BPPSREESAONIT
WREP Comdr, Subj:
(UNCLASSI FIED)"
“Report on Survey Trip to (utlying Weather Islands
surprised to find that Mr DeMello and hie assistants had performed the
duty in a superior manner for such a short period of responsibility.
Proper
inspection by competent inspectors had been made, non=useable items cone
demned, a thorough inventory and segregation by islands made, and #11 locally
repareble items either repaired or in the process of repair. Crating had been
accomplished in an excellent manner and suitable for our operation. However,
very few boxes were actually completed since a considerable shortage exists,
chiefly of small items as TMs and expendable supplies. Complete action cannot
be accomplished until these shortages arrive from the ZI Depots.
‘the 6th
Weather Squadron (Mobile) received a copy of the inventory and shortages just
prior to my departure and I was aware that the inventory had been made but
was totally unprepared to observe such excellent aceomplishment of the task.
Mr DeMello reviewed problems encountered and anticipated problems in handling
the equipment wmtil it is loaded aboard the LST and the BODY squipment shipped
to Eniwetok. Lt Dempsey, Supply Officer of the 57th Strategic Recon Sq,
accompanied me on this visit to Base Supply. He had made a hobby of boating.
¥e next inspected the 22" ChriseCraft boat which was used during the last
operation at Kusaie.
Mr DeMello said that it was necessary to request
bids from civilian companies for repairs of the boat and the low bid ws
$1800.00. Naturally, since it was a civilian company, all replacement parts
were figured into the total repair cost, I+ appeared that the boat may
have been dropped when it was unloaded from the LST or perhaps in movement
from the port to Hickam AFB since all planks of the hull wre broken near
the aft section.
Throughout the rest of the boat, nearly every plank in the
boat had a major crack or break,
Lt Dempsey and I went over the civilian
companies detailed repair report and decided that it would be uneconomical
to repair the boat.
The entire hull would have to be replaced,
mossage to Major Hebner later that day with our opinion.
the helium cylinders (500) held in storage.
I sent a
I also inspected
They were stored in the open and
the large cap threads were rusted but not in en advanced state.
All
cylinders had been tested with a pressure gauge for the correct amount of
helium some three months previcusly and found to be correctly filled. 1 ree
quested that the large cap threads be greased (contrary to AF refulations for
gas-filled containers,“fince helium is inert, I considered this essential
for protection of the cylinders) and that while they were greasing the threads
to retest the helium pressure. Mr DeMelleo and I discussed supply procedures
to be used in handling all the equipment and I made an appointment to have
a conference with Captain:Walker, BSO, the next morning so that we could have
a general agreement on all procedures.
‘the 57th Strategic Reconn Squadron
held a party for Col Bomot, Col Slater and myself that night at Wheeler
Field.
Por som: strange reason we did not eat supper aud found only hors
d'oeuvres and Hawaiian punch to satisfy our appetites. All the officers and
their wives of the Sauadron and personnel of the Cambridge Research Center
were there and it was a delightful party,
wasn