HEADQUARTERS
JOINT TASK FORCE SEVEN
APO 187 (HOW), c/o Postasater
San Franeisce, California
JO apral 1954
SUBJECT:
THRU:
~_
Survey of Rongelap and Utirik Atolls
Commander, Joint Task Porce SEVEN
APO 187 (HOW), c/o Postmaster
San Francisco, Californis
TO:
Commander in Chief, Pacific
Navy No. 128, c/o Fleet Pest Office
San Francisco, California
l.
Roferences:
a. Letter, CJIF SEVEN to CINCP.C dated 9 April 1954, subjects
"Return of Inhebitants of Rongelap and Utirik to their Home Atolls",
b, Message, CINCPAC to CJIP SEVEN, 1.00422 April 1954.
G. Message, CINCPAC to CMO, 1605012 April 1954.
2.
In accordance with the provisions of references arand b, &
survey party visited Rongelap and Utirik Atolls during the period 21-23
April 1954. The mission of the survey party was to determine what action
must be taken price to the return of the native population to these atolls,
frea which they were cvacuated early in March 1954 as & comeequence of
the initial detenation of the CASTLE test series. The campositicn of the
survey party ig indicated in Inclosure 1. A narrative account of the ac=
tivities of the survey party, including observations concerning the two
atolls, is presented in Inclosure 2,
3.
Im general, the conclusions of the survey party confirmed the
planning factors crtlined in reference a. The natives of Utirik atoll
may be returned to their homes shortly after the last shot of the CASTLE
series. On the other hand, the natives of Rongelep itall can net be re=
turned to theiy homes for approxcimetely me year. 1 May 1955 is recam>
mended as the plarming date for the return to Rongelap. The natives of
Rongelap should be examined pertodically to monitor their recovery fram