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HEADQUARTERS TASK UNIT 13
Task Group
7,1
APO 187 (HOW) P.O. Box 8
c/o Postmaster
San Francisco, California
TU-13~54-375
SUBJECT:
1.
12 March 1954
Radiological Survoy of Downvdind Atolls Contaminatcd by BRAVO
Acknowledgement
The members of the survey tcam wish to express thoir appreciatio to the
Captain, officers and moanbers of the crow of the USS NICHOLAS (DDE 449) for theiz
assistance and cooperation in conducting tho survoy herein reportcd, Captain
Elliot turned over all possible facilitics of his ship in ordcr to assist in the
survey. LT Frink, tho Exccutive Officcr, organizcd all the operations of the
boat partics, and it was only through his personal dircction and participation
that it was possiblo to carry out the small boat surveys under extremly difficu™
eenditions, Sincc most of the lagoon witcrs were not navigablic by a DDE, it was
neccssary to make long boat trips in high scas and land on tricky coral recfs,
That it was possible to make, without mishap, a detailed survey of five widely
scparated atolls in the courso of three days with only two boats was largely duc
to his efforts,
2.
Introduction
The BRAVO Shot contaminated a number of atolls in gercrally castward
direction from Bikini to such an cxtent that it became necessary to ovacuatec trnative populations from Rongclap, Alinginae and Utirik Atolls and the militar;
persannel on Rongerik /toll,
Following this cvacuation CJTF SEVEN organized tho
subject detailcd radiological survey of the atolls to the castward of Bikini
(Ref. CJTF SEVEN Eniwctok 0604002).
the following purposcs:
The dats from this survey wero required for
ae
Tho cvalnation of the radiation effcets on evacuccs,
b.
The estimation of the clapsed time before rcoecupancye
c.
The cstimtion of tho residual radiation cffecets of large yiclds
surface dctonations.
In connection with this survey, tcams from various Task Groups and Mr,
Wilds, Trust Torritory Representative, returned to the atolls to secure the
evacuated habitations, service military cquipment, and obtain documcntsry photo-
graphy.
Lin 2/D0E
Re
3.
Operational Schedule
8 March — 0800
M3}351
Survey tcam rendezvous aboard USS NICHOLAS (DDE 449)
in Rongclap Legoon,
bel BOS|
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