U. S. S. NICHOLAS (DOS-449 DDELL9/mw c/o Fleet Post Office p22 San Francisco, California Ser: 054 28 March 1954 From: Commanding Officer Subj: Rongelap Survey Trip 25 - 26 March 1954; report of To: Commander Task Group 7.3 1. The USS NICHOLAS (DLE-449) departed BIKINI Atoll at 1900M, 25 March 1954 for RONGELAP Atoll in accordance with Commander Joint Task Force $=VEN 231131Z and Commander Task Group 7.3 2323232 of harch 1954. personnel from Task Group 7.1 were on board: Dr. Dr. Dr. Dr. The following Lauren R. Donaldson Thomas L. Shipman sdward s. Held Ralph F. Palumbo Dr. Paul R. Olson Dr. Thomas N. White Mr. dilliam W. "obbins Mr. Pascuale R. Schiavone Major Charles M. Barnes, USAF + 2. The ship arrived off the South Entrance, RONGELAP Atoll at 260100M and put a whale boat inthe water at 260630M to meet the plane arriving from Kwajalein with Dr. Dond's party. 3. The ship then proceeded to Northeast Pass, RONGELAP Atoll, entered and 4. The plane from Kwajalein arrived off RONGELAP at O905M, was met by the anchored. whaleboet. Dr. Donaldson and his party departed the ship at O830M. Dr. Bond, Mr. Marion Wilds, three Public Health Service Officers, three Natives and m‘scellaneous equipment was transported to the beach. plane was guided to an anchorag2 about two hundred (200) yards off shore The from the village where it was anchored. a. Personnel from the NICHOLAS assisted Dr. tond to accomplish the following: Capture fiv< young pigs and one sow; capture five chickens; obtain soil, fruit and vegetation samples. One boar was killed and an autopsy was performed on the spot. The animals and other samples were pleced in cages end transported to the plane. Dr. Bonds party departed RONCELAP at 1300M, 26 March 1954. The whaleboat then departed RONGZLaF Island and proceeded » orth to rejoin the ship, stopping at BUSCH and sNI+sTOK Island to measur. radioactive intensity. On2 member of RadSurvey T2om accompani-4J this boat to condict RadSurvey on Southeastern Islands. Dr. Donaldson's party worked in the Northeast part of RONCsLAP atoll, collecting fish, so.., birds, invertebrates, algae and vegetetion samples. On2 member of RadSurv-, - Team accompanied this this party to conduct RadSurvey of Northern Islands. It was not possible to collect rats, as desired, due to the unexpected d-parture of the ship as directed by Commander Task Group 7.3 2602172 of \.irs° 1954. ZNCLOSURS (4) Lop