—
on station, the weather remained favorable, omi at 0610 5 Kay,
YiNKSE was fired.
13-

Ab about 0700, shea the danger of iamediate fall-out had

poseed, the ships were ordered te close their range to Bikini end

stand by for re-entry. When BAIROED reached a» point ten miles
from Haya she leunched helicopters ani the initial RadSefe survey
began.

«hea reporte of the survey were in 16% appeared thal the

lagoon water was too “hot” to peril a general return of the chips
that night and a ccaference was called in ESTES to discuss the

situation,

The Task Goup Coomanier end his Operations Officer

transferred to E5Ts5 by highline for the conference,

There it wes.

decided that KOTES would return to Eniwetok theb aight, first

aaking an exchange of peasongers with the other major ehipa, ona
that otbeyr units would spend the aight at sea,

st 1600 BAIROKD,

CURTISS, ESTES and RELLs GOVE entered the lagoon and anchored off
Bayt.

BELLE GROVE put boste inthe water sod comleted the passe

ger transfer.

46 1930 ESTES was andermay and left the lagoon,

follosed hy the ether units,

By 2040 the lagoon was again empty.

The asips rensined ot sea until daylight, when they closed the

atoll and carried out the re-entry plan. fy 0615 the lest ship
wes in.

The day was spent in conferring with oommanding officers

oa their roll-up responsibilitica, and that night CUiPISS sailed
for Baiwetek.

Upon her arrival there next morning, the TPask Group

Coaaander and his steff moved ashore to furry Island and reopened
the head jwarters thers for the final phase of CASTLE,

|

AFWUHG

‘

rv

175

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