the Macins afrerivt, operating off BIR. perticas ware dire ected by the C¥s's .4r cperations Sectica fu close itaisuna «wlth cTG Jel oper tions representatives now based aboard EAL55 to coordinate TC 7.1 end TG 7.§ Lift royairenents, §3. ‘he helicopter airlift waa comiucted without a serlous per ecnnel casualty, ne major accidom occurred oa 28 vanusry when an aircraft crashed on deek upon take off from the BAIKJKO, due to a machanical fsilure, Passengers wad orey escaped with minor bruisea. The landin, signal officer was slightly injured when he was struck by. a fragment of the rotor blade. Ine alfrorvart mate a forced lanting an e sandspit ct Gikini Island on a ROM#D minus ane day while svacustion for the shot was in progress. Bo one was injuredy the aireraft was repaired and returned to BAIROKO without any significant delay. ith most flights contacted over water, ani aany over extremely radicactive eréxs, BALRCKD exercised close control during all SLighte, with heilcoptere asking fre-went position reporta, iscort helicopters often accompanied aircraft ca alscions over “hot* eress. She ‘¥ior to arrivsl of ths tusk croup in the forward area a navigational bucyaye eysten had oeen instulled at Aikini ani channels ani turaing basing wiredrazged and marked. 4 special limited edition of the HO Ghart for Bikiat atell had been prepared and issued to task group ships, Arrangements had Geen completed with CTG 7.5 for reten= tion of structures oa islanis of the atoll for ase as nsvigat ional