Ix
blast.
All strings except the first one, nesrest the zero point,
were rocoverced by 3 Kay, and the two ships were released from the
task group,
KCLALUER*s early departure was desirable because she
was due in the Fur Zast to relieve a ship saheduled for rotation.
She sailed from Bikini 4 Hay for Guam,
At CONPHIBPAG's request she
' was diverted from a stop at Guam, but for three days followed the
ori ginal routing assigned at the request of CIG 7.3 to keep clear of
radioactive fallout from YAHEES.
SHEA departed Bikini the afternoon
of 3 ay with her first acheduled ctop at Evajaleia for fuel. while ”
there she was assigned briefly to a 342 missica, joining the suc-
‘
cesful search for mother alesing Britieh aircraft on § Kay, md
then proceaded on to hor base at Pearl Harbor.
15T 1157, the third
ship in this task elesext, renained behind to assist in the roliu,
«Se PE ASKS completed hor partic{pation ia Operation CASTLE
st Rongerik stoll on § May, with YAHEKE the lest shot in which she
took part. Commencing with the third shot, KGS, tie PC hed becn
stetfioned in the atell area to the exst of Bikini at shot time, on
verying misaions,
on both WIIGN and YAMEZZ she wes at Rongerik
with Air Force weather ctation ant scisatifie project pereoanel aboard,
This atoll, eracwted because of radioactive contesinstion after iciivo,
was still teo “hot" far perscanal to live asnore.
Since weather data
from Rongerik was vital, the atation was operated by personnel who
lived aboard the FC and wont ashore periodically to take readings.
Om YAHKER, personnel of Projest 6.6, operating ci denospheric recording
aaa
AFWLUHO
as
246