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The A. E. C. Medical Survey Team on the Shore of Rongelap. Dr. Moloney is 3rd from left
in front. Dr. W. Sutow was not present.
invited to participate in the role of medical
and Aematological consultant. The ground
work for the trip was prepared by a preliminary visit by Dr. Conard in November,
1961, to the Marshall Islands. Detailed ar-
rangements were worked out before hand
including permission from the Trust Territory officials, acquiescence of the natives
for the examinations and arrangements for
logistic support as well as air and ship
transportation by the U. S. Navy and the
Trust Territory. In December 1961 and January, 1962, meetings were held at Brook-
haven National Laboratory where details of
the schedule and problems of supplies and
equipment were discussed by the members
of the expedition. The team consisied of
five U. S. physicians, an eye specialist, pediatrician, pathologist, internist-hematologist and the director, Dr. Conard.
Three
laboratory technicians and one electronics
expert from the U. S. made up the technical
staff. Most of the equipment and supplies
were sent out by ship to Kwajalein and on
February 18, 1962, the party took off from
Idiewild Airport and flew via San Francisco
to Honolulu.
After an uneventful trip, several days
were spent in Honolulu clearing the party
and equipment through Navy channels
since we were under the logistic support of
the U.S.N. Pacific Missile Range. On FebNovember, 1962
ruary 20, 1962, we flew from Hickam Air
Force Base via M.A.T.S. Constellation to
Kwajalein Island stopping on Johnson Is-
land early in the morning for refueling.
There, in anticipation of the coming high
altitude tests, rather strict security measures
were in force and resulted in an uncomfort-
able wait, standing out on the dark and
windsweptair field in mid-Pacific.
KWAJALEIN
The approach to Kwajalein on the morn-
ing of February 20 was a strange experience. Having crossed the International Date
Line, we lost a day. After flying over the
vast and empty ocean, there finally emerged
in the distance a group of jiow-lying islands
surrounded by a long reef marked by the
breaking surf. The lagoon side of the atoll
was outlined by stretches of white sand
rimming the smoother water and reaching
up to the green vegetation. However, as
the plane swept lower for the landing, instead of the expected tropical vista, collections of oddly shaped, gleamingly white
windowless structures materialized on
Kwajalein. The outlying atolls supported
similar but smaller buildings. These were
the minarets and mosques dedicated to the
strange new cult of missiles, radar and
space. Speeding down the runway which
spanned the entire width of the island the
27