HEADQUARTERS
WEATHER REPORTING ELEMENT, PROVISIONAL
APO 187, c/o Postmaster
San Francisco, California
SUBJECT:
Evacuation of Rongerik Personnel
TO:
Commander
Weather Reporting Element, Prov.
APO 187
1.
The following paragraphs contain a brief summary of events that
I have knowledge of relative to evacuation of personnel on Rongerik Atoll.
2. I departed Eniwetok on 28 February by military aircraft and
arrived at Kwajalein same date.
3. On 1.March I made plans with Commander McDaniel, Air Department
Officer, Kwajalein NAS for visits to the weather islands including a visit
to Rongerik on 2 March.
4.
On 2 March I was awakened by my alarm clock at 0530 hours.
When
I left my room in the Air Force BOQ to proceed to the latrine I saw Lt Col
Disana and Captain Christensen approaching the latrine, Captain Christensen stated that he had come to Kwajalein to accompany me to Rongerik to make
a survey of the conditions on the atoll. Up until this time I was not aware
‘of certain events that had occurred at Rongerik during the preceding 24
hours.
5.
After a short discussion of the matter at the BOQ we vroceeded to
the MATS Terminal for breakfast. After eating breakfast we loaded all supplies
consigned to Rongerik on the UF-1 Seaplane. Captain Christensen issued a
film badge to each individual going on the trip to Rongerik. We got aboard
the aircraft and departed at O800 arriving over Rongerik Atoll approximately
0930.
Captain Christensen had the pilot of the aircraft fly at various
altitudes to enable him to record readings prior to landing and going ashore
on Eniwetak Island. The readings on his instruments indicated that the atoll
had experienced events that had not been anticipated, He tried to contact
Eniwetok Atoll by aircraft radio but was unable to do same. He then contacted
Kwajalein and requested that a message relative to conditions at Rongerik
be relayed to Eniwetok. After flying around the atoll for approximately 2
hours, we landed in the lagoon at 1130 hours, Captain Christensen stated
he would go ashore on Eniwetak Island to make a general survey of all areas.
Upon going ashore he immediately began taking readings with his instrument in
the Air Force living area, The survey results indicated events had occurred
that made 1t imperative that all personnel be evacuated as soon as possible.
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