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Chapter 5 - Support Aircraft
Task Group 7.4 was charged with many support responsibilities in
connection with Operation HARDTACK.
Among these responsibilities were
logistic support of the weather and rad-safe sites at Tarawa, Nauru,
Kusaie, Kapingamarangi, Uterik, Rongelap, Wotho, Ujelang, Wake, Midway,
Kwajalein, Majuro, Truk, and Guam.
Airlift service had to be supplied
between the principal Eniwetok Proving Ground sites of Eniwetok and
Bikini and among the islands of each atoll.
The logistic support fur-
nished by MATS required the services of an air terminal organization.
Responsibility for Search and Rescue operations in the Eniwetok Control
Area was delegated to Commander, Task Group 7.4 by Joint Task Force
SEVEN Operation Order 1-58.
These support activities will be discussed
in the following paragraphs.
In planning for Operation HARDTACK, it was recognized that air
transportation requirements in support of the test series would be varied,
and would require several different types of aircraft to carry them out.
It was established that re-supply of the weather island and rad-safe
sites would have to be accomplished by both four engineiland based aircraft
and amphibious aircraft.
It was decided that the transport requirements
between Eniwetok and Bikini would also be met by using four engined land
based transports.
Personnel transport and light cargo transportation
requirements between the islands of Eniwetok Atoll and certain scientific
support requirements such as rad-safe surveys and recovery of scientific
instruments could best be met, it was decided, by liaison and helicopter
aircraft.
As a result of this planning, the book message which directed
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