U. S. S. NICHOLAS (DDS-449) DDL4L9/mw c/o Fleet Post Office P22 San Francisco, California Ser: O54 28 barch 1954 —— From: Commanding Officer To: Commander Task Group 7.3 Subj: Rongelap Survey Trip 25 ~ 26 March 1954; report of 1. The USS NICHOLAS (DDE-L49) departed BIKINI Atoll at 1900M, 25 March 1954 for RONGELAP Atoll in accordance with Commander Joint Task Force SiVa7! 2311312 and Commander Task Group 7.3 232323Z of Merch 1954. The following Personnel from Task Group 7.1 were on board: Dr. Lauren R. Donaldson Dr. Thomas L. Shipmen Lr. idward «. Held Dr. ralph F. Palumbo br. Paul R. Olson Dr. Thomas N. “White Mir. William W. nobbins Mr. Pascuale R. Schiavone Major Charles M. Barnes, USaF 2, The ship arrived off the South Entrance, RONGELAP Atoll at 260100M and put a whale boat in the water at 260630M to meet the plane arriving from Kwajalein with Dr. Dond's party. 3, The ship then proceeded to Northeast Pass, RONGZLAP 4toll, entered and anchored. Dr. Donaldson and his party departed the ship at O830M. 4. The plane from Kwajalein arrived off RONGELAP at O905M, was met by the whaleboet. Dr. Bond, Mr. Marion Wilds, three Public Hsalth Service Officers, three Natives and miscellaneous equipment was transported to the beach. The plane was guided to an anchorage about two hundred (200) yards off shore from the village where it was anchored. a. Personnel from the NICHOLAS assisted Dr. cond to accomplish the following: Capture five young pigs and onc sow; captures five chickens; obtain soil, fruit and vegetation samples. One boar was killed and an autorsy was performed on the spot. The animals and other samples were pleced in cages and transported to the plane. Dr. Bonds party departed RONCELaAF at 1300M, 26 March 1954. The whaleboat then departed RONGSLAP Island and proceeded sorth to-rejoin the ship, stopping at BUSCH and sN1+2TOK Island to measure radioactive intensity. One member of RadSurvey Tzsm accompanied this boat to condact RadSurvey on Southeastern Islands. Dr. Lonaldson's party worked in the Northeast part of RONGZLAF Atoll, collecting fish, soil, birds, invertebrates, algae and vegetation samples. Oo E. uP One member of RadSurve; Tsam accompanied this this party to conduct RedSurvey of Northern Islands. It was not possible to collect rats, as desired, due to the unexpected departure of the ship as directed by Commander Task Group 7.3 2602172 of March 1954. ENGAMLTER (4) Se emma S