Be

_

proceeding toward the formation at 15 knots, The two projec aircraft reported on station.

Ships took up their shot tine headings

as the final phase of the voice tine broadcast was piped cub over
vyolos eivcuite,

Personnel asssenbled topside to riew the shot,

There waa still « feeling of doubt: among theay a last ainute delay
would not have come as a surprise,

But at 0610 on 2% Apetl UNION

was detonsted. Shot sumber four was finished, with only two te go.
Te

The chock wave passed without bornful effects the formation _

wes well clear of the rediosctive eloat., ESTES left her chet station and heeded south. sf 1000, with the clout dispersed te the
northward, the ships moved in toward Bikint and BAIROED prepered
to leunch helicopters for the initial RedSafe survey.

fhe survey

was completed in the early afternoon. By 1500 the lagoon was
declared safe for re-entry and the ehips entered end anchored. The
airetrip wis debrie~ridden to such an extent thet flight eperations

could act be resumed, so at 1600 ESTES sailed for Exlwetok with
CITP SEVER and steff on board. The other task group unites renaained
behing to resumes work next mornings to recover URION data and pre-

pare for YANEEZ.
6

ith UXIGH fired, NEcTéaR was echedaled fer detonation two

days later, on 28 April.

ESTES arrived at Iniwetok the morning of

27 April and disesbarked the Tack Force Commander and headquarters
staffs,

The wouther held, ani when the 27th. was confirmed ae

EECTAR alnus-one dey, CTG 7o3 with « emall operaticnel ataff left
Biking by PHY and flew to Eninetok, moved aboard ESTES, estahlished

169
AFWUHO

Lu

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