9.

Mehters were sarsmbled on four occasions, all in February,

te identify alr contacts that conld not be readily identified ae
friendly,

Im each case the unidentified aircraft was on a preseribed

Tiight path, Bot ne flight plea inforuation was available at the time
of seromble.

‘Tve on the prescribed alr route from Eniwetek te Hawaii

fated before interespt could Be made.
almost imaciiately after the scramble.

One was identified as frientiy
ne vas intercepted and proved

te be a VP.29 aireraft on patrel.

Af
10,

YR.29, with ite 12 Pay-6 patrol alroraft, ws deployed to

Kvejalein for a dual aiecton, as the Pacific ready duty mining squedFon, and as part of the CASTLE security forces,

Unter thie arrange-

ment CTS 7.3 was to have eperational control of 6 of the streraft at
-@ll times, and ef all 12 during the 48 hours preceding CASTLE ehote,
The 6 aireraft tine freed from CISELY periodically ware to train at Guan
for their mining migsien,

Thie ws done until sRi¥o when intensified

GASTLE duties placed upon the squadron precluded coxtinuation of the
treining at Guan.

11.

VPu29%s primary cigssion fm CASTLE was to conduet search and

anti-eubmarine patrols in the Exivetok/Bikint Danger Area to detect
and assist in denying entry te any unanthori sed vessels or aircraft.
Adged te thie nigeion, and supplanting it te some extent in relative
importance after BRAYO, was the ene to confuat recomnaicsanse flights

te detect shipping in expected cr actual radieagtive fallout arcas
Curing shot parieds and warn it out of danger.
APWL/Ho

Select target paragraph3