po
&@ watoh and comusnced the NECTAR schedule, Pew task group units
were present.
The plan for HECTAR did not call for a pro~shot
personne] evacustions Eniwetok based personnel would view the shet
fron Farry and Eniwetok Islands, with the actual firing done froa
the control roca on Perry.
It was necessary only thet ESTES be
present te avaict CTG 7.4 in aircraft positioning, that a DOE be
gear Ujeleng Atoll et shot time should evacuation there become
necessary, ani thet exfficient veasels be in the vicinity to carry
out an enargency personnel eracuction of Eniwetok s£oll should the
need develop after the chot. Only SIOUX and YAO 99 wore required
in suppert of a ecientifie project, laying fall-out hucys for
Project 2.5a,
One itinerent vessel, US LED (T-AEA-60), was
peesent ab Eniwetck unloading cargo, Yo provide the necessary
evasustion potential, {t was plemed to use ESTES, Lm, YAO 39,
FRILIP (enroute from Rikint on a echeduled ferry trip) and the
enall creft present in the area, Sinse edditionsl ‘onpacity was
required, AINSWORTH was ordered to Eniwatek.
She departed from
Biking 25 1600 with arders to join the foruztion at sea.
Go
ALL ehips sortied frau the lagoon before derk end took up
stations soubhenst of the atoll.
At midnight EPPERsot departed her
patrol off Wide Entrance ani sct a course fer Ujelang.
The first
VP-29 patrol efreraft reported negstive soarchresults and lanied
et Kwajalein,
Ab G200 NICHOLAS reported on station as alraraft
control ship, §0 alles southesest of the shot atoll.
By 0330 all
five VP-29 alrcreft had ocapleted their searches of the area and
oom
270