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At midnight on D-l day, the Air Operations Center
checks.
began their
By H minus four hours, the Center was completely manned, including
the Task Group Commander, Operations Officer, air controllers, and Communications
Officer.
At approximately H minus three hours, the Tower Officer was in place
serving as an advisor and coordinator for test array aircraft.
At 0310,
STABLE ECHO started engines, taxied at 0315 and took off at 0335 hours.
Each
H-Hour array aircraft on the Mission Execution Chart followed at the assigned
time until there were two (2) AdDs, two (2) FJ-4s, one (1) B-52, one (1) SA~16,
one (1) B-57B Sampler Controller, one (1) B-57B Sampler, and a P2V airborne.
Each of these aircraft was under control of the Air Operations Center and
their positions were monitored by the air controllers.
The effects aircraft
(B-52, A4Ds, and FJ-4s) were primarily controlled by MSQ and M~-33 precision
radars capable of very accurate positioning.
The Air Operations Center provided
back up positioning capability in the event of precision equipment malfunction.
The AOC also had the overall responsibility for safe positioning of all
aircraft.
At H minus one hour, the voice countdown was broadcast over
UHF "Guard" channel from ELMER Island and all aircraft had their radios
positioned in the "Guard Receive" position, insuring that they were
receiving the warnings prior to detonation.
By H minus thirty minutes all
aircraft airborne at H-Hour were in position.
At H minus five (5) minutes,
the Commander, Task Group 7.4 reported to the Commander, Joint Task Force
SEVEN that all aircraft were safely positioned.
All radio transmissions
with the exception of emergencies and the voice countdown on Guard channel,
were silenced from H minus three minutes until H plus two (2) minutes.
At
H plus two (2) minutes, the Air Operations Center called all aircraft for
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AFWU/HO