seni J
With the temporary movement of the AF helicopters to Bikini, support
to the Teiteiripucchi complex was accomplished by landing L-20 aircraft at
Engebi and using surface transportation to Teitciripucchi. The decision was
mide at this time to compicte construction of the Teltefripucchi airstrip
which eliminated the necd for using Engebi and surface transportation.
Foy periods of three to four days after some of the shots, certain of
the airstrips were out of commission for L-20 traffic owing to radiation.
i-19’s were used to move priority personnel to those comp‘exes, supplemented by water taxis for low priority traffic.
After
(Erie), 1the Runit airstrip was completely out of commis-
sion.
Preparation for}”
J(Blackfoot) and
~flOsage) at Runit was
supported entirely by H-19's and surface tvansportation.
L-20 aircraft were used to support
{ (Seminole) preparation as
soon as radiation levels permitted use of the Tefielripucchi strip; however,
H-19’s primarily supported Seminole preparatory work.
During a representative week of the build~up phase (April 17). the
interisland airline had the following traffic ioad:
H-19B
844 flights
,
»
1900 passengers (382 - TG 7.1)
Eniwetok
H-19B
«47 flights
L-29
.
223 flights
-’
.
84 pacsengers (62 - TG 7.1)
717 passengefs (548 - TG 7.1)
»
During a representative week of the operational phase (May 6-12), ‘he
interiglarc airline had the following traffic load:
Bikint
HRS-3 (H-19B)
589 flights
1563 passengers (1250 - TG 7.1)
Eniwetok
H-19B
L-20
9; flights
279 flights
313 passengers (191 - TG 7.1)
742 passengers (400 - TG 7.1)
The J.-20 lfaison-type aircraft was the answer to many of the demands
for r-pid transportation of personnel and its performance and "in operation"
rate were very high. The HRS-1’s (H-19A), with which the HMR-362 was
first quipped, did not prove adequate in performance or in the availability of
replacement parts for an operation of this sort. Such was not true of the
HRS-3’s with which the Marine Squadron at Bikini was later equipped (after
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