mee.
In preparation for each shot, TG 7.1 conducted several dry rung of the
timing and firing systems, inclucitng at least one full power dry run before
each shot. These runs were normally conducted twice a day until satisfactory, and then cence a day until the shot or weather postponement. During
prolonged states of readiness on a —1 basis, they were held every other day,
or more often as necessary. Operations for which timing was important,
such as recovery operations and key operations affecting the D-1 day schedule, were rehearsed as often as necessary to determine the actual time re-
quired and to decrease it as practical.
A fairly complete Task Force rehearsal for Cherokee was conducted at
Bikini beginning 0500 April 23 and ending at 1200 April 24. H-hour was as
scheduled for Cherokee. Neither the TG 7.1 command ship, the USS Curtiss,
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nor the USNS Ainsworth was available for this rehearsal. A very small
token number of TG 7.1 personnel completed evacuation and re-entry. Nearly
all of the vessels present procecded to their shot-time positions at sea.
£ffects and other planes participated on a large scale. A voice count-down
was provided, messages were sent to offatoll stations for time studies, and
the communication rehearsal was as complete as possible in order to test
communications and detect frequency conflicts. The rehearsal was satisfactory.
A number of other communication rehearsals were conducted during
April at both Eniwetok and Bikini, Several of them were for the purpose of
positioning aircraft as well as for testing communications and for determining interference caused by electronic equipment. Task Group 7.4 conducted
2 number of bombing rehearsals in which TG 7.1 participated to a limited
extent.
3.5
3.5.1
MOVEMENT TO THE FORWARD AREA AND ASSEMBLY OF
SUBORDINATE UNITS
Personnel
Information regarding the expected number of personnel to be present
in the FA during Operation Redwing was obtained from the monthiy status
reports submitted prior to forward movement by the various units of the
Task Group. These population figures were subdivided by location into the
following general categories:
sites at Bikini Atoll; sites at Eniwetok Atoll;
and shipboard space. Detailed compilations were prepared showing the estimated weekly population at any location In the PPG. These population estimates were useful in determining such things as camp locations, camp size,
MATS transportation required, and over-all camp support required of
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