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FREP Comdr, Subjt
(UNCLASSIFIED)
“Report on Survey Trip to Outlying Feather Islands
9
A couple of the Navy crew were delighted with the sight of such terrain since
they had not seen any land over ten feet in elevation in over a year on Kwaje
aleine
Ye taxiied up to within about fifty yards of the island dock which
is constructed of stone and the natives cam out in their outrigzer canoes
to meet us, Gummi, a white civilian trader, came down to ths
dook to greet us, While the Navy
personnel traded with the natives for
fresh fruit and native crafts, inom and I visited
the only other white person on the island, and the WREP buildings. WD?
and Mr SED were using the buildings for storuge of copra, bit
bad kept them in excellent ocomlition.
the buildings.
excellent.
No repair work will be meocessary on
The water supply and other living conditions are considerud
We departed from the lagoon using JAT which wis a novel experiences in
my flying cureer thouzh not as sensational as I had been led to believe. In
three hours we wers back at Kwajalein whore wo made a nicht landing.
The next mornin= we departed f:r Ponape at 0630.
Due to syphcnins gas-
Oline we were forced to land at tho Lae “toll larcon to broak the syphon.
This was culekly dom: anc we landed at Penape about 1100. Mr H M Hedres,
the District Administrator, met us at the seaplane ramp. The ramp is
located on a small island within the largest larcon about five miles to the
northeast of the minislend, Mr Hedres took us in to the main islend on his
-ower launch. This re-~uired about forty minutes each waye Mrs tdedres had
prepared lunch for the officers of the party, which included a native
Gish,
‘heir home was « remodeled double quonset in which I feit very much at
home since I completed a tour of duty on Cusm recently.
buildings which were all in exoellent conditicn,
We visited the RRSP
The water sup; ly is ade :uste
and the power supply is improving since new generator: for the island are being
installed, Mr and Mrs Hedrcs were grac‘ous hosts and we enjoyed the visit
tc the extent that we had to land at Sniwetok after darke
Lt Colonels Bonnot
and Sluter were on hand to meet me along with Captain " C Clerk, the Base
Weather Officer.
Many operational problems wore discussed that evening and
the next morning with Captein Clark, I eontacted Major C G Fraser, the Base
Supply Officer, the next morning and discussed tentative arrangements on
the BODY supplics which would arrive at Eniwetok from Hickam,
Major Frazer
introduced me to Colonel Starkey and eupply mtters wore further discussed.
Bo great difficulties were expected to bs encountered there, Colonel Slater,
Colonel Bomnot and I left Eniwetok aboard a MATS C-54 for Kwajalein at 1000
and lamied two houre later. “e again visited Capt:in Sooy and reported on the
visita to the islands werbally. Later the three of us had a conference with
Major Goldman of the AACS Squadron there and discussed commmicetions matters.
The “REP Commmications present no problems.
The Facsimile Weather Chart
transmission from Tokyo at the time of yaar required is the greatest difficulty.
seen
ako
7
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