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O O 250250ZNOV 78
FM COMUSJTF SOUTH/TIMEHRI AIRPORT GUYANA
TO JCS WASH DC
INFO DIR FBI WASHINGTON DC
(Listing of 21 military bases and command follows)
CONFIDENTIAL
Situation report number four as of 250215Z Nov 18
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1. Situations. Main support at Timehri Airport and forward operating bases AKVPNSTOWN and Matthews Ridge are fully operational.
2. Intelligence.
A. Final count reveals 847 beds in the Jonestown complex.
B. Cemetary [Cemetery] found NE of main Jonestown area had five graves. Two were approximately 3 to 4 weeks old[;] earth was not yet fully settled. The remaining three were barren indicating that they had been dug since the last rainy season or within the past six months. Two of the older grades were marked, one C.B. [Chlotile Butler], and the other apparently C.DM [C.D.] [not known] though there were no headstones.
C. Of documents recoverd [recovered] over the past two days (approximately 1500 lbs). All have been evacuated to U.S. Embassy, Georgetown.
D. Early morning of 24 Nov it became apparent that initial body count of 405 was grossly inaccurate. Bodies were being found under other bodies and a new count was initiated.
E. Is extremely difficult under the circumstances but best available estimate is between 740 and 780 bodies.
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F. Tags initially put on bodies by local officials were prepared utilizing water soluable [soluble] ink. Due to the weather conditions, most of this writing became unreadable, thus the discrepancy between the numbers previously identified and those now being identified. Many of the individuals clothing are marked with names, however, due to the conditions of the bodies and the relative unreliability of this proceedure [procedure], markings on clothes was not utilized as a basis for field identification. A quantity of medical records to include xrays, have been found at the site and have been turned over to Amrican [American] Embassy officials. These medical records should be extremely valuable for identifi-
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cation purposes.
3. Eclluation [evaluation?] of significant factors.
A. Personnel status
(1) SOUTHCOM:
Componnt/Off/Enl
Army/12/61
USAF/03/15
NAVY/01/00
Total/16/76
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(2) RDCOM
Unit/Off/Enl
HQ COSCOM/09/14
36 MD Claning Plt/04/17
530th Grav Reg Eet/02/28
498th Med Co/10/20
Total/25/70
(3) Other
Unit/Off/Enl
Mac/Arrs 17/65
JCSE/04/19
114th AVN Co/05/06
352 AVN Co/02/04
(4) Total USJTF [Jonestown Task Force] Militery [Military] in Guyana is 68 off/249 enl.
(5) Total USJTF Military at Jonestown is 10 off/54 enl
(6) MAC MSNS (read in five columns).
MSN No Aircraft Tail No Block Time Take off Time
1030-05 C-140 50232 231505Z 231702Z
1030-04 C-141 60168 232220Z 240052Z
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PAGE FIVE RUCJBBB0001 CONFIDENTIAL
1030-06 C-141 67950 240350Z 240505Z
1031-03 C-141 70014 240435Z 240635Z
100-05 C-141 50232 241630Z 241807Z
1030-07 C-141 59405 241810Z 241935Z
159 XO C-130 6051 250025Z
102-01
1034-01
1035-01
C. Logistics. 358 transfer cases/coffins ar [are] inroute to this location in the next 24 hours. With 193 bodis [bodies] on the ground at this location and estimated 150-200 more bodies yet to be recovered at Johnstown [Jonestown], it appears that our requirements for transfer cases will be met.
D. Public Affairs. The press visited USJTF headquarters at 1000 this morning and again at 1300 this afternoon. Activities were limited to motion pictures and still photography. Five enterprising members of the press apparently hired a helicopter and traveled to the vicinity of Matthews Ridge. After landing, they made their way to Jonestown by means unknown at this time believed by foot). At Jonestown, these press personnel were politely but firmly asked to leave. After taking some pictures, they made their way back to Matthews Ridge where they were picked up by the rental helicopter. The USJTF Public Affairs Officers attended a 2200 local press conference in Georgetown.
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E. All personnel continue to perform in a most professional manner. Worthy of special mention are the personnel directly involved in recovering and handling the hundreds of bodies
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that have been recovered to date. Despite the severe working environment and the odious nature of the task at hand morale remains high and results continually exceed expectations. Support from USSOUTHCOM also remains outstanding.
F. No new developments have arisen regarding the evacuation of Jonestown survivors to CONUS [continental United States].
4. Hoperational [Operational] summary. Flight operations commenced at 1010Z with the launch of 2 UH-1H and 1 HH-53. First HH-53 returned from Jonestown at 1245Z with 51 bodies. MAC mission 1030-05 departed Timehri at 241807Z Mov [Nov] with 82 bodies; 81 unidentified/1 identified. Recovery of the human remains have been enhanced during our operation through the use of private airline for handling fuel to Matthews Ridge; thus the HH-53’s were fully dedicated for recovery of remains. A medevac mission was made from Jonestown by UH-1H for a heat prostration victim. Search was made in Jonestown vicinity by UH-H’s utilizing bull horns. All aircraft are operational ready.
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5. Commanders Plans. Estimated 150 to 200 more bodies at Jonestown remaining for recovery. This will require six more HH53 sorties with completion early tomorrow afternoon. Retrograde operations will commence tonight utilizing mission SQA 1593. HUHI-H’s will launch at 1100Z to continue SAR missions in Jonestown vicinity. After recovery of the last bodies retrograde of Jonestown will commence with the HH53’s. Order of priority will be: (1) Graves and registration, (2) loaders, (3) W3, and (4) CCT utilizing UH-1H. Retrograde of Matthews Ridge will commence at 1500Z utilizing the UH-1H and U-21. When backup documentsmmain [documents remain] to be picked up. Col. Gordon will return to Timehri upon recovery of the last body.
GDS 86
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EOT