REP Comdr, Subj:
(CNCLASSIFIED)"
“Report on Survey Trip to Cutlying Yeather Islands
i
/
of trees similar in size, shape and color to fig treas.
(These may be
breadfruit trees, as I em not familiar enough with suoh flora to saye)
The terrain of the main portion of the island was very uneven varying
about fifteen feet in rolling mounds. The eastern side of the island and
the southern and northern tips did mot have as dense veretation as the
western side. ‘Since personnel of the 6.6 program will be with us on the
4sland, and their equipment mst be more than oneehalf (4) mile from
the radio transmitter, I believe that it would be best to bulldoz a supply
dump area next to the beaching area and bulldoz a road directly scross the
island and then along the eastern side to each end.
A diagram, based on
this concept is attached to this report. Upon departure, we again flew
over the island several times at low lzvel. ‘ie landed at Fuiwetok where
wo left Lt Colonels’ Bonnot and Slater and returned to Kyakalein just
after dark.
i
Ye departed early the next mrning for Majuro Atoll and landed on the
strip thereafter a two hour flight.
Mr Marion © Nilds, who was temporarily
in charge of the Majuro District, met us at the aircraft, The landinrs strip
is in good shape and entirely suitable for Ce47 operation.
Mr Wilds tcok me to his office where we had a meeting with his assistant,
Mr C J Kunz, the Commnications Officer, and Mr fdward Fisher, the Public.
Works Officer. The concensus of opinion was that there might be a housing
shortage and a water shortage during the springs months of 1954.
(A letter
has since beenwitten to the High Commissioner of the Trust Territories ree
questing confirmation of these possibilities.)
(Major Hebner has been
apprized of the water shorta e problem and is investigating the possibilities
of obtaining a water distillation unit for Majuro).
The building erected
by a former JTF unit on the island was in goed condition requiring only minor
repairs, One other quonset buildins with a concrete base is available for
our immediate use as a warehouse.
We departed just before noon for Kusaie.
The flight clerk prepared
the usual hamburger, string beans, etc, fried in deep fat in the ships galley.
Though deep fat cooking does mot agree with my own concept of a tasty repast,
it’s quantity was mre than exple and a weloome relief from the usual box
lunch.
.
a
Arriving at Kusaie, we circled the island several times.
‘
The landing
area (lagoon) is on the south side and since the wind was from the southeast,
the approach had to be made through a pass which was about 1500 feet high be-
tween two much higher hills and the remsinder of the approach made at about a
|
will overshoot and another attempt at landing made which is what happened in
our first attempt. Kusaie is a aiid heavily vegetated island.
)
30 degree angle into the lagoon,
If the angle is mre shallow, the aircraft
ee,
aoa
gga ¥