Utirik Is. - after establishing radio communications with the plane and ascertaining the number of passengers, the sxecutive Officer wes directed to
cross over to the lagoon side and use the rubbor raft or any means to land
the plane passengers.
With the friendly help of the cooperative natives,
tne X.0. with the rubber raft, set out in an outrigger cance towards the
seaplane in the lagoon. But just as he approached the plane it taxiied away
apparently not distinguishing him among tne natives. It had been suggestod
to tne plane that if he had difficulty landing passengers in the lagoon, ne
-
might try landing scutside the lagoon near tne ship. Upon hearing this
Suggestion, the plane took off immediately and after one try, a tremendous
bounce, another circle and approach, landed near the snip about O915H.
Meanwhile, the gig having disembarked tne Executive Officer was in-
structed by him to procced eastward about 500 yards to a small cove where
the natives said landings could be made with more ease and safaty.
was done but calling it a cove is a misuse of the term.
This
Ease and safoty
did not seem ta fit the situation either but it did appear less dangerous.
By using the anchor to seaward tne gig was slowly worked up to the reef
édge where the Radsafo Officer and his team disembarked and waded ashore
to the same friendly welcome, handshakes and "Good Moming! from every native
large and small. During tnis time the Executive Officer had retumed to the
beach from the lagoon and his try at receiving the plane passengers and advised the native chief to prepare his pecple for evacuation. Soma of the
natives who seumed to understand and spoke some broken English were of great
assistance in this. At this time the ship was advised by the X.0. of the
necessity for evacuation on southern and seaward side of Utirik Island and
that native boats would be of no practical assistance. The Gunnery Officer
in the MWB, after searching for several miles along the south leg of tne
atoll, reported there were no breaks in the reef nor landing places of any
After the gig had tisembarked the remainder of the beach party, it was
returned to the ship having lost its anchor in leaving tho reef. It arrived
in the vicinity of the ship just in time to meet tne plane and take aboard
its passengors.
They consisted of Karshall Island Trust Territory repre-
sentative, iarshall Island interpreter, and two public relations civilians
attached to staff, CJTF 7.
after a oriaf consultation on board ard pro-
curemeant. of another boat anchor, the gig was again dispatched to the beach,
me
SCR~300
the MB enroute and receiving from it a radioman with a portable
radio which greatly facilitated the operation. This party was oct
by the Executive Officer and the group then set owt for the village.
seaplane departed shortly for <wajalein.
h-od
"
The
ENCLOSURE (1.