1 1s There followed a woek of roll-up planning and activity wWaike the Task Force again waited for the weather to permit firing RECTAN. On 1) May the fourth NECTAR sortie wos made. CTG 7.3 ani a partial steff returned aboard CUSTI55 in the late afternoon, ‘the sortie begen a few minutes later, and by 2130 all chips hed cleared the lagoon. They bed no pre-shot scientific support tasks, so ell procesded directly to their shot time stations. USS NAWAXAGGH (A0G-53}, present es an itinerent, was sszigned a station well clear ef the etoll. AIES@ORTE and BULLE GROVE, enroute from Bikini, were ¢ ordered to join the formstion at esa upon thelr arrival. At 2400 EPPERSON departed for Ujelenge s& OMS the lact search aircraft lended at Brajelein and the expected fall-out area was reported clear, 1% CLOO CAP STEN advised that the westher outlookwas poor, 4% 0500 be announced that the shot had been delayed. Ths ships returned te the lagoon at daylight, On 15 May HECTAR events were agein begun, ani carried cub on substantially the saze schedule, MAUAKAGQH had departed for Brajalein that day. This tine the favorable westher held, and at 0629 on 14 May, HECTAR, the finel shot in the CASTLE series, was detonsted, When the shock ware hat passed, unite eloced Eatwetok, re-entered and by 0745 hed anchored in their evacuation stations, Ssfore nightfall all danger of heavy fel-cuk had passed end CUNTISS ani ESTES, released from Operation CASTLE, departed Eniwatok for 5en Francieco. SIOUX and MOLALA put to sea that afternoon ond, with ¥P29 aircraft, engeged in « epeciel water survey smi sonpling progren for the AEC, oy AFWi/Ho | ” \