U. S$. S. NICHOLAS (DDS DDS4L9/mw c/o Fleet Post Office P22 San Francisco, California Ser: 054 28 arch 1954 From: To: Commanding Officer Commander Task Group 7.3 Subj: Rongelap Survey Trip 25 - 26 March 1954; report of 1. The USS NICHOLAS (DDE-449) departed BIKINI Atoll at 1900M, 25 March 1954 for RONGELAP Atoll in accordance with Commander Joint Task Force S5VEN 231131Z and Commander Task Group 7.3 2323232 of March 1954. The following personne] from Task Group 7.1 were on board: Dr. Lauren R. Donaldson Ur. Thomas L. Shipmen Dr. sdward «. Held Dr. Ralph F. Palumbo Dr. Paul R. Olson Dr. Thomas N. White . Mr. dilliam W. Mobbins 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 inthe water at 260630M to meet the plane arriving from Kwajalein with Dr. Bond's party. 3. The ship then proceeded to Northeast Pass, RONGELAP stoll, entered and anchored. Dr. Donaldson and his party departed the ship at 0830M. 4. The plane from Kwajalein arrived off RONGELAP at O905M, was met by the whaleboet. Dr. Bond, Mr. Marion Wilds, three Public Health Service Officers, three Natives and m'scellaneous equipment was transported to the beach. plane was guided to an anchorage about two hundred (200) yards off shore Th3 from the village where it was anchored. a. Personnel from the NICHOLAS assisted Dr. Sond to accomplish the following: Capture five young pigs and one sow; capture five chickens; obtain soil, fruit and vegetation samples. One boar was killed and an au-~ in cages and transported to the plane. Bonds party departed RONCZLAP topsy was performed on the spot. The animals and other samples were pléeced Dr. at 1300M, 26 March 1954. The whaleboat then departed RONGSLAF Island and proceeded «orth to rejoin the ship, stopping at BUSCH and «NIniTOK Island to measur. radioactive intensity. One member of RadSurvey Tzem accompanied this boat to condict RadSurvey on Southeastern Islands. Br. Donaldson's party worked in the Northeast part of RONGSLAP atoll, collecting fish, soil, birds, invertebrates, algae and vegetetion samples. One member of RadSurvey Team accompanied this this party to conduct RadSurvey 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 Liarch 1954. ENCLOSURE (4) ; Dogtified ° Die 5200, 19