zz UNION — TARKES ~ RECTAR 1. Task Group ships asde two sorties from HMkin£ Lagoon for UHION, the fourth shot fired. the first tock place on 15 April, 6 days after the KOGi shot, in mre ar less routine fashion. Notice had been received early on minus~one day thet en abtenpt would be ante to fire the shet, permitting ship moreaants to begin on schadule By 1500 the lagcon was clear of shipping, except for moored axall craft and two conned Navy Litts etendins by et the shot barges to rersove the firing perty. At 1515 all ships reported their posi- tions ab « rafe distance from the sere paint, incinting FO 15ib, stationed at Rongerik stoll with Aix Force weather chservers aboard. The firing party armai the device ani boarded the LOis for sono Ielend where they were ploked up by helicopter ani floun to Inyu to comect the firing ofreuits After disenbarkingthe firing perty, the Lis ren dean the lagoon, mere’ to buys off Byn, the cress Zaunched? a DUEN carried in one LCI and procesded te Enya for helieopter transportction to BATNOEGQ. DPurins the arming operation ESTES, BaIROKO, WIBNHAT (a8 plane guard) and BELLE GROVE renained within ten miles of Enya to shorten the helicopter flights ami to be easily arallabie in case an emergency developed, errived on board BATROEO, At 1615 the LGi cress Ab 1830 the firing party helicopter reached Estzs, BAIBOKO recovered her helicopters, axi the four ships headed or& te sea to join the rest ef the foruation. APH Raed 4A& 1915 CURTISS departed her station et sea and headed and Da 2,