U. S. S. NICHOLAS (DDS-u4y) DDZ4L9/mw c/o Fleet Post Office P22 San Francisco, California Ser: 054 28 March 1954 ——————— From: To: Commanding Officer Commander Task Group 7.3 Subj: Rongelap Survey Trip 25 - 26 March 1954; report of l. The USS NICHOLAS (DDE-449) departed BIKINI Atoll at 1900M, 25 March 1954 for RONGELAP Atoll in accordance with Commander Joint Task Force S=VEN 231131Z and Commander Task Group 7.3 232323Z of March 1954. personnel from Task Group 7.1 were on board: The following Dr. Lauren R. Donaldson br. Thomas L. Shipman Dr. sdward #. Held Dr. Ralph F. Palumbo Lr. Paul R. Olson Dr. Thomas N. White Mr. Nilliam W. nobbins Mr. Pascuale R. Schiavone . rc = Major Charles M. Barnes, USAF - 2. The ship arrived off the South Entrance, RONGELAP Atoll at 260100M and put a whale boat in the water at 260630M to meet the plang arriving from Kwajalein with Dr. Dond's party. 3. The ship then proceeded to Northeast Pass, RONGILAP 4toll, entered and anchored. Dr. Donaldson and his party departed the ship at O830N. 4. The plane from Kwajalein arrived off RONGELAP at O905M, was met by the whaleboat. Dr. Bond, Mr. Marion Nilds, three Public Health Sarvice Officers, three Natives and miscellaneous equipment was transported to the beach. The plane was guided to an anchorage about two hundred (200) yards off shore from the village where it was anchored. a. Personnel from the NICHOLAS assisted Dr. Sond to accomplish the following: Capture five young pigs and one sow; capture five chickens; obtain soil, fruit and vegetation samples. One boar was killed and an au-~ topsy was performed on the spot. The animals and other samples wers placed in cages and trénsported to the plane. Ur. Eonds party departed RONCELsAP at 1300M, 26 March 1954, The whaleboat then departed RONGSL.»F Island and proceeded »orth to rejoin the ship, stopping at BUSCH and aNIAsTOK Islend to mzasure radioactive intensity. One member of RadSurvey Tzem accompanied this boat to condict RadSurvey on Southeastern Islands. Ur. Donaldson's party worked in the Northeast part of RONGSLAP Atoll, collecting fish, soil, birds, invertebrates, algae and vegetation samples. One member of RadSurvey Team accompanied this this party to conduct RadSurvey of Northern Islands. It was not possible to collect rats, as desired, due to the unexpected de- COPIED/D0Eparture of the ship as directed by Commander Task Group 7.3 2602172 of larch LANL RC 1954. ENCLOSURE (4) Quan