Utirik Is. After establishing radio communications with thc plane and ascertaining the number of passengers, the xnxecutive Officer wes directed to cross over to the lagoon side and use the rubber raft or any means to land the plane passengers. With the friendly help of the cooperative natives, the X.0. with the rubber raft, set out in an outrigger canoe towards the seaplane in the lagoon. But just as he approached the plane it taxiied away apparcntly not distinguishing him among the natives, It had been suggested to the plane that if he had difficulty landing passengers in the lagoon, he might try landing outside the lagoon near the ship. Upon hearing this . Suggestion, the plane took off immediately and after one try, a tremendous bounce, another circle and approach, landed near the ship atout O915M. Meanwhile, the gig having disembarked the Executive Officer was in- structed by him to procced castward about 500 :-ards to a small cove where the natives said landings could be made with more ease and safety. This was done but calling it a cove is a misuse of the term. Ease and safcty did not seem to fit the situation cither but it did appear less dangerous. By using the anchor to seaward the gig was slowly worked up to the reef edge where the Radsafe Officcr and his team disembarked and waded ashore to the same friendly welcome, handshakes and "Good Morning" from every native large and small. During this time the Executive Officer had retumed to the beach from the lagoon and his try at receiving tne plane passengers and advised the native chief to prepare his people for evacuation. Som: of the _ natives who seemed to understand and spoke some broken English were of grest assistance in this. At this time the ship was advised by the X.0. of the - necessity for evacuation on southern and seayic sice of Utirik Island and that native boats would be of no practical assistance. The Gunnery Officer in the MWB, after searching for several miles along the south leg of the atoll, reported there were no breaks in the reef nor landing places of any kind, After the gig had disembarked the remainder of the beach party, it was retumed to the ship having lost its anchor in leaving the reef. It arrived in the vicinity of the ship just in time to meet the plane and take aboard its passengers, They consisted of Marshall Island Trust Territory representative, Marshall Island interpreter, and two public relations civilians attached to staff, CUIF 7. after a brief consultation on board ard pro-~ curement of another boat anchor, the gig was again dispatched to the beach, meeting the MiB enroute and recciving from it a radioman with a portable SCR-300 radio which greatly facilitated the operation. This party was met by the Executive Officer and the group then set out for the village, seaplane departed shortly for kwajalein. The Do2etlassiting 3 ENCLOSURE (1) SopOe; ogitieg