a Bet MEF~-3 Subjs farrative Pro§ heport of Det WREP-3 (cont'd) 2. PURPCR The purpose of the project was to furnish meteorological facilities and services for support of Operation IVY in addition to those normally provided by the air Weather Service, 3. "MISSION The primary wission of the detachment waa to provide surface and rawinsonde observations in support of the Joint Task Force Meather Central. Special surface observations were provided at designated times when requested by Task Element 132.4.3.2 or the JTFWC. Ae GFERATIONAL COMMENTS Ae cati Kusaie is a mountaineous island of approximately thirty square miles in area, The terrain is very rugged, with the highest point being over two thousand feet and with several more points over fifteen hundred feet. It is covered with a tropical jungle and only a narrow bend around the coast is readily accessable. While referred to as "an ialand®, Kusaie is actually two islands, the smaller one being slightly over three quarters of a mile long and approximately three quarters of a mile wide. There are also numerous very small fringe islands bordering the coral reef, Kusaie is inhabited with approxte mately two thousand natives. The natives ere Christanized, have a well developed local government fostered by the Civil Administration, several schools, and churches. In addition to the native poplation the island is inhabited by two American citizens, ir. Ae Ve Herrman and his nephew Mr. Jack Youngstrom, Mr, Herrman has spent most of the past forty years on Kusaie and Mr. Youngstrom has been there for the past seventeen years, Mir, Harrman is an agent for the Island Trading Company. available to any future detachment using Kusale as a site will be four buildings which were left there by the weather detachment on Project IVY. These buildings are located at the edge of the water on the southwest side of the small island, The buildings were left in the custody of Kr, Herrman with the understanc’.ig that he could use the buildings for any purpose desired so long as he kept the buildings in good repair with the facilities and materiels availeble. He will make the buildings available to any US air Force personnel arriving at Kusaie at any future date. With the exception of the buildings mentioned above, the only facilities available on the island is an abundance of native labor and such advice and assistance as can be given by Mir, Herrman, BEST AVAILABLE copPY