As stated in the preceding chapter, te 959th Test Group (Nucizar)
had a dual responsibility for operation as a ‘roup under the Air sorce
Special Weapons Center and as Task Group 7.) under Joint Task Force SEVEN,
During the initial planning stages of Operation HARDTACK, the 950th was
perticipating in a continental test series at the Nevada Test Site.
Deter~
mination of personnel requirements and procurement of personnel for duty
in the EPG had to be accomplished in addition to the normal workload incident
tc a continental test cperation.
Personnel requirements within the Test Services Unit were estatlished
by Headquarters, MATS, on the basis of planning information made available to
them relative to the scope of their participation in Operation HARDTACK,.
Headquarters MATS assumed full responsibility for the manning of all Test
Services Unit elements from within MATS resources.
Those Test Aircraft
Unit and Test Base Unit elements composed of personnel from other than
Air Force Special Weapons Center resources were also manned by the approfriate Major Air Command,
In order to determine and better estimate the requirements fcr the
augmentation force during Operation HARDTACK, it was necessary to study
tae strencth figures that applied to Operation REDWING in 1956.
This was
scnewhat conplicated by the changes that had taken place in the organization
of the permanent Eniwetok Air Base Squadron.
In 1956, during Operation
REDWING, it was « large organization with a permanent strength of over 00
men.
During Operation HARDTACK it was a much smaller organization that had
to be augmented by TDY personnel from the 952nd Support Squadron to meet
its increased requirements during the test operation.
On 14 March 1957, the officer manning requirements for HARDTACK were
estabjished and a requisition was submitted to Air Research and Development
Command,
This requisition was based on mission requirements only.
2
By May
4)
AFWLIHO