As a result of a requirement to fly weather reconnaissance missions
in the Johnston Island area in support of Operation NEWSREEL, it was
decided that the Weather Reconnaissance Element (Provisional)
periodic
maintenance capability would move to Hickam AFB, TH.
Plans, which were formulated in June 1958, provided that weather
reconnaissance missions would be launched
at Hickam AFB and vice-versa.
from Eniwetok and terminated
Missions were so scheduled that an air~
craft due for a periodic inspection would land at Hickam AFB and go
into the periodic maintenance facility for necessary inspection and
maintenance,
The home base of the Weather Reconnaissance Element (Provisional)
was Hickam AFB where permanent type facilities, i.e. hangars, work
space, etc, were available.
Two (2) officers, 139 airmen and equipment
were moved from Eniwetok to Hickam AFB during July 1958 to establish
the periodic maintenance facility.
Periodic inspection of the first
WB-50 aircraft commenced on 16 July 1958.
Section D - Special Purpose Vehicle and Aircraft Ground Support
Equipment Maintenance
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:
The total units of Special Purpose Vehicles and Aircraft Ground
Support Equipment maintained was three hundred and forty-two (342).
These units were maintained in a common pool to facilitate operational
control and maintenance.
Salt water corrosion was unvoidable and required the expenditure
of considerable maintenance man hours to minimize the effects.
Sone
equipment failure is attributable to corrosion.
Another continuing problem was the lead time required to procure
replacement parts and spares from local purchase sources.
Many local
purchase items were obtainable from a single source and in some cases
181
AFRO
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