oe 3 and were completed by 1030 the seme date. Interrogation of natives dis- closed that all were present except 17 who were fishing at Ailinginse, Following the Rongelap operetion, the destroyer proceeded to Ailinginae, removed the remaining 17 ani proceeded to Kwajelein. A total of 17 males, 20 feneles, 15 boys and 1, girls were removed by destroyer and dises- er eG ah barked at Ewajalein. 16 old and sick were moved at about 0930 by FEM The full report from 4EC/RYOO Plight ABLE indicated Utirik ground contamination at 240 mz/br at 1651M, 2 March and 76 or/br at about 1716M, 2 Merck at diluk, the nearest populated island to the south. Biker, the nesrest island to the north was determined to be unpopolated and contaz inated to about 750 or/kr at about I600M, 2 March. Taongi, the next nearest islenmi to north was 1.5 or/br ani umpopuleted. Based on these facts a decision was made to start another destroyer to Utirik to anticipate an order to start evacuetion at dawn on 4 March. In the meantine a Fek wes set up to groum survey Utirik on 3 March while the destroyer was on the way. puted et 58 r. The infinity dose of the Utirik natives was com The decision to evacuate was made and the destroyer or- dered to start evacuation the following morning, 4 March. A total of 47 males, 55 females, 2 boys snd 26 girls were removed, decontazinated on the destroyer enrcute to Ewajalein end disembarked on 5 March, Ques- tioning of natives disclosed that all had been removed. The destroyers which evacuated Rongelap and Utirik were directed to obtain drinking water samples from these atolls. A check of the water samples indicated from 2 to 28 times the task force standard for full time usage. With the decision to evacuate Utirik made end the zachinery set in motion to accomplish this operation, the status of Ailuk was put up for consideration. This atoll) has a populetion of 401. The infinity dose wes determined at less than 20 r, 4.e., less than the minima standard used by the tack farce for its sampling aircraft crews. major factor in the decision not to evacuate diluk. This was the ~ During the afternoon of 2 March a directive was issued to execute Ewejalein KYOO Flights BaKER ami CEARLIE. These flights cover al) hare shell Islanis south of Kwajelein. The flights were set up on the assume ption that the twenty thousend foot trajectory could kave brought contarinstion around to the south and west and contaminated some of the southern Mershealis, The flights were executed on 3 March. c-™ ficent groun@*eontearination was found. Wosigni- fn additional NYOO type flight was perforced ever the Gilbert Islanis for the same reesons. ficent contamination was fount. No sigaic On the besis of Flights ABLE, BAKER end CHARLIE, it was detercined thst no further atolls would need to be evacuated. SRE The effart wes there= Conran NY to Kwajalein. Decontamination of all natives was accomplished during the trip to Ewajalein.