until last shot plus 30 days;
b.

the CVE remaining at Bikini to provide intra-atoll
air transportation until last shot plus 15 days;

ec.

one LST remaining until last shot plus 15 days; and

d.

one LST remaining to roll-up the weather stations.

On 16 May 1954, CTG 7.2 once again assumed the responsibility
as ATCOM Eniwetok and Task Group 7.2 began operations as the garrison force in the forward area.

Roll-up of supplies and equipment

no longer required by the users and under the responsibility of
Task Group 7.2 had been progressing during the closing weeks of the

Operation so that by the conclusion of CASTLE activities were far
beyond previous expectations.

Unit schedules had been established

so as to provide an orderly system for turn-in.

Preservative con-

tainers and coverings had been constructed for the purpose of longterm tropical storage of many items.

Maintenance work for Task

Group 7.2 was considerable during roll-up for much equipment had
to be sandblasted and repainted prior to storage.

_

The other permanent unit in the forward area, the H&N contrac-

tors, also had accomplished a great deal toward roll-up when/3407
was detonated.

The final equipment roll-up of Bikini Atoll started

on 8 May although the majority of the scientific station equipment
had already been removed by 3 May, prior tolSHOTS|

The major por-

tion of post}7|roll-up consisted of removing the marine craft,
the mooring gear, and the remainder of the scientific station equipMent.

This process was complicated because of the radioactive con-

i51

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