. as _ : HEADQUARTERS TEST SERVICES UNIT, PROVISIONAL APO 187, c/o POSTMASTER SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA - oe. 30 March 1954 SUBJECT: Operations at Rongerik Atoll TOs Commander Task Group 7.4, Provisional APO 187, c/o Postmaster San Francisco, California 1. Reference is made to letter Headquarters, Weather Reporting Element, Provisional, Subject: Rongerik Incident, dated 27 Merch 1954 with lst Indorsement by this headquarters, 2. The Test Services Unit has been unable to obtain any definite word on when we can expect the Rongerik people to be released from the hospital at Kwajalein. If any information on this matter is available at your level, request we be advised accordingly, Further we need to know, as soon as possible, if these people will be made availahle to —_ =a us for added duty during Castle or if they are to be returned to the ZI prior to the end of the operation, The personnel from Fniwetok, being used to make the rawinsonde runs at Rongerik on the days preceding each shot, are avcrroaching the maximum radiation level. Several trips have been made to the island since 2 Marche Radiological readings have been taken each time in addition to the rawinsonde soundings, communications maintenance, cte, In order to continue this service at Rongerik it will be necessary to sond the ex-Rongerik men to one of the other weather islands (probably Majuro) in order to make personnel with little or no radiation exposure available for these missions, Otherwise additional personnel will be required, 3. Informl information from Red-S-fe authoritics indicates that we will be unable to use Rongerik on a full timo besis for the duration of this project. In view of this we now plan operations, when absolutcly cssential, on a ocight (8) hour besis., Request you advise if this informal informition is correct and if our planning is in consonance with your desires, /s/Mohlon Be Hammond /t/MAHLON B. HAMMOND Lt Coloncl, USAF Commander