radar, there were also wide angle fixed cameras and it was also planned to back up these measurements with measurements from the C130's that had been procured for the sea-based operation. Sandia produced in this time a distance measuring system (DME) operating in the CI130's using a beacon in the drop cases. The time interval measuring gear by all methods was installed both underground and in the CI30's. allowed it, the LASL KCI35, tail number 136 yprocured and When scheduling instrumented for observation of the high altitude shots, was also flown at great ranges against the air drop detonations as a further back up. This is perhaps time to mention the difficulty with the tracking radar. Several of us, (certainly myself) felt very strongly that the tracking information on the position of the drop B52 should be available in real time at the control point of the island. This feeling came about not only because of the previous experience with air drops in Nevada, but, specifically, because of the experience of the Cherokee shot on Bikini missed the target by some 5 miles. in which the Air Force had Our closest-—in observation points for the Christmas Island detonations were a distance similar to that and part of the planned orbit of the drop aircraft went fairly close to being over manned stations. at all times. Therefore, | wanted to know where the airplane was The Air Force, however, wel represented by”Black SamSamuels, felt that the possibility of operational contro! from the ground was undesirable, showed a acceptable. lack of confidence in the Air Force and was not The result was that the information was initially not available except by telephone at the control point but was available in the Sandia tracking trailer at A site. Early in the operation, surely enough, the B52 got on the wrong target and managed to orbit directly over the manned ground-based stations. This led to a prompt outcry on the part of the/tracking system which was relayed immediately by telephone to the command post and from there through a somewhat cumbersome system to the B52. 18 Whether the incident