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MEMORANDUM FOR RECORD (Cont'd)
SUBJECT: Frotection of Transient Shipping During Operation CASTLE
(5)

Information from all the above scurces was chammeled

into the task force headquarters for eveloaticno and

consideration at the Weather/Radsefe Command Brief‘ngs.

The results of the above efforts for FRAVO were as follows:

411 known transient shipping was diverted outside the.

hazardous fall-out area. The Petapsco (A0G-1) eas sailed

from Eniwetok to be ont of the hazardous area by shot tims.
The Trust Territory ship W/V Roque wes operating
outside
the designated sector (from Kwajalein to Utirik), arriving
at Utirik on the morning of 2 March 1954 and departing Utirik on 3 March 1954. The Roque was subsequently located
and monitored at Majuro and found to have insignificant

levels of radiation, The Merapi was exroute from Fonoluln
to Eniwetok but-well cutaide the designated sector area at
-sbot time. The Merapi was monitared upon arrival at Eniwetek and found not contaminated.

be

Based on the forecast significant clond travel (forecast
made on the night of B-3 days) the P2V sweep for Be2 days

was directed along true tearing 300 degrees from ground

sero,

No ships ware sighted on this sweep.

Based on the

~Be2 day shot time forecast, the P2V sweep for Bel day was

directed along true bearing 330 degrees to a distance of
375 nautical eiles. The reduction in distance was based
on forecast reduction in resultant wind speeds. This sweep can
tacted the USS General Patrick at 17-310, 162-C3E on course
266 degrees, speed 16 knots, at 1204M, 28 February 1954. ds
she would clear the designated sector by shot time, ske was
not diverted by the patrol aircraft. Based on a re-Screcast

(made on Bel day) of the significant cloaud acvenent far B

day, it was decided to search in advance of the cloud along

bearing 65 degrees true from ground sero out to 600 nantical
miles. Two P2v's were used. The first of these becare cone
2i

taminated early in ite eission and was forced to return to

‘

2.

bese. The second was directed to rick up the searck in the
approximete location of the previcus abert ent carry it out
to the 600 miles. The only centact reported by these air-

‘eraft was the Patapsco (A0G-1) sighted at l2-31N, 170-425,

at 1935M, 1 Harch 1954, course 30 degrees, speed 1C kzote.

The Patapsco wes turned to an easterly beading at 2030k, 1

March 1954. ‘The-Comender in Chief, Pacific Fleet was advised later to have the Patapsco ronitored upon arrival et
Eonolulu in the event a check exrovte could not be accorplisbed.

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