Chapter 1 - General Late in 1956 the 950th Test Group (Nuclear) was established by Headquarters Air Research and Development Commard as part of the Air Force Special Weapons Center at Kirtland Air Force Base. It is & perma- nent organization whose mission is to plan for and to provide direction of air support for full-scale nuclear test programs both in Nevada and the Pacific. The members of the Headquarters of this group, while participating in the PLIUMBBOB exsrcise in Nevada in the Spring and Summer of 1957, concurrently initiated plans for Task Group 7. participation in HARDTACK, Upon activation of Task Group 7.4, Provisional, by Headquarters Air Research and Development Command on 1 October 1957, the Commander and other personnel assizned to the Headquarters of the 950th, merely assumed similar titles within the newly formed Task Group 7. and continued doing the job at hand. Thus there was no time lost in organizing a new group of people to do the Headquarters Task Group 7.4 job. During the period from 1 October until the opening of the operational phase of HARDTACK in the forward area on 15 March, the provisional units and elements of Task Group 7. were established and organized at their various ZI home bases. Commanders were assigned and planning proceeded under the guidance of the Commander, Joint Task Force SEVEN and the Commander, Task Group 7.l. Although advance detachments were in the forward area as early as February, operational control of these units was not assumed by Task Group 7.4. and Joint Task Force SEVEN until their commanders arrived on 12 and March respectively; this assumption of command was accomplished smoothly and without misunderstandins. Command arrangements during shots varied depending upon the shot situation. ArWlJHO At no time was there aqy, Serious difficulty in maintaining 14