on!waHio0 and UMBRELLA, when there were especially stringent local aircraft
requirements, a senior staff officer was also stationed at the central
dispatch office controlling the helicopter and liaison aircraft.
Throughout the operation a rear echelon was maintained at Kirtland
Air Force Base.
Its function was to monitor and to assist the actions
being taken at that Base in the support of the operation.
In addition,
it provided an agency through which the dependents could obtain information
and assistance, a function which contributed materially to the morale and
welfare of the families of the men participating in the operation.
When it was decided to conduct the high altitude shots, TEAK and ORANGE
at Johnston Island rather than at Bikini, we placed one of our operations .
staff officers on detached service with Joint Task ForceSEVEN to serve as
Base Operations Officer at Johnston Island and later established command
posts at both Johnston Island and Hickam Air Force Base, Honolulu.
Immediate
control of the air operations in connection with the two events was exercised by the Task Group Commander from the AOC in the
USS BOXER (a destroyer
was used to provide AOC facilities when they were required at Bikini during
the absence of the BOXER).
Aircraft participating in NEWSREEL operated from
Hickam Air Force Base and Barbers Point Naval Air Station in Hawaii.
Operational
control of these aircraft during the takeoff, enroute and landing phase of the
missions was exercised by the Deputy Commander, Task Group 7.4, from a command
post located in the Honolulu Air Traffic Center.
The Commander of the Test
Services Unit served as the acting commander at the Eniwetok Proving Ground
while the Task Group Commander and his deputy were away participating in NEWSREEL.
Task Group was required to provide planning assistance and aircraft for Operation
LITTLE DAVID, a nuclear rocket test to be conducted at Eglin Air Force Base
during August.
AFWL/HO
24
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