO08, the PC had ben

ststioned in the atoll area to the east af Bikini at shot tine, on
verying misafoas,

on both UNIO md YAMNEIZ she was at Hongerik

with Air Force weather ectation ani scientific project personnel aboard,

This atoll, evacusted because of radioactive contexinzticn after Yefiyy,
was still teo “het” far perscanal to live asnore.

Since weather data

from Rongerik was vital, the station was operated by personnel whe
lived aboard the FC and wont ashore periodically to take readings.

Om YANKEE, personnel of Projest 6.6, operating ci; lonospheric recording
an

FY
AFWLIHO

ea

26

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