U. S$. S. NICHOLS (202-229) DD SLL3/mw P22 c/a Flset Post Office Ser: C54 San Francisco, Califorria 28 Warch 13Sh From: Cosmanding Officdr Sabj: Rongelap Survey Trip 25 ~ 26 “arch 1954; report of To: lL. Commander Task Croup 7.3 The USS NICHOLAS (DI&-449) departed BIKINI atoll at LSCON, 25 March 1954 for RONGZLAP Atoll in accordance with Commander Joint Task Force2 231131Z and Commander Task Group 7.3 232323Z of March 1954. bersonnel from Task Group 7.1 were on board: Gr. br. Ur. Dr. Ir. Lauren R. Donaldson Thomas L. Shipman Sdward 2. H2id Ralph F. Palumbo Paul &. Olson SiViN The following me a Dr. Thomas N. “hite Mr. William W. nobbins br. Pascuale R. Scnlavene Major Charles i. Barnes, USaF 2. The ship érrived off the South Entrance, RONGELAP atoll at 26010CM and 3. The shiv then croceeded to Northeast Pass, RONCELAP L. The plana from Kyajalein arrived off RONGILAP at C305, was met by the pub a whale boat in the weter at 260630M to mest the olenz arriving from Nwajalein ywita Or. Fond’ 53 party. lena scchored. wneledoat. stoll, entered and Dr. Donaldson and nis party decarted the ship at O330K. Dr. Bond, Mr. Marion Milds, three Public Health Service Cificars, unree Natives and msc¢llanzous equipment was transported to the beach. Tha plane was guided to an anchoraz2 about two hundred (200) yards off snore Trom the village where it was anchored. 22. 13 ee 26 tiarch 1954. The whaleboat then depart ed RONGELAP Island end ded +orth to rejoin the ship, stopping 2t SUSCH and SNIASTOK Island 9 QO Bikio' Of cher i } ty c oO aw ‘yO 'goeF 3 0 OO ! Bee Eg Personnel from the NICHOLAS assisted Er. pond to accomplish the owing: Capture five young pigs and one sow; cacturs mat chickens; in soil, fruit and vegetation samples. Ons boar was killed and én ou y was serformed on the spot. The animals and other samples were pleced ages 2nd transported to th2 clans. Br. Bonds party departed RONC2LAP NCz 4 J $y _ 7) hey clouw VF w 3 ct i measur. radioactive intensity. Cn2 member of RedSurvay Team accomtanied is boat to Condict RadSurvey on Southeastern Islénds. Or. Donaldson's y worked in the Northeast part of RONGSLAP atoll, collecting fish, soil, laAvertebrates, alg22 and végetétion samples. Cne mambar of RacSurve;y accompanied this this party to conduct RedSurvey of Northern Islands. was mot possible to collect rats, as desired, dus to the unexpected csrture of the ship 2s diracted by Commander Task Grous 7.3 2502172 of iar “ —? “At mom Ne TOS URS 4