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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|
ut

} Y

Select target paragraph3