average reading on the 4%-1B radiac instruments were 200 mrfhr.
pass at 250 ft altitude was 340 or/hr.
Another
The aircraft climbed to 5000 ft
to attempt direct radio communication with the USS Estes or Eniwetok.
Transmissions were garbled and intermittent.
The following message
(message #4), however, was received by the AOC, Eniwetok, at 1043, 2
March from Navy aircraft #1902 "Should Rongerik Island be evacuated at
once. Request immediate answer", The message as received did not make
much sense but Lt Colonel Crosby, TG 7.4 Operations, queried Lt Colonel
Richard House, Rad-Safe Officer, JTF SEVEN. House's information based
on shipboard contamination (USS Estes-USS Bairoke) in the target area
and fall-out prediction indicated that Rongerik should be in the same
contamination level as the ship or approximately 300 mr/nr.
should be transient and disappear in a few hours.
evacuation.
The effect
He counseled no
Crosby then sent a message to Navy aircraft 1902 informing
them not to evacuate Rongerik.
This message was sent to Navy aircraft
1902 at 1117M on 2 March 1954 (Message #5).
@
The request from Crosby was received by Navy 1902 and
Chrestensen sent back that his only radiological reading was "340 mr/br
at 250 ft altitude." This message was received at TG 7.4 as "340 mr/br
at 250 ft. This was discussed by Crosby and Houghton and Chrestensen
was informed at 1126, D/1, to disregard message to not evacuate and again
requested the radiological situation in more detail (Message #6).
f. Chrestensen finally landed at 1130, 2 March, and made a quick
rad survey of the island and work spaces. It was as follows:
,
Inside buildings
0.6 r/or
Outside buildings
2.4 r/hr (sand surface)
tent
1.2 r/or
surface
3/2 v/or
Outside buildings
Surface of one bed in
One inch from ground
g-
Kwajalein.
1.8 r/hr (waist height)
Eight(8) men was loaded on the Navy aircraft and started for
As the aircraft departed Chrestensen was informed by the pilot
that additional information on the rad situation was requested by
TG 7.4.
A reading of 3.2 r/hr at one inch was sent (not received).
At 1125 Crosby
received a TWX stating that the Navy aircraft had taken off eight (8)
personnel,
(Message #7 & 8).
h. At 1439 a classified message was received from JTF SEVEN LNO
at Kwajalein stating "Upon advise of Captain Chrestensen, Adm Clark is
returning same aircraft to Rongerik to evacuate remaining personne
l -
Hughes sends." At 1440 a confidential méssage was received from JTF SEVEN
LNO Kwajalein addressed to JTF SEVEN Eniwetok and TG 7.4 Eniwetok: "Per
Crosby's request following submitted. Captain Hughes was requested to
assist by Adm Clarke. Following is summary. Navy 1902 UF-1 with Chrestensen
Declassified
DOD DIR 5200.85)
Declossified
DOD Dik 520014.
9