= such a degree that its immediate use was hazardous to personnel. ation prohibited the landing of aircraft. Radi- This situation imposed a serious problem because airlift between Eniwetok and Bikini was a necessity. The two PEM aircraft, operationally controlled by Task Group 7.4 at that time, were not considered sufficient to accommodate all the anticipated passengers and cargo. General Estes promptly requested USAF to furnish three SA-16'aircraft. Headquarters, USAF in turn directed the Air Reacue Service to dispatch three SA-16's from Hawaii to Eniwetok. However, only two SA-16's could be made available at Honolulu due to a lack of aircrews. These two aircraft arrived on 9 March and were immedi- ately placed in operation in the inter-atoll airlift system. ; Although contaminated, the existing radiological hazard at Rongerik did not preclude visits to that weather station, provided the period of occupation did not exceed radiological safety limits. It was decided that during the interim between evacuation and re-establishment of the station to normal operational status — about 1 May 1954 -—- that re-entry parties of five to seven men, including one radiological safety monitor provided by the 4926th, would be periodically transported from Eniwetok to Rongerik to service, maintain and operate, on a very limited scale, the equipment and facilities there. During the second week of March the first re-entry team arrived at Rongerik. Except for the radiological safety monitor, this team was provided by the Test Services Unit. Radi- ation intensities, samples of coral and other contaminated debris found in the vicinity of the working area were obtained and conveyed to Task Groups 7.1 and 7.4. Only personnel who had not been exposed to radiation intensities considered excessive would be assigned to man the weather reporting installation. AFHLHC 24